Is there a way to run a report for estimate vs actual job costs? Desktop had this report available, but now I do not see the option.

Welcome back to the Community, @brooksideres.

Currently, we're unable to run a report for estimate vs. actual job costs the same what QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) can do.

I'll submit this feedback to our product engineers. They can check to see how to implement this report the same with QBDT, and the implementation varies on the number of feedback we receive.

You can use this video article as your reference in tracking your profitability by projects: Track income, costs, and profitability by project. It includes how to add existing expenses and invoices, and create estimates.

I'll add this article as your basis in modifying reports and save the customized reports: Memorize reports.

Please feel free to leave a message to this post if you need assistance. I'm always here to help. Have a good one!

Is there any update to getting the process of tracking/reporting estimated vs actual on job costing?  It is the key to tracking how your job cost variances effected your profits.

Thanks for joining in on the thread, klittle0602.

This type of report is not yet available in QuickBooks Online, unlike the Desktop version has. The only suggestion we can make is to customize the available report to get the data you need.

Meanwhile, I'd recommend sending feedback through the articles. The more users sending feedback or suggestions, the faster the reports or functions are implemented to the program.

1. Log in to your Community account.
2. Open the article mentioned by Jovychris_A and scroll-down to the Was this helpful section.
3. Enter your suggestion or feedback and click Submit.

You can also visit the QuickBooks Blog to see any updates or changes about the program.

We'll be right here if you need anything else.

Is there any update regarding accessing this report with QuickBooks Online?

Hello there, BLF Management.

As of now, the option to pull a report that shows the estimated vs. actual job costing isn't available.

In the meantime, we can customize the report and filter it. 

Feel free to visit our blog that has the lists of the updated features of QuickBooks.

I'm just a post-away if you need help. Keep safe!

It's been a over a year since this thread was started—any idea when this feature will be available? I have a client I am trying to get to switch from desktop to online but this feature is a major sticking point.

I admire you for taking your time in the loop about the availability of this report, @SquareTriangle.

I can see how beneficial it is to your client to run a report for estimate vs. actual job costs in their QuickBooks Online (QBO) account.

As of now, I’m unable to share with you a specific time frame as to when this report will be available. Rest assured our Product team is aware of this and is working on implementing this in the future.

You can also submit a feedback so they can have a look and review it. Let me show you how.

1. Go to the Gear icon.
2. Select Feedback.
3. Enter your comments or product suggestions. 
4. Then select Next to submit feedback.

You can also check this link for more details: How do I submit feedback?

In the meantime, you’ll want to customize your available reports as suggested by my colleagues above to show the information you need. Also, I recommend checking ourQuickBooks blog page from time to time to stay current on the latest news about QuickBooks.

Keep me posted if you have any other concerns managing your reports or if there’s anything else I can be of help with. I’m always around ready to assist you. Have a good one stay safe!

I use this in our desktop company, but it is very annoying to not have in the online version.  Is there a release date on this yet?

We have this option in our other company on the desktop version, so very frustrating that the online version does not have this report.  Is there a release date yet?

Hi hbzconstruction,

We'll take note of your feedback to let our developers know that you wish to see that report. There isn't an announcement about changes in the products until they will be implemented,

If there's anything that  I can help you with, feel free to reach back out.

@hbzconstruction 

Consider having an additional app to do so.

@hbzconstruction - Are you currently using an App that links to QBO for construction job costing and WIP reporting that is simple to use?

How do I customize the a report to include this information? I can't find a way to add the ESTIMATE to a report to create this reporting? The project reports do not have Estimate as an options. The estimate reports don't have costs as an option to add. 

Help. 

Hi there, twalker4.

Welcome to the QuickBooks Community. I'll ensure to share additional details about running reports in QuickBooks Online.

As mentioned above, running and customizing a specific report for an estimate vs actual job costs is not yet available in QuickBooks Online. This information is found in different reports like Estimate & Progress Invoicing Summary By Customer and Project Profitability. Meanwhile, I suggest exporting those reports to Excel so you can customize them to change other aspects of the visual appearance. That way, you're able to see the detailed data that you want to view about the estimate and actual job costs.

Here's how to export:

1. Go to the Reports menu.
2. Use the search bar to find reports by name. You can also browse the list.
3. Choose the report and open it.
4. Click the Export icon.
5. Select Export to Excel.
6. Save the file somewhere you can easily find it, like your Downloads folder or your desktop.

Please note that if you’re missing data when you open the report in Excel, the file's in protected view. In Excel, you’ll need to select Enable Editing to view the full report.

To see additional information on how to run a basic financial report and how it works, you can click this article: Run reports in QuickBooks Online.

Please refer to this article to see a table list that contains various reports that are available for your version of QuickBooks Online: Reports included in your QuickBooks Online subscription.

Don't hesitate to tag my name in the comment section below if you have other concerns or questions. I'm always ready to help. Have a great day and stay safe.

