1C Basic or PROF: limitations and when to switch

The 1C Basic version is enough if one person works in the program on one computer, each database holds one organization, and no customization is needed. From 1C:Accounting Basic, ESF can be sent directly with a 1C:ITS contract at the TECHNO or PROF level or uploaded to the ESF information system portal as a file. If a second user appears, or you need configuration customization or remote access, it is time to move to PROF. The money paid for Basic is not lost: under 1C Company terms, its cost is credited. For 1C:Accounting 8 for Kazakhstan, the upgrade at prices as of 1 October 2026 will cost 72 100 ₸, not 97 250 ₸ as when buying PROF from scratch.

Prices in the article are taken from the 1c-rating.kz price list for electronic delivery and were checked on 1 October 2026. Version limitations are described from the product pages and the answers to licensing questions on 1c.kz.

How 1C Basic differs from PROF

Basic is a single-user variant of the same program: its accounting sections, documents and statutory reporting are the same as in PROF. The versions differ mainly in technical and licensing limitations, and some features are not available in Basic, for example branch reporting. 1C Company describes the Basic version of Accounting as a program for small businesses where one accountant works with it and the standard solution does not need to be adapted to the company.

Comparison for 1C:Accounting 8 for Kazakhstan:

Feature	Basic	PROF
Simultaneous work with the database	1 user	from 1 to 500 users, depending on the delivery
Several organizations in one database	No, each one in a separate database	Yes, with no limit on the number
Tax reporting broken down by several tax committees (branches)	No	Yes
Configuration changes	No, only the standard configuration and its updates	Yes
Distributed infobases	No	Yes
COM connection and automation server	No	Yes
Direct exchange with the ESF information system	Accounting: yes, starting with release 3.0.53.2 with a TECHNO or PROF level 1C:ITS contract; other programs: check by release	Yes, with a 1C:ITS contract
Additional client licenses	Cannot be added	Purchased according to the number of users

The description of the Basic version of Trade Management for Kazakhstan on 1c.kz lists the same limitations on users, organizations, branches, customization, DIB and COM connection. It also states directly that the client-server mode is not supported. Basic versions are also released for UNF and Retail. Before buying, check the limitations on the page of the product you need.

Limitations of the 1C Basic version, point by point

One user and one computer

Only one user works with a Basic version database at a time: under the license agreement, the program is not intended for multi-user mode. Client licenses cannot be added to it: the agreement prohibits this, and it is technically impossible. The protection is software-based, and the license is tied to the computer. Basic can be installed on only one computer, and the spare activations are meant for replacing or upgrading that computer, not for a second workstation.

In practice, this means that an accountant who wants to work both at the office and at home cannot legally install Basic on a second computer. The director also cannot open reports at the same time as the accountant.

One organization per database

In Basic, you can keep records for several organizations, but each one in a separate infobase. They will have no shared counterparty and item catalogs, and no consolidated reports for the group of companies. If you have an LLP and a sole proprietor with common suppliers, counterparty records will have to be created in each database separately.

The configuration cannot be customized

The license agreement prohibits changing Basic: only official developer updates may be installed. You cannot build your own report or print form into the configuration or change the logic of a document. Starting with platform 8.3.15, Basic versions can use “Patch” extensions, but only those released by the configuration vendor. They fix errors and are not intended for company-specific customization.

Direct exchange with the ESF information system: 1C:ITS contract and release

The “1C:ESF for Kazakhstan” service, which sends and receives ESF, EAVR and SNT directly from the program, was available at its launch in 2023 to the PROF and CORP versions with a 1C:ITS contract. Starting with release 3.0.53.2 (December 2023), 1C:Accounting Basic can also connect to it with a 1C:ITS contract at the TECHNO or PROF level. For other Basic programs, check service support and the required contract for your release. Without the service, documents are exported from 1C to XML and uploaded to the ESF information system portal.

