Transfer primary admin access back to your QuickBooks Online client

Learn what to do if your client wants to become the primary admin for their company file.

When a client invites you to be their accountant, or you start a company file for them, you can also be their primary admin. While this lets you handle admin tasks like permissions and data management for them, it’s not a recommended state to be in. Your firm being the primary admin can cause unforeseen and wide-reaching issues in the client account. It’s not recommended for firms to be the primary admin.

Note: To transfer the primary admin role to your client, you must be the primary admin of your QuickBooks Online Accountant account.

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Transfer the primary admin role to your client

If your client wants to be the primary admin for their company file, you can transfer the role. Here's how to transfer primary admin access back to them.

1. Sign in to QuickBooks Online Accountant as the primary admin for your client's company.
2. Select the GO TO QUICKBOOKS dropdown.
3. Select and open your client's QuickBooks Online company.
   Tip: You can also go to Clients, find your client, then select the QuickBooks icon next to their name.
4. Go to Settings ⚙, then select Manage users.
5. Find your client on the list.
6. Select the three-dot menu ፧ icon in the Action section. Then, select Change primary admin.
7. Select Change primary admin again to confirm the change.

Your client will receive an email with a link in it. Ask them to open the link and accept the primary admin role.

Transfer the primary admin role to another accountant on your team

You can also transfer the primary admin role for a client's company to another accountant on your team. Set it up or change lead accountants in QuickBooks Online Accountant.