Why can't I enter a bill and record the payment with "simple start"? Isn't that the most basic task in record-keeping?

Thanks for reaching out to us, mrmstynson.

The most basic bookkeeping software that we offer is QuickBooks Online Simple Start, and it is perfect for simple businesses that don't need to enter and track bills for the vendor.

You can run simple financial statements, connect bank and credit card accounts, invoice customers, and manage sales tax using QuickBooks Simple Start. Additionally, you can connect with your accountant to make tax season simpler.

If you want to manage and pay bills, you'll need a QuickBooks Online Essentials or Plus subscription. I recommend upgrading your plan to record bills and payments.

Here's how:

1. Sign in to QuickBooks Online as a primary or company admin.
2. Go to the Gear ⚙ icon and then Account and settings.
3. Select the Billing & subscription tab.
4. Make sure your payment info is up to date.
5. In the QuickBooks Online section, select Upgrade your plan.
6. Review the available plans and then select Choose plan.
7. Follow the on-screen steps to upgrade your plan.

For more details about the process, you can read this article: Upgrade or downgrade your QuickBooks Online subscription.

You can also visit this link to know the reports available for your version of QuickBooks Online: Reports included in your QuickBooks Online subscription.

You're welcome to post again if you have further questions about using Simple Start. We're always available to help you.

@mrmstynson-gmail 

Another option, signup for a free Melio account to manage and pay your bills for free. But keep in mind, you can't integrate it with your QBO account.

https://affiliates.meliopayments.com/quickbooks