If there are only a few ESF per month, you can work this way. But if there are dozens of them, plus SNT, manual export takes time and leads to errors. Typical failures in direct exchange are covered in the article “ESF is not sent from 1C”.

File mode only, with no access over the internet

Basic versions are designed for the file mode. Server licenses are not sold for them, and the description of Trade Management for Kazakhstan states directly that the client-server mode is not supported. The description of the Basic version of “1C:Trade Management 8” on the 1C:Enterprise 8 platform website lists more: the web client is not supported, and the thin client works only with a file database. When comparing the Basic version with the 1C:Fresh cloud, 1C Company notes separately that access over the internet cannot be set up for the Basic version.

Branches, distributed databases and integrations

Three more limitations matter for larger companies:

• branches and representative offices: Basic cannot produce tax reporting broken down by several tax committees;
• distributed infobases (DIB) are not supported, so, for example, you cannot use this mechanism to exchange data between store databases and the central database;
• COM connection and automation server are not available, and external programs cannot connect to the database in these ways.

1C Basic and PROF prices in 2026

Program, electronic delivery	Basic	PROF	Difference
1C:Accounting 8 for Kazakhstan	25 900 ₸	97 250 ₸	71 350 ₸
1C:Trade Management for Kazakhstan	36 300 ₸	136 250 ₸	99 950 ₸
1C:Small Business Management for Kazakhstan	36 300 ₸	136 250 ₸	99 950 ₸
1C:Retail for Kazakhstan	25 900 ₸	97 250 ₸	71 350 ₸

The PROF delivery includes a license for one workstation. For each additional workstation used at the same time, you buy a PROF client license: 44 712 ₸ for one workstation, 155 002 ₸ for five. Accounting and UNF have bundles for 5 users: 226 875 ₸ and 253 750 ₸.

Annual costs also matter. Registered Basic users get program and reporting form updates, as well as consultations by phone and email, free of charge; direct exchange with the ESF information system from Accounting Basic requires a 1C:ITS contract at the TECHNO or PROF level. For PROF, updates and services, including direct exchange with the ESF information system, come through a 1C:ITS contract. 1C Company's recommended price for a 1C:ITS PROF contract is 169 000 ₸ for 12 months and 138 600 ₸ for a renewal without a break; under a PROF-level contract, exchange with the ESF information system can be connected for 10 organizations. How the other plans differ is explained in the article “What 1C:ITS is and what plans are available”.

Hence a simple conclusion. One accountant on PROF with a 1C:ITS PROF contract costs 266 250 ₸ in the first year, while Basic costs 25 900 ₸. If one person works in the company without customization, PROF bought “to grow into” usually does not pay off. The full 1C budget with licenses, ITS and implementation is calculated in the article “How much 1C costs in Kazakhstan in 2026”.

When to move from Basic to PROF

It makes sense to move if at least one of these conditions is met:

1. Two or more people need to work in the database. For example, an accountant and a storekeeper, an accountant and a sales manager, or a director who needs reports.
2. You need to work remotely or from several computers. Basic cannot be published over the internet, and a second computer cannot be registered for it.
3. Several organizations need to live in one database, with shared catalogs and consolidated reporting.
4. There are many ESF, EAVR and SNT, and exporting them manually to XML is no longer convenient.
5. You need configuration customization: change a document, build your own report or print form into the program, or connect another program via a COM connection.
6. The company has branches, and tax reporting has to be prepared for several tax committees.
7. The load is growing, and the database needs the client-server mode.

When Basic is enough

Basic suits a sole proprietor or a small LLP if one accountant works in 1C on one computer, the accounting is standard, there are few ESF, and several organizations can be kept in separate databases.

Starting with Basic is almost risk-free. At prices as of 1 October 2026, Basic Accounting plus a later upgrade cost 25 900 + 72 100 = 98 000 ₸ together, while PROF bought right away costs 97 250 ₸. The difference is only 750 ₸. But price list prices change, and in an upgrade the program being returned is credited at the current retail price. Check the final amount on the date of the upgrade.

