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Alexa-Dinsdale
Level 2

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

I am a Canadian bookkeeper who wants to take on a client in the U.S. My potential client uses Quickbooks Desktop so I would need to transfer them to Quickbooks Online. I have been told that this can't be done since I am a Canadian entity using QBO(CA). If this can't be done, when will this option be available? I already have one client in the U.S. and had to switch to another accounting software since QB doesn't allow this. I highly recommend you make this an option as a lot of Canadian bookkeepers and accountants have U.S. clients!! Thank you!

Solved
Best answer March 11, 2019

Best Answers
Juliet2
Level 1

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Hi Alexa,

You absolutely can take on QBO US clients.  We do!  You can't however do it with your existing QBOA account.  So what you need to do is set up a QBOA account in the US.  You will need a different email address than the one that you are using for your Canadian QBOA otherwise it gets really messy. 

If you are using the Desktop App for QBO it also allows you to switch between your US and Canadian QBOA accounts. If you are only using browsers, then you would just need to log out of one and into the other.

Hope that helps!

View solution in original post

22 Comments 22
Nadine Lebrun
Level 2

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

You still have to register with a different email. You'll have an account, to add US clients, but if you want to publish your profile, so far at the moment you need to pass the US Certification, and submit IDs, etc... this part is harder.

Juliet2
Level 1

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Hi Alexa,

You absolutely can take on QBO US clients.  We do!  You can't however do it with your existing QBOA account.  So what you need to do is set up a QBOA account in the US.  You will need a different email address than the one that you are using for your Canadian QBOA otherwise it gets really messy. 

If you are using the Desktop App for QBO it also allows you to switch between your US and Canadian QBOA accounts. If you are only using browsers, then you would just need to log out of one and into the other.

Hope that helps!

KATA
Level 1

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

I'd just like to add that I'm going through this exact situation currently.  Another challenge is if you use QBO Payments, your customers who are billed in USD will not see the "Pay Now" button and be able to use their credit card.  There is a workaround with Plooto that I'm currently vetting.
Alexa-Dinsdale
Level 2

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

This won't work for me though because I tried it, and I would have to set up a "fake" QBO US account since I don't have a US address nor do I have a US business number. I want to invoice from my actual QBO Canadian account and not have a separate account that isn't registered properly.
I am hoping QBO fixes this issue as we shouldn't have to trick the system by creating a US account as Canadian bookkeepers!!

Thank you for the input though!
taina-kuczora
Level 1

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Hi, I'm having the same problem accessing US QBO books from Canada. Has this issue been solved as at I'm hitting the wall trying to access my client's US books online. Looking forward to your reply.
thank you
Valhalla BO
Alexa-Dinsdale
Level 2

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Unfortunately not, I complained to QB about this issue as Xero allows you to add U.S. clients. The only way to access their books is to create a U.S. QBOA with a different email. Hope this helps!
Nadine Lebrun
Level 2

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

You still have to register with a different email. You'll have an account, to add US clients, but if you want to publish your profile, so far at the moment you need to pass the US Certification, and submit IDs, etc... this part is harder.

NUMBRS
Level 1

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Hi Juliet,

 

I'm going to be setting up a clients who have US entities on the QB US Side - am I able to offer wholesale billing and pay with my Canadian credit card? 

 

Curious how you use the desktop app to access between the two countries if you have a separate login for both?

RenjolynC
QuickBooks Team

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Hello there, NUMBRS.

 

To use the wholesale billing for QBOA, you need to have a U.S bank account.

 

If you are subscribed to QBOA, you have to log out from one login to another. The switch user option will only apply if there's a separate subscription aside from the accountant version.

 

I'll be around if you have any additional questions or other concerns. Thanks.

LA
Level 2

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Hi, I have a question. What are you putting in as your zip code when signing up for a US account?

LA
Level 2

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Also, what kind of ID do you need for the ProAdvisor profile? Does it need to be US based?

 

PreciousB
Moderator

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Welcome to the Community, LA.

 

Once your US client invites you to be an accountant in their company, you will get an email invitation with a link to follow to sign up for a QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA) account.

 

As for the US zip code, you'll have to enter the basic format which consists of five digits. We recommend using a US address since we will use it if you take and pass the certification.

 

You'll need to submit a valid and current US ID before we publish your profile on the Find-a-ProAdvisor website. If you opt not to take the exam and become a ProAdvisor, we won't require you to provide an ID.

 

For the complete details about signing up QBOA account and becoming a ProAdvisor, please refer to these articles:

I want to be your direct point of contact so we can get this taken care of so please let me know if you have any questions. I hope to hear about your success.

LA
Level 2

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Thanks for your reply. I’ve heard of accountants that are certified in Canada, the USA and the UK. Is this not possible now? I don’t live in the US or have any US ID, but I do want to work with some US businesses and I’d like them to be able to see that I have the certification.

LauraAB
QuickBooks Team

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Hello again, LA.

 

I'll do what I can to help from here. When it comes to the certification, it's possible to be certified for the different QuickBooks Online regions because the certification exams take place directly in the QBOA accounts themselves. When that happens, the certification is tied to the email used to sign up for the program. You should be able to still do the certifications without needing an ID if it's like Canada's program wherein the ID is needed to publish your ProAdvisor profile. I recommend touching base with our team in the US to learn more. You can learn how to get in touch through the US Contact Us page or head over to the US Community to ask your questions there.

 

Take care and have a great weekend!

LA
Level 2

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Ok,  so you just can't publish a profile if you're outside the US? Okay, thank you!

LauraAB
QuickBooks Team

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

You're welcome. You'll be able to discuss all of those kinds of details about publishing profiles and such with the US team. I want to make sure you get the right information so you can connect with your clients. :)

pbellemore
Level 1

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Hello. Just wondering if you ever figured out if this workaround works through Plooto. I am just in the process of setting up a US QBOA account and looking at all of the bugs to fix in advance.

 

AlettaM
Level 1

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

I'm facing the similar issue right now, so which ZIP did you put when created a US account? It won't let me proceed with Canadian zip

LauraAB
QuickBooks Team

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

Hello AlettaM,

 

Welcome to the QuickBooks Community, and thanks for joining us on this thread. The forum is great for these kinds of peer-to-peer help discussions, and I just wanted to take a moment to make sure you had all resources available to you to move forward with setting up your QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA) US account to work with US clients.

 

If you haven't yet already done so, I recommend reaching out to the US team for QuickBooks Online accountant. They'll have some insight in how you can move forward with setting up when you're a Canadian company. Here's a link for the QBOA US page: QuickBooks Online Accountant US.

 

Otherwise, you may yet receive a response here from others who've gone through the same situation, so keep an eye out for that.

 

Wishing you the best!

Fiat Lux - ASIA
Level 15

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

@AlettaM 

You may utilize a dummy address to register. Contact us in private if required.

pbellemore
Level 1

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

13640. I have an address I used you to mail stuff to in the States when we could still cross the border and grab stuff!!! I used that. I don’t think it matters which one as long as the system recognizes you as located in the states. 

kehalcpa
Level 1

Can I add a U.S. based client into QBO as a Canadian bookkeeper?

As the Canadian tax system is complex, a tax accountant in Canada will help their client to go through this system and let you minimize the tax weight on them.

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