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Add clients to QuickBooks Online Accountant

by Intuit•11• Updated 3 weeks ago

Learn how to add clients to your firm.

QuickBooks Online Accountant is tailored for financial experts, which makes adding and organising clients easier. Add them to your firm so you have their info. You can also edit their accounts directly once they invite you. With your clients' financial data in one place, you can focus on providing them with the best accounting services.

If your client already has QuickBooks Online, ask them to invite you to become their accountant:

  1. Ask your client to send the invite to the email address you use for your QuickBooks Online Accountant firm.
  2. Open the invite email and select the Accept Invitation link.
  3. Sign in with your user ID and password.
  4. If you have multiple QuickBooks Online Accounting firms, select the one you want to connect your client to.

When you accept the invite, QuickBooks connects their accounts to your firm and adds them to your client list. You can now review and make edits to their books. If you can't accept their invitation, you can add your existing inactive clients again.

Transfer clients with existing QuickBooks subscriptions to your wholesale discount plan

The Primary Admin can follow these steps in their QuickBooks Online company:

  1. Go to Settings Settings gear icon. and select Account and settings.
  2. Select the Billing & subscription, then Allow billing transfer to your accountant link.
  3. Select the name of the accounting firm you want to transfer billing to.
  4. Once done, select Allow transfer.

Note: Once the client gives you permission, you have two days (48 hours) to finish the transfer.

Once the client has provided permission, follow these steps to transfer their subscription.

Keep in mind if your client has the following product attached to their QuickBooks Online subscription, you can't add it to your wholesale discount plan:

  • QuickBooks Time
Please note that the ability to add clients from QuickBooks Time onto your wholesale discount plan will become available soon.

You can add clients to your wholesale discount plan and subscribe to QuickBooks for them. This lets you pick the products that best fit their needs. Learn more about wholesale discount.

  1. In QuickBooks Online Accountant, select Clients from the left-hand navigation menu.
  2. Select Add client.
  3. In the Client contact information section, enter your client’s info. This includes the following:
    • Business name
    • Email
    • Mobile
    • Classification: Individual or Business
  4. In the Product subscription section, select Yes, add a subscription.
  5. Select Wholesale discount (we bill your firm) to add your client to your wholesale discount plan and select Next.
  6. Select a QuickBooks Online plan for your client, then review the plan’s pricing on the following screen. Select Change if you want to choose a different plan, or select Next to continue.
  7. Optionally, you can select a QuickBooks Online Payroll product for your client. Then, select Next.
  8. Review your order and the total amount in the Checkout section. If all looks good, select Place order.

Tip: You can delete products, change billing plans, and assign yourself as the Primary Admin if you and your client agree.

If you have any clients without a subscription plan and you want to subscribe to QuickBooks for them by selecting a wholesale discount plan that best fits their needs:

  1. Go to Clients.
  2. Select Edit client for the client for whom you want to add a subscription plan.
  3. In the Product subscription section, select Yes, add a subscription and Wholesale discount (we bill your firm).
  4. Select Next and follow the next steps to place your order.

You can also give clients a direct discount and let them handle their own billing and subscription.

Note: Your client will need to add their payment information before the 30-day trial period ends to continue using the discount.

  1. In QuickBooks Online Accountant, select Clients from the left-hand navigation menu.
  2. Select Add client.
  3. In the Client contact information section, enter your client’s info. This includes the following:
    • Business name
    • Email
    • Mobile
    • Classification: Individual or Business
  4. In the Product subscription section, select Yes, add a subscription and Direct discount (we bill your client). Then, select Next.
  5. Select a QuickBooks Online plan for your client, then review the plan’s pricing on the following screen. Select Change if you want to choose a different plan, or select Next to continue.
  6. Optionally, you can select a QuickBooks Online Payroll product for your client. Then, select Next.
  7. Review your order and the total amount in the Checkout section. If all looks good, select Place order.

Tip: You can delete products, change billing plans, and assign yourself as the Primary Admin if you and your client agree.

QuickBooks connects their accounts and adds them to your client list. You can now review and make edits to their books.

If you have any clients without a subscription plan and you want to offer them a direct discount and let them handle their own billing and subscription:

  1. Go to Clients.
  2. Select Edit client for the client for whom you want to add a subscription plan.
  3. In the Product subscription section, select Yes, add a subscription and Direct discount (we bill your client).
  4. Select Next and follow the next steps to place your order


Even if your client doesn't have QuickBooks, add them to your firm so all their info is in one place.

  1. In QuickBooks Online Accountant, go to Clients.
  2. Select Add client.
  3. Select Business or Individual.
  4. Enter your client's info.
  5. In the Product subscription section, select No, no subscription needed.
  6. When you're done, select Save.

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