QuickBooks brings a fresh perspective to the struggles of new business owners in their ad, The New Business Dilemma. With a clever mix of wit and relatability, this ad highlights the often-overlooked complexities of entrepreneurship, while positioning QuickBooks as the seamless solution to those overwhelming “what now?” moments.
The Formula (That Works at Any Budget):
Create a Relatable Problem Scenario – The ad begins with an entrepreneur facing a classic dilemma: how to juggle growth and finance without losing their sanity. The fast-paced dilemma they face resonates with anyone who’s ever run a business.
→ Lesson: Start with a common problem your audience faces, and give it a funny twist. This opens the door for your product to step in as the hero.
Humor Through the Absurdity of Solutions – The character considers increasingly ridiculous solutions—like hiring too many specialists or overcomplicating basic tasks. It’s a funny, exaggerated portrayal of how entrepreneurs often tackle problems without realizing there’s a simpler, smarter way.
→ Lesson: Use humor to show the extremes of a situation, making your solution look like a breath of fresh air.
Smooth Transition to the Solution – After a series of chaotic (and humorous) ideas, QuickBooks enters as the calm, organized choice, gently solving the dilemma with a simple, user-friendly interface.
→ Lesson: Position your product as the effortless fix to an overly complicated problem.
Clear Call to Action – The ad wraps up with a strong, no-frills call to action: letting the audience know that QuickBooks is here to help them navigate business without the stress.
→ Lesson: Be clear about your product’s value proposition—show, don’t just tell.
Humor Breakdown:
The humor comes from the absurdity of trying to overcomplicate basic business tasks. The ad uses rapid-fire cuts of increasingly ridiculous “solutions,” which amplifies the sense of chaos that business owners often feel when they’re in the weeds. It’s a quick laugh but also an invitation to simplify things with QuickBooks.
Final Verdict:
QuickBooks does a fantastic job of taking a highly relatable issue for business owners—overwhelming complexity—and transforming it into a lighthearted, humorous ad. By showing the stress of managing growth with outdated methods, QuickBooks positions itself as the straightforward, sanity-saving solution for small business owners.
Brave-o-meter score:
B-8 | R-7 | A-6 | V-8 | E-7
BRAVE – 7.2/10
Watch the full ad & learn more:
Website: QuickBooks
LinkedIn: QuickBooks LinkedIn Page
