Thanks for attempting to help, but if you read the previous messages in the thread, you'll see that we already have set this option and it only affects some, but not all of the reports. In fact, some of the most important accounting reports ignore the setting and it still has to be set manually when you run them.  QB never fixed this issue, which is a simple item to programmatically fix (duh... a radio button default based on a preference setting). Instead, they ignored the issue in the desktop version.  Now that they have "retired" the non-subscription based application, it will never get fixed.  Shame on QB for ignoring things like this.

And the unaffected reports that ignore the user setting are arguably the most important reports. Way to go QB.

...and the original post is almost 3 years old and the simple bug was still never fixed...

Two years later and it still doesn't work like this.  This would be a HUGE asset.  If the company accounting method is cash, all reports should be cash, the tax return prep reports should also default to the company accounting method.

This continues to be a serious flaw in the software. In fact, there are multiple issues related to it.  Even though you see standard reports to be cash basis, the software overrides it and the report is accrual.  Moreover, for whatever reason the pdf report does not state if it is cash or accrual.  A minor detail for intuit to add yet a big cause for embarrassment when the software is set to generate cash basis p&l and instead, without a notice, generates accrual basis. 

Classic case of software engineers not communicating with the accounting user base. 

This is quite possibly the most annoying missing feature of QBO.

I have sent my feedback to change this - figure it out Intuit!

This doesn’t solve the problem for a lot of reports.  Apparently, judging by the age of this thread and the simplicity of the problem, QB can’t be bothered to change it.

Change default accounting method from accrual to cash. Where to you change the setting

In the online version, what bothers me the most is that I can't change the Management Reports. I'd like to use these sets of reports since it makes a little portfolio of everything you want to include, but you can't change the accounting method - even manually.

This is ridiculous and I can't believe the age of this thread, and we're still dealing with this. This should be an automatic default with the set accounting method, and if QB is claiming "just set it manually", they need to include this "feature" in every place you pull reports.

Hi. I understand how convenient to have this option on the report. Please know that our goal is to make your life easier and save time when doing tasks to your account.

I recommend sending your suggestion to our Product Development team to improve your QuickBooks experience.

Here are the steps:

1. Go to the Gear icon at the top, then select Feedback.
2. Enter your comments or product suggestions.
3. Click Next to complete the process.

You can also post to the Customer Feedback website to send your concerns. 

In addition, check these resources on how to personalize reports, and save their current settings:

• Customize reports in QuickBooks Online. 
• Memorize reports in QuickBooks Online.

Leave a comment below if you need more help. The Community is always her to assist.