Delete your data and start over

If your QuickBooks Online company file is 90 days old or older, or if you use Simple Start, you must cancel your current company and start a new one to begin fresh.

Step 1: Cancel your current company

1. Follow the instructions to cancel your account.
2. If you use QuickBooks Payroll, you must also cancel your payroll subscription separately.

Note: Canceling your subscription doesn't immediately delete your data. You will retain read-only access to your company data for one year after cancelation. To permanently remove your data sooner, find out how to manage your personal data from your Intuit Account.

Step 2: Start a new company

1. Sign up for QuickBooks Online.
2. Enter your user ID and password. You can reuse the same credentials you used for your previous company.
3. If you need payroll services for the new company, make sure to add Payroll during the sign-up process (it's mentioned in Step 2 of sign-up).

This process permanently deletes your existing company data. It's only available for QuickBooks Online Essentials, QuickBooks Online Plus, and QuickBooks Online Advanced subscriptions. If you have QuickBooks Online Simple Start, follow the instructions for companies that are more than 90 days old.

Things to consider before purging

• Admin Access: You must be signed in as an admin to purge company data.
• Scope: This process deletes the data only for the specific QuickBooks Online company you are logged into. For managing all Intuit data, see manage your personal data from your Intuit Account or visit the privacy center.
• Connected Apps/Banks: Purging can permanently damage connections to banks or third-party apps.
• Subscriptions: Purging data doesn't cancel your QuickBooks or Payroll subscriptions.
• Data Re-entry: All company data will be cleared. Employee and historical information you want to keep must be re-entered manually.
• QuickBooks Time: Data imported from QuickBooks Time will also be purged.
• Lists: To save your current lists (customers, vendors), learn how to move your lists to a new company before purging.
• Confirmation: Ensures that you want to delete everything before proceeding.

Steps to purge company data

1. Sign in to your QuickBooks Online account. as an admin. Make sure you are in the company you intend to purge.
2. Open this link in your web browser: https://app.qbo.intuit.com/app/purgecompany.
3. To confirm you want to delete all company data, type YES in the text field.
4. Select OK.
5. Choose your industry from the dropdown menu.
6. Select Create accounts based on my industry to have QuickBooks help set up your chart of accounts after the purge. Don't select Create an empty chart of accounts unless advised by your accountant.
7. Select Wipe Data.

Once the process completes, you can begin setting up your company file from scratch.