Customer Purchase Orders

Hey there, @CariDCNC. 

It's great to see a new face here in the Community. Allow me to share some information about your question with estimates and purchase orders. 

You can easily create a Purchase Orders from an Estimate in your QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) account. It only takes a few easy steps in your account. Here's how: 

1. Create an Estimate. 
2. On the Estimate, hit the Create Purchase Order button at the top of the screen. 

Now, you've successfully created a Purchase Order from an Estimate. For future reference, here's some details about Purchase Orders that may come in handy: Create purchase orders in QuickBooks Desktop. 

I'm only one post away if there's anything else you need. I'll stick around to help you sort everything out in QuickBooks. Have a good one!

Hi Candace.  I don't see a Create Purchase Order button anywhere at the top of the Estimate screen.  I'm attaching a pic of that part of my screen.  Am I missing something?

Hello there, CariDCNC.

Let me get the help you need concerning Purchase Order.

In your case, we'll need to turn on the Purchase Order feature.

Here's how:

1. Go to Edit menu and Choose Preferences.
2. Select Items & Inventory.
3. Under Company Preferences tab, check the box for Inventory and Purchase Order are active.
4. Click OK.

Once done, you can now successfully create a purchase order from an estimate.

You can also check this article that'll help you create a purchase order: Create Purchase Orders in QuickBooks Desktop.

Please do get back on this thread if you need further assistance in creating a purchase order from the estimate. I'm always here to help.
 

I must not be getting my point across.  The solutions provided above only turn on the ability to create a purchase order for a Vendor for something my company needs to purchase.  That's not what I'm asking.  I'll paste here, again, what I'm asking about:

"To be clear, I'm not asking about a Purchase Order generated by my company and given to a vendor.  But rather I'd like to have a way to assign a purchase order number we receive from a customer to the estimate originally created for them. "

When we send an estimate for programming services to a customer, they will then send us a Purchase Order for that service.  I'm looking for a way to then assign that customer's PO # to the estimate so that when I create the invoice for the service, the PO # is there on the invoice for me, and all are linked. 

Thank you JenoP!  This is what I was looking for and will help me quite a bit.  The only thing missing is the wish that this field on the estimate could populate this field on the invoice, but I can live with it as is.  Thanks again!

TRIAL users able to do the same ?  I'm trying out QB at the moment

and I am already lost at #2 - Additional Info > Define Fields

I don't see this option

Yes, trial users can also add a custom field, SSGP00442.

I'll provide again the steps for you. 

1. Go to the Customer menus, then select Customer Center.
2. Double-click any profile on the list to open and edit it.
3. Select the Additional Info tab, then Define Fields.
4. Name your custom field in the Label column.
5. In the Use for column, select the checkbox to add the custom name field to acustomer. You can track the same info for all three groups.
   
6. Click OK to save the custom field.
    

If you use QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, you can also add preset data fields from the What kind of data? column. Select Any text to create a free-form text field.

Your custom name field now appears in the Additional Info section for the type of people you choose to track.

I'm adding this article in case you need a reference to the steps I've provided: Learn how to create custom fields to personalize QuickBooks Desktop for Windows.

In addition to this, purchase orders are a part of the Accounts Payable (A/P) workflow. Learn how to track the goods and services you order through this article: A/P workflow in QuickBooks Desktop.

Get back to me if there's anything else you need by commenting below. I'll be right here to answer your questions.

I don't see a "Customer Center"

I'm using online version and all i see on the left is Customer & Leads

Clicking on it shows Customers and Marketing

If i click on any customer, all I see is Transaction list / Customer Details

Appreciate the update you've shared, @SSGP00442.

I'm here to help make sure you're able to add custom fields for your transaction template in QuickBooks Online (QBO).

To begin with, the suggestion discussed by my colleague above is intended for customers with accounts in QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT). This is the reason why you're unable to see such options upon trying to replicate them in your account.

A custom field can be found in one of the menus from the Gear icon in QBO. Let me show you how you can turn on and add a custom field for any transaction template.

1. Go to the Gear icon.
2. Under Lists, select Custom fields.
3. Select Add custom field.
4. Enter the name of your new custom field created.
5. Put a checkmark on the All Sales forms selection menu. The Purchase Order tick box is optional if you intend to use this field for the purchase transaction.
6. Click Save.

Kindly read and use this article to learn more about custom fields and how you can use them: Add Custom Fields to Sales Forms and Purchase Orders in QuickBooks Online.

After successfully adding custom fields, consider logging in to your account using any of our supported browser versions for the best experience, and use this reference for all the features and functions you're entitled to use in QuickBooks: Help Articles in QuickBooks Online. You're able to read subtopics that will describe how a feature is used and how to accomplish tasks related to its functions now that the first step of your QuickBooks journey is here.

I've got you covered if you have other questions aside from working with the custom fields for your transaction template in QuickBooks. Use the Reply option below to leave a comment and don't forget to include my name, @JonpriL. Take care always and stay safe!

Thank you, issue resolved.

I was using QB Simple Plan and Custom Fields was not available.

Had to move to Essentials version to see it.

I would like to use the feature you describe to add fields to the email templates.  I have tried the option to add the purchase order number to the [Edit Job/Additional info/Custom Fields/Define Fields] option, however when adding the field in the email text field, i.e. [PO] or [Customer-PO], the field defined does not load into the email.  There are a set pre-defined fields in the [Edit Email Template/Insert Field] menu, but I want to add my own additional fields to the email.

That's a great idea you have there, @ScottD.

I appreciate your interest in having customized fields for email templates. However, this feature is currently unavailable.

We recognize how beneficial it is for you and your business to have customized email fields when customizing templates in QuickBooks Desktop. However, this feature is currently unavailable. We can only add those predefined emails to the email template. 

As we value your suggestions, this would be a great time to send your feedback to our Product Development Team. Here’s how:

1. From the top menu bar, select Send Feedback Online.
2. Click on Product Suggestion.
3. Click on the drop-down for Type of Feedback and select Product Suggestion.
4. Select the Product Area, then enter your thoughts and suggestions.
5. Once done, select Send Feedback.
   
   

Moreover, visit our Feedback forum page to see a list of other QuickBooks users who have already suggested this feature, as well as the recent updates in QuickBooks.

To learn more about using and customizing form templates, you can visit this helpful guide here: Use and customize form templates.

You can post anytime if you have questions about personalizing your sales forms in QuickBooks Desktop or if you want to share your best practices using the product. Please know the Community has your back. Keep safe always!

Thank you for your quick reply and will make the product suggestion today !

You're always welcome, @ScottD.

Please know that our doors are open 24/7 here on the Community page. If you have follow-up questions in the future, feel free to post again or leave a comment below.

Keep safe always!