Intuit Gives Affirm Exclusive Rights to Provide BNPL for QuickBooks Payments

Intuit Inc., the global financial technology platform behind QuickBooks, TurboTax, Credit Karma and Mailchimp, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Affirm Holdings that will see Affirm become the exclusive buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) provider integrated directly into QuickBooks Payments.

Under this new arrangement, U.S. small- and mid-market businesses (SMBs) that use QuickBooks Payments to invoice their customers will soon be able to offer native, pay-over-time payment plans through Affirm — giving their customers more flexibility while allowing merchants to receive full payment up front.

This partnership reflects a growing convergence between financial software platforms and modern payment solutions — and could reshape how SMBs manage cash flow and drive revenue.

Bringing BNPL Into Business Invoicing

Traditionally, buy-now-pay-later services have focused on consumer retail purchases. Intuit’s deal with Affirm represents a deeper integration of BNPL into business financial operations, extending the concept into the invoicing workflows of millions of small companies using QuickBooks.

By baking Affirm’s pay-over-time capabilities directly into QuickBooks Payments, merchants can offer flexible payment plans to their customers without the complexity of managing credit terms or chasing unpaid invoices themselves. Affirm handles underwriting, approval and repayment processes, while businesses still get paid in full up front.

In essence, Intuit is giving SMBs a built-in solution for improving customer conversion and preserving cash flow — two perennial challenges in small business finance.

Addressing the Cash Flow Challenge

Cash flow remains a critical pain point for SMBs. Intuit’s own research shows that more than half of small businesses (56 %) are owed money from unpaid invoices, with the average outstanding amount around $17,500 per business.

By allowing customers to pay over time through Affirm while ensuring merchants receive their funds immediately, the integration aims to:

• Reduce the burden of unpaid invoices
• Boost conversion and average order value
• Help SMBs maintain healthier cash flow

These are particularly relevant at a time when many small companies juggle tight working capital and unpredictable payment cycles.

“By partnering with Affirm to bring native, pay-over-time functionality to QuickBooks, we are giving businesses a powerful new way to increase conversion and improve cash flow,” said David Hahn, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Intuit’s Services Group.

A Simple, Integrated Experience

One of the notable features of this partnership is its focus on simplicity. Eligible QuickBooks Online users in the U.S. will be able to access Affirm’s BNPL option without additional setup or technical integration, as it is built directly into QuickBooks Payments.

Once activated, merchants can send invoices, and customers can choose Affirm as a payment method — selecting flexible installment terms, including plans with 0 % APR and no late fees or hidden charges. Affirm’s system evaluates each transaction independently, relieving business owners from managing credit or collections.

This seamless integration could make BNPL more accessible to business customers, extending the popular consumer payment model into B2B use cases.

Strategic Implications for Intuit and Affirm

For Intuit, this partnership enhances QuickBooks’ position as more than just accounting software — it becomes a broader financial management ecosystem that helps businesses manage cash flow, payments, and now flexible invoicing options.

For Affirm, securing an exclusive role within one of the most widely used small business platforms in the U.S. represents a major strategic win. Affirm’s BNPL solutions have expanded beyond retail into partnerships with merchants and platforms that value flexibility and transparent financing — and this integration broadens that reach.

This move follows Affirm’s recent expansions into other fintech partnerships and reinforces its role in powering pay-over-time services beyond traditional consumer checkout experiences.

The deal is another reminder that BNPL is no longer just a consumer credit product — it’s becoming embedded into broader business and financial workflows.

What This Means for SMBs

For small businesses grappling with slow invoice payments and the burden of working capital management, this integration offers a potentially powerful tool.

Rather than waiting weeks or months for customers to settle invoices, merchants can offer transparent, interest-free (when applicable) pay-over-time options that are managed by Affirm. This not only helps merchants get paid faster but also gives their customers flexibility — particularly in sectors where upfront payments are a barrier.

In markets where flexible payments can influence purchasing behaviour, this could translate into higher sales, improved customer loyalty and smoother cash flow cycles — outcomes that are especially valuable for SMBs operating on thin margins.

Looking Ahead

Affirm’s pay-over-time offerings are expected to roll out to eligible QuickBooks Payments users in the U.S. over the coming months. While the initial rollout focuses on U.S. businesses, broader adoption across other regions could follow if the pilot proves successful.

As fintech continues to evolve, partnerships like this — where payments, accounting and financing converge — may become more commonplace. By providing integrated BNPL options within a financial platform used by millions of small businesses, Intuit and Affirm are pushing the boundaries of how business payments and credit are delivered.

More than just a payments feature, this partnership is reshaping the intersection of business finance and customer experience.

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