Hi guys, let me share some ideas on what you can do in the mean time.

1. Set up class for your project

2. Set up a budget for the project using your various cost items and make sure you do this by class

3. use the budget report feature to generate report by class to analyse your estimated cost and actuals report

I was also tricked into going back to QBO after being a desktop user for 4 years. I was told they had updated the software and would function like the desktop. This is basically a lie. The 2 software do not function at all alike. Here is another example, the MOST useful feature for billing is to run the estimate vs actual report. This does not exist. and like everything else, most likely will never exist. the class workaround seems like a huge hassle. so...

Is there any report or setting that can tell me how much of a service item has been billed for a customer project? I can then have another window open with the estimate and compare the 2 visually?

Hi there, @radiusdesign.

I can see how you wanted to generate a report that shows the service item billed for a customer project. As of now, it's still unavailable in QuickBooks Online (QBO). You can consider running the Project profitability report to see all transactions on a specific project. I understand that you'll have to run this report one at a time. However, this will be the best option we can consider right now.

I also get your point that there are features in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) that weren't in QBO. As mentioned by my colleagues above, these two products are different QuickBooks platforms with distinct components. 

In the meantime, I recommend sending this request straight to our product engineers through feedback. Sharing features and options that you would like implemented is how our engineers look for new product updates.

To send feedback, follow the below steps:

1. Go to the Gear icon at the top.
2. Select Feedback.
3. Enter your comments or product suggestions. 
4. Then select Next to submit feedback.

You may also visit our Feedback forum page. From there, you'll see a list of QuickBooks users who also submitted feedback, as well as the recent updates in QuickBooks.

Additionally, to learn more how to run report in QBO, visit these articles:

• Run reports
• Customize your reports in QuickBooks Online

If you need further assistance in managing your account, leave me a comment below. It's always a pleasure to help you. Take care.

This just seems insane to me. I've read through YEARS of complaints about this feature, AND complaints by people that also felt like they were lied to so they would switch over. Contractors everywhere are switching to other systems that cost 5 times as much just because this reporting feature is CRUCIAL to our work. I've sent in many requests myself for this feature. We've used desktop for 6 years, we are using QB Desktop 2022 AND QBO right now because we didn't trust QBO to do what we needed it to. SO GLAD we did. Someone DO SOMETHING!!!!!!

I'm trying to set it up this way now, I called Intuit and they were no help at all with this. Would you mind please giving a more step-by-step process to this report? I can't seem to get it to group by item/service and filter by class at the same time.

Yes, we can personalize the report to get the details you need, @Aaronnickell. I’ll share some steps and help you go over your report, then filter it properly.

Classes are generally for categorizing business departments or different services your business may provide. Projects are for tracking and analyzing the profitability of a job. If you have a project-based business, you’ll want to run an individual profitability report for each project.

Here’s how:

1. On the left pane, select Reports.
2. Search for Project Profitability report.
3. Select Customize.
4. Go to the Filter dropdown, tick Class and Product/Service.

Please know you can also run the report from the Projects menu.  From there, select the project name, then the Project Reports tab. You can also include other projects using this report. 

You also have the option to pull up the Profit and Loss by Customers. This will help you view your income, expenses, and net income (profit or loss) to all customers or projects.

If you have any other concerns about pulling up or customizing a report, feel free to leave a comment below. I'm always here to help. Have a good day and more success in your business.

No, we need our estimates to be on the reports as well, and compare those numbers to the numbers reported in costs for each job. Our Projects use items, and not expenses. Everything goes to Construction in Progress, we have to account for those projects as assets. The costs do not go into Cost of Goods Sold until the home sale has been closed on, then a journal entry to move the entire cost of the job from Construction in Progress into Cost of Goods Sold. We need to compare estimates for a job to the itemized costs of that job.

Thanks for getting back to us, @Aaronnickell.

Allow me to hop in and provide information about the report you want to run in QuickBooks Online (QBO).

Currently, the report that you'd like to pull up in QBO is unavailable. In the meantime, you can use the report shared by my colleague above as a workaround.

I can see how having this option would be helpful for you and your business. I highly suggest sending feedback directly to our product developers. They're always looking for ideas to consider on how to improve QBO.

Here's how to submit feedback:

1. In QBO, select the Gear icon at the top, then Feedback.
2. Enter your comments or product suggestions. Then select Next to submit feedback.

For more information about managing and customizing reports in QBO, consider checking out these articles:

• Customize reports in QuickBooks Online.
• Common custom reports in QuickBooks Online.

For more tips and other resources, you can also visit our website for you can use in the future: Self-help articles.

Please let me know if you have additional questions about reports or anything else QuickBooks. I'll be more than willing to assist. Stay safe.

I've sent in a couple, but I will continue, everyday now. Someone will hopefully get annoyed enough to correct the problem. :)

Any update on this? 

We're now having to use a whole other program JUST for this vital report. The "workaround" does not work.