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AFS11
Level 1

How to set custom YTD start date for 28-day franchise reporting in QuickBooks?

Question:

We are using QuickBooks for our client’s bookkeeping. The client operates under a franchise model, which requires financial reporting on a 28-day reporting cycle rather than the standard monthly or calendar year format.

When we pull financial reports in QuickBooks and manually enter the custom 28-day date ranges, the numbers come out correctly. However, when we switch to Year-to-Date (YTD), QuickBooks defaults to calculating YTD starting from January 1, 2025.

In our client’s case, the fiscal reporting year actually begins on December 30, 2024, not January 1, 2025. This causes the YTD figures to be inaccurate for franchise reporting requirements.

My question is:
Is there any way in QuickBooks (Desktop/Online) to adjust the YTD start date or fiscal year start date so that YTD reporting aligns with our franchise reporting calendar (starting from December 30, 2024)? If not, are there recommended workarounds or third-party solutions for handling 28-day franchise reporting periods in QuickBooks?

1 Comment 1
Jovelyn_M
QuickBooks Team

How to set custom YTD start date for 28-day franchise reporting in QuickBooks?

We appreciate the detailed information you provided to help us fully understand your concern, AFS11.

 

Please note that QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop only support a standard fiscal year that starts on the first day of any month. However, selecting a specific date is currently unavailable.

 

As a workaround, you can create Custom Reports to meet the franchise's specific requirements. To streamline this process, you can memorize or save the report so it’s easily accessible in the future without having to manually re-enter the dates each time.

 

Here's how to save Custom Reports in QuickBooks Desktop:

 

  1. Go to the Reports menu and find the report you need (e.g., Profit & Loss).
  2. Click Customize Report.
  3. Under the Dates section, choose Custom.
  4. Manually enter the exact date range: from 12/30/2024 to the end date of your current 28-day period, then select Ok.
  5. Save the Custom Report by clicking Memorize.
  6. Give it a clear name like "Franchise P&L YTD."
  7. Hit OK to save.

 

In QuickBooks Online:

 

  1. Navigate to Reports, then choose the report you need in the Type report name here.
  2. Change it to Classic view for clearer options.
  3. Click the Customize button.
  4. In the Report Period section, choose Custom.
  5. Input the desired date range (e.g., 12/30/2024 to the end date of your current 28-day period).
  6. Select Run Report.
  7. Save the customized report by clicking Save Customization.
  8. Give it a clear name like "Franchise P&L YTD."
  9. Hit Save.

 

On top of that, we understand it's important to manage the correct fiscal year for accurate financial reporting. I'd recommend adding a feature request about adding an option to set a specific date when selecting the start of a fiscal year.

 

Here's how you can send a request or feedback in QuickBooks Desktop:

 

  1. Open QuickBooks Desktop.
  2. Click the Help tab at the top menu bar.
  3. Hover your cursor over Send Feedback Online.
  4. Tap the Product Suggestion from the drop-down menu.
  5. Fill out the on-screen instructions in the QuickBooks Feedback window.
  6. Once done, hit Send Feedback.

 

In QuickBooks Online:

 

  1. Go to the Gear icon and select Feedback.
  2. Type in your feedback.
  3. Click Next to submit it.

 

This sends your request straight to our engineers for review and consideration. Feel free to include details on why this feature would be valuable for your business.

 

If you still need further assistance, don't hesitate to leave a post below.

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