Projects

You need to manually tag Projects for your existing data in QB Online. I would recommend using the converted data in QBO as is and keeping your QB Desktop to access your historical data for good. If you have QB Desktop with a subscription license, you can use the trial version as a workaround after your subscription ends.

Allow me to provide insights about projects (customers) in QuickBooks Online (QBO) and guide you through the process of adding your existing expenses, @MG2087.

When you migrate from QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT) to QBO, a project in QBDT will be converted as a sub-customer in QBO. This means that before you can link your existing expenses, you'll need to manually convert these sub-customers into projects. Please know that the project feature is only available in QBO Plus and Advanced. 

To convert a sub-customer into a project, you need to first turn on the Project feature in QBO, then convert the sub-customer. Here's how:

1. Go to Sales, then select Customers.
2. Locate and select the sub-customer. If it's inactive, select Make Active.
3. Click Edit.
4. Ensure that you select the Is a sub-customer checkbox.
5. Check and confirm the parent customer. This is the account that's connected to the project.
6. Select Bill parent customer checkbox.

For more detailed steps, check out this article: Change sub-customers into projects QuickBooks Online.

Once you've converted the sub-customer, you can follow this article on how to add existing expenses to a project.

Moreover, you might want to check this article to track income, expenses, timesheets, and labor costs: Track hourly labor costs and profitability by project in QuickBooks Online.

You can always count on us if you need additional assistance with operating your customers in QBO. Have a good one!

@LouiseG I have 21 sub-customers none of which are my current customers. They are old projects that had more than one project for same customer. Otherwise my current customers only have 1 project to their name. When i try to make that customer a sub-customer it does not let me.

Thanks for getting back to us, MG2087.

Converting the same customer into a sub-customer isn't possible in QuickBooks Online (QBO). You can choose a different customer or create a new customer to use as a parent or sub-customer. Once done, proceed with making your customer a sub-customer. 

Here's how:

1. Go to the Left panel and select Sales.
2. Choose the Customers Tab.
3. Click on the New Customer button.
4. Fill out the full name and company name and complete the required information.
5. Return to the Customer Tab, and double-click the customer you want to add as a sub-customer.
6. Click the Edit button.
7. Under the Name and Contact, check the Is a sub-customer box.
8. Then select a Parent customer, and choose the one you newly created or a different existing customer to proceed. 

You can check these articles for more detailed steps.

• Add and manage customers
• Change sub-customers into projects

I'm also adding this article to guide you in tracking your projects: Create and manage projects in QuickBooks Online.

Keep us posted if you have other questions about managing customers. I'm always here to help. Take care.