Change the type of an existing parent account or subaccount in QuickBooks Online

In the Chart of Accounts, all parent accounts and their subaccounts must have the same account type.

If you need to change the type of account for an entire group, you must start with the subaccounts, reversing their subaccount status and then changing their account types. You can then change the account type of the parent account. Once all of the accounts reflect the new account type, you can link the subaccounts back to the parent account and return them to subaccount status.

Change account types

To change the account type of the accounts, start with the subaccounts, and then, when all of them have been changed, change the parent account:

1. Go to Settings ⚙.
2. Select Chart of accounts.
3. Locate the first subaccount to change.
4. From the Action column ▼ dropdown, select Edit.
5. Clear the Is subaccount checkbox.
6. Select the new Account Type from the dropdown menu.
7. Select the appropriate Detail Type from the dropdown list.
8. Select Save and Close. You are prompted that changing the Account Type may affect your accounting and reporting.
9. Select Yes in the prompt to change the account.

Repeat these steps for the remaining subaccounts, and then change the account type of the parent account.

Return accounts to subaccount status

Once all of the accounts reflect the same account type, you can edit the subaccounts to identify them as subaccounts again, and link them back to the parent account.

To return accounts to subaccount status:

1. Go to Settings ⚙.
2. Select Chart of accounts.
3. Locate an account to identify as a subaccount again.
4. From the Action column ▼ dropdown, select Edit.
5. Select the Is subaccount checkbox.
6. Select the Parent account from the dropdown list.
7. Select Save and Close.

Repeat these steps for all of the subaccounts.