Customizing Reports in QuickBooks Online

In QuickBooks Online, we try to set you up with the best reports that give you information in a clear and concise way. Because every business is different, it’s likely you’ll want to tweak these reports so that you can understand the data best. This article will be your go-to for the ins and outs of customizing.

Where do we start? Well, first you need to choose the report you want to run. We have a wealth of options, from profit & loss to inventory. If you’re not sure where to start, I’m here to help:

1. Go to Reports on the left menu.
2. Use the Search bar to find a specific report.
3. Click on the ? icon to read what information each report shows you.

Now that you have your report, it’s time to customize! Here’s an overview of what you can customize:

• Filter section: Select which customers, accounts, vendors, accounts, and products appear on the report.
• General section: Change things like the accounting method, reporting period, and number format.
• Rows/Columns section: Choose which rows and columns appear on the report.
• Header/Footer section: Decide what appears in the header and footer.

Any report at the top has a “Customize button. That will show you the options above and allow you to choose the accounting method, cash or accrual. Hint: Choose Cash to include only money you’ve paid or received. Choose Accrual to include open invoices and bills too.

Not only do you get to create the report of your dreams, but you also have the ability to save it too! That way, you always can get to it quickly with all the filters all ready to go. After you create your customizations, click on Save Customization. There you can choose a name and even create a group for this report and others you create.

For the full details, take a look at our article: Memorize reports in QuickBooks Online.

Want to know another cool feature? Do you run the same report every week and wish that you could just have it automatically sent to you?  In QuickBooks Online you can actually automate your custom reports! After you save your customization, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Reports menu and choose the Custom reports tab.
2. Find your custom report on the list.
3. Select Edit from the Action column.
4. Click on Set email schedule to turn it on.
5. Add the email addresses of who you want to send the report to.
6. Fill out the form and set the schedule.
7. Select Save and close.

There’s so much you can do with reporting in QuickBooks Online!  I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t leave you with some extras. 

• Customize Reports in QuickBooks Online
• Run reports in QuickBooks Online
• Common custom reports in QuickBooks Online

Now go forth and customize!