I am trying to set up independant contractors in Enterprise. I track their hours for each item they work on

Hello there, @Bobby1111.

Thanks for letting us know what you need today. You can set up Time Tracking for your independent contractors in QuickBooks. 

First thing is you'll need to sign in as the Admin, and ensure you're on a Single-user Mode. Then, floow the steps below:

1. Go to the Edit menu, then Preferences.
2. Select Time & Expenses, then click the Company Preferences tab.
3. Select Yes to the Do You Track Time? option.
4. In the First Day of Work Week drop-down list, choose the day on which you start tracking time each week. (Note: The day you choose affects all weekly timesheets. For example, if you choose Sunday, your timesheets begin with Sunday.)
5. Click Ok.

After that, go to the Employee Center. Then, double-click the employee's name. Select Payroll Info tab, then select Use Time Data when Creating Paychecks. Click OK when done.

You can now ready to create and print timesheets for your contractors.

Let me know if you need more help. I'll be there to assist you in setting up your contractors timesheets. 

Your independent contractors should be set up as Vendors, with the 1099 box checked (unless they're exempt from 1099 reporting, such as if they're incorporated). 

One option to track their time by item (actual items on the item list?) is using the time tracking feature. Or, you can enter the detail on a bill or check you pay them with.  In such a case use the quantity field as a stand-in for hours.

@katherinejoyceO  RE: After that, go to the Employee Center. Then, double-click the employee's name. Select Payroll Info tab, then select Use Time Data when Creating Paychecks. Click OK when done.

That's very strange - and wrong - advice for independent contractors, which won't exist in the employee center but instead in the vendor center, since they're not employees. Which you should know, being an Intuit agent here answering questions about an Intuit product.

And also, vendor-contractors have no such option to use time data for paychecks - since they don't get paychecks. Which you should know, being an Intuit agent here answering questions about an Intuit product.