How to move from the Basic version to PROF

Upgrade terms and price

The procedure is described in 1C Company information letter No. 27045 of 10.04.2020 on 1c.kz. Basic versions can be replaced with PROF under an upgrade scheme that is the same for boxed and electronic deliveries. The upgrade price is calculated as follows: the price of the product being purchased minus the price of the product being returned plus 750 ₸, but not less than half the price of the product being purchased. The new program can be bought separately or together with client and server licenses.

Calculation at prices as of 1 October 2026:

Upgrade	PROF price	Basic credit	Upgrade price
Accounting: Basic → PROF	97 250 ₸	25 900 ₸	72 100 ₸
Trade Management: Basic → PROF	136 250 ₸	36 300 ₸	100 700 ₸
UNF: Basic → PROF	136 250 ₸	36 300 ₸	100 700 ₸
Retail: Basic → PROF	97 250 ₸	25 900 ₸	72 100 ₸

The lower limit of half the PROF price (48 625 ₸ for Accounting and Retail, 68 125 ₸ for Trade Management and UNF) does not apply in any of these cases. Example: Accounting for three users will cost 72 100 ₸ for the upgrade and 89 424 ₸ for two single-workstation licenses, 161 524 ₸ in total. The final amount is calculated by the 1C partner who arranges the upgrade.

Upgrade procedure for electronic delivery

According to the same information letter, an upgrade of an electronic delivery goes as follows:

1. Request through a 1C partner. An electronic delivery can be upgraded only to a product that is also delivered electronically.
2. User statement. The company undertakes to delete the Basic software license file from the computer after the replacement. The statement is signed by the head of the company and stamped with the organization's seal, and the partner attaches a scan of it to the request.
3. Shipment of the new delivery. After that, the PIN codes of the replaced set become inactive, and updates for the returned product no longer arrive.
4. PROF activation and database migration. The PROF license is activated on a computer or server, and the database is moved to the new delivery.

After shipment, the Basic PIN codes become inactive, and license operations with them, such as reactivation after replacing a computer, are no longer possible. So it is better to plan the PROF activation and database migration in advance and not start them in the last days before a reporting deadline.

What happens to the database and data

According to 1C Company, when moving from the Basic version to PROF, the accumulated accounting data is fully transferred to the new program. You do not need to enter it again. The reverse path is closed: in the description of the Basic version of Accounting, 1C Company states that databases created in PROF cannot be transferred to Basic.

Back up the database before the upgrade. After it, you still need to set up what you upgraded for: create users and permissions, connect online support and exchange with the ESF information system. If the organizations used to be in separate databases, merging them into one is a separate data transfer job; the upgrade itself does not do this.

Summary: a checklist for choosing

Choose Basic if:

• one person works in 1C on one computer;
• the accounting is standard and no customization is needed;
• there are few ESF: they are uploaded to the portal as a file, and from Accounting Basic they can also be sent directly under a 1C:ITS contract at the TECHNO or PROF level;
• several organizations can be kept in separate databases.

Choose PROF or move to it if at least one point applies:

• two or more people work in the database at the same time;
• you need remote access or work from several computers;
• you need direct exchange with the ESF information system in a program whose Basic version does not support it;
• you need configuration customization or integrations via a COM connection;
• several organizations need to be kept in one database;
• you have branches reporting to different tax committees.

Before the upgrade:

• check that Basic is registered to your organization;
• calculate the upgrade using the current price list and add licenses for the required number of workstations;
• include a 1C:ITS contract in the budget;
• prepare the statement signed by the head of the company and a database backup.

If you are not sure which version you need, tell us how many people work in 1C and what tasks the program should handle. The AC PRO team has worked in Almaty since 2018 and remotely across Kazakhstan. We will select the version and licenses, arrange electronic delivery and set up 1C:Accounting for Kazakhstan or another 1C program for your accounting.