Using split billing to manage client subscriptions in QuickBooks Online Accountant

Split billing is a feature available for both existing and new clients. This customization is applicable to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Payroll, and QuickBooks Time.

What is split billing?

Split billing gives Accountants flexibility and control over their billing options for QuickBooks clients. When you split the bill, your firm or your client will pay for the cost of the base subscription plus any variable fees, such as per-employee fees or transaction fees for a specific product.

For example, you can choose to have your clients directly pay for products with variable fees, such as QuickBooks Online Payroll and QuickBooks Time, while your firm continues to pay for QuickBooks Online.

What are the benefits of split billing?

• More flexibility and control over who pays for your clients’ QuickBooks subscriptions.
• Mix and match through QuickBooks Online Accountant the billing options for each QuickBooks product based on what best suits your client and your firm.
• Help your firm standardize your monthly QuickBooks invoice without the complications of variable costs.
• Splitting the billing per product can make it easier for your firm to recommend add-on QuickBooks products to your clients without having to manage the monthly billing and operations.

How do I get access to split billing?

1. Sign into QuickBooks Online Accountant.
2. Select Subscriptions and billing.
3. Choose the correct billing option for each of your existing clients’ subscriptions.

You also have the option to select the desired billing options by subscription when you first add a new client.

Note: You will not be able to split the base subscription from the fees.

Where do I see which clients are on split billing?

The Billed to column in the Subscriptions and billing page in QuickBooks Online Accountant displays who is being billed for each product. You can manage all of your clients’ subscriptions from a single tab where you can easily filter your client list based on how their subscriptions are billed: accountant-billed, client-billed, or split-billed.

Before splitting the bill

Before you split the bill, ensure that you and your client agree on who's paying for what. This helps you tailor invoices to your new and current client's needs.

Before you transfer the billing, if you haven’t already, make your client the primary admin or company admin of their company file. Once done, they can manage their subscription, including for upgrades, downgrades, or cancellation.

Note: Promotional discounts will discontinue on existing products transferred to direct billing.

How do I split the billing in QuickBooks Online Accountant?

From Subscriptions and billing, add client subscriptions for QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Online Payroll, and QuickBooks Time, and split the bill by each product.

You can also choose to edit clients with existing subscriptions and “split” the bill by each product. For example, if your firm currently pays for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Online Payroll, you can choose to only transfer the billing for the existing Payroll subscription to your client.

During the sign-up process for a new subscription, you’ll be able to choose between billing the subscription to your firm or billing to your client.

If you’re adding a new client and want to choose how they will be billed, select Add Client in the upper right-hand corner to begin the signup process. After entering in some basic information, you’ll be prompted to choose a billing option for QuickBooks Online, and then when adding QuickBooks Online Payroll or QuickBooks Time, so you can choose the right billing options for your firm.

Can my clients choose to split the billing without me?

As an accountant, your client could choose split billing themselves in certain unique scenarios. For example, if your client is currently on a firm-billed subscription (accountant paid), the client can subscribe to another QuickBooks product as a direct-billed subscription (client paid).

What happens when I transfer the billing to my client?

Before you transfer the billing, if you haven’t already, make your client the primary admin or company admin of their company file. When you initiate the process to transfer the billing to your client, your client will be prompted to enter their payment information if one is not already on file.

Now that your client owns the billing for the subscription, they will be able to make changes directly in their QuickBooks Online product, including upgrading, downgrading, and cancelling the subscription.

Note: Promotional discounts will discontinue on existing products transferred to direct billing.

How do I get started?

Sign into QuickBooks Online Accountant to choose the right billing option for each of your clients’ subscriptions or call 1-855-348-9670 to speak with a member of the QuickBooks team to learn more about the benefits of splitting the bill.