Intuit vs. ADP: Which platform strategy is winning the battle for small business accounting and human resources?

Intuit's strategy is winning for small businesses that prioritize an integrated, do-it-yourself growth platform. Intuit aims to "Be the Center of Small Business Growth" by creating a single, seamless ecosystem that extends beyond core accounting. The prime example is its initiative to "Integrate Mailchimp and QuickBooks," which combines financial management with marketing automation. By also offering integrated "Money Solutions" and "Workforce Solutions," Intuit provides a powerful software suite for entrepreneurs who want direct control over their finances, customer relationships, and payroll from one central hub.

ADP's strategy wins with small businesses whose primary concern is mitigating the risk and complexity of HR and payroll compliance. While Intuit offers payroll software, ADP's core value proposition is its "Unmatched Expertise and Outsourcing Solutions." For a small business, this means they can delegate the administrative burden and legal risks of payroll, tax filing, and HR regulations to a dedicated expert. ADP's strength lies in providing "Specialized HRO (Human Resources Outsourcing) Solutions," effectively acting as the client's outsourced HR department, which is a compelling offer for owners who prefer to offload these functions rather than manage them in-house.