Hi there bcmarko,
I know how simplifying your data entry with options like importing can be useful for managing your books, and I'm glad to see you're being mindful of the way that your expenses need to be categorized as well. I'd be happy to go over the import options for QuickBooks Online as well as categorizing your expenses so you can move forward with your books.
QuickBooks Online offers a number of import options, such as for customer invoices, bills from suppliers, and even banking transactions. You can import using CSV files and then map and work with your data as needed to make sure it's entered into your books. At this time, importing an Excel file for expense transactions is not one of the available options using the built-in import feature. To see the full list of options, check out this article: Common questions about importing data to QuickBooks Online
That being said, if you're deciding to import your expenses as bills instead, it's important to be mindful of the difference between these transaction types and how they'll impact your books. This article can help with getting to know the ways these transactions differ: What is the difference between bills, cheques, and expenses?
If the expenses are from a file from your bank and you're uploading banking transactions, you can use the following two articles to help with formatting, uploading, and managing those transactions.
However, if you're simply hoping to upload the Excel file you created into QuickBooks Online to work with your expenses, I recommend checking out the partner applications that connect with QuickBooks Online. The Apps tab in the program has a variety of options to choose from, and you can review those options to see if there's one that'll meet your needs.
Whether you're uploading your transactions or entering the expenses manually, choosing the right category for your accounting in important. The categories available when working with expenses are linked to expense accounts in the chart of accounts, so when you select an account or the accounts for your transaction, you can be sure they're being organized the way you'd like them to be. If you're not seeing an existing account for something you need, you can create one by selecting the New button in the Accounting tab.
If you mean to say you're not certain how to categorize your transactions, an accountant would be a great resource. QuickBooks Team members like myself aren't trained in accounting, and can't offer advice on how to organize your books, but an accountant can. The My Accountant tab in QuickBooks Online's left menu is designed to help you connect with an accountant right in the program. You can either invite an accountant you're already working with as a user to your books or you can use the Find a pro to help button to research accountants near you that know the program.
I hope this helps! If you'd like to leave feedback about any of what I've mentioned, you can do so by following the steps here: How do I submit feedback? Your comments help the program evolve and grow, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts. I also welcome you to bookmark the QuickBooks Online Feature and Product Updates page to keep on top of new additions to the software.
Wishing you the best!
