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

Learn how to change the account 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. To change the account type for a group of accounts, begin by changing each subaccount to a parent account so you can edit their account type. Then, change the parent account’s type, and add all the other accounts back under the parent account.

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Change account types

To change the account type of the accounts, start with the subaccounts, then change the parent account.

1. Go to Settings ⚙, then select Chart of accounts (Take me there).
2. Locate the first subaccount to change.
3. From the ACTION column, select the ▼ dropdown, then select Edit.
4. Clear the Make this a subaccount checkbox.
5. Select the Account type ▼ dropdown, then select the new account type.
6. You’ll get the prompt Changing the type or detail type of an account may affect your accounting and reporting. Are you sure you want to do this? Select Yes.
7. Select the Detail type ▼ dropdown, then select the appropriate detail type.
8. Select Save.

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.

1. Go to Settings ⚙, then select Chart of accounts (Take me there).
2. Locate an account to return to a subaccount.
3. From the ACTION column, select the ▼ dropdown, then select Edit.
4. Select the Account type ▼ dropdown, then select the account type of the parent account.
5. You’ll get the prompt Changing the type or detail type of an account may affect your accounting and reporting. Are you sure you want to do this? Select Yes.
6. Select the Make this a subaccount checkbox.
7. Select the Parent account ▼ dropdown, then select the parent account.
8. Select Save.

Repeat these steps for all of the subaccounts.