Does Quickbooks reporting allow me to computer item sales for a period of time to the previous period of time?

Hi there, @Max Sales. 

As of this time, running a sales report with side-by-side customer comparison by the items purchased isn't available. But I've got a workaround for you that you may consider.

You can export the Sales by Item Detail report to Excel and start comparing it from there.

Here's how to export a report to Excel:

1. Go to the Report menu, then choose Sales.
2. Select Sales by Item Detail.
3. In the report, click the Excel drop-down and select Create New Worksheet.
4. Click Export. 

Here's an article you can export reports as excel workbooks in QuickBooks Desktop. 

For more custom option when running a report, see these articles:

• Customize reports in QuickBooks Desktop
• Customize item reports
• Create, Access and Modify Memorized Reports.

Please know that I'm just a post away if you have any other question with reports in QuickBooks. I'll be happy to help you out.  

Hi, I was doing it with excel. what I wanted was not side-by-side customer item sales, but just item sales based on specific dates, like January 1 - Feb 15. or by week or month or year.

It would be nice if the reporting features in enterprise allow you just to pick whatever you wanted and it would display it, not be locked into their canned reporting limits

Thank you for your reply!

Thanks for adding more details about your concern, Max Sales.

I’m here to help ensure you can build a report that shows your customer’s item sales for a specific period. We’ll have to run the Sales by Item Detail report and use the Custom period to enter the date range you wish to show on the statement.

Here’s how:

1. Press the Reports menu at the top bar to choose Sales and Sales by Item Detail.
2. This will display show the total sales of each product or service, broken down by transaction.
3. From there, tap the Dates drop-down to select Custom and enter the From and To date in the field boxes.
4. For the other periods, pick This Week or This Month.
5. Hit the Refresh button to view the changes.

Here’s also a great reference that will guide you on how to keep the same settings of your customized report: Create, access, and modify memorized reports.

If there’s anything else I can help you with, feel free to click the Reply button and post a comment. I’ll be around to assist further. Enjoy the rest of the day. 

Thank you for your reply. I can do that report, but I wanted to be able to pull up a previous period of time at the same time. 

so I have my sales - items details page for example 3/1/19 - 3/31/19 and then also a comparison items details column for 3/1/18 - 3/31/18

Similar to how you have a P&L report or a specific date, then click customize report and select PREVIOUS YEAR or PREVIOUS PERIOD so you can compare the numbers.  Make sense? 

Can that be done?

It's good to have you back here, Max Sales.

The option to create the time period you want for the report and select Previous Period and Previous Year in the Sales by Item Detail report is unavailable. As a workaround, you may consider pulling up two reports for 3/1/19 - 3/31/19 and 3/1/18 - 3/31/18 Sales by Item Detail report and export them to Excel. From there, you can compare the numbers.

Here are resources you can check that provide the detailed steps for your reference:

• Export reports as Excel workbooks in QuickBooks Desktop.
• Customize reports in QuickBooks Desktop.

Please let me know if you have anything else to add. I'll be right here to help.

I was doing it thru excel and figured there has to be an easier way to do it within quickbooks. Guess not.

It would be great if quickbooks had a free form type of reporting. You can pick whatever variable you want and formulate your own reports. If you can do a comparison side by side of a P&L  with different dates, why can't you do the same with other information you track. 

Let me see how many widgets I sold between 2/3-2/5 on the same days in the years 2019, 2018, 2017. Something like that.

Thank you for your help!