Does the upgrade to plus from starter take place immediately? I don't have access to projects yet

Hello there, Eric. 

Yes, the upgrade will take effect immediately. If you still see the old features, log out and reopen QuickBooks to refresh the page. You can also verify your current plan through the Accounts and Settings window.

1. Go to the Gear icon, then Accounts and Settings.
2. Click on Billing & Subscription.
3. Ensure that QBO Plus is successfully activated and your payment information is up to date.

After that, check the Projects menu on the left pane. Once available, you're now ready to set up and manage projects in QBO.

If you have other questions about your plan or while setting up projects in QuickBooks, let me know by adding a comment below. I'm more than happy to help you again. Have a great weekend!