HELP!! NEED QBO Project Budget- to show Employee Hours and Dollars by Project

What kind of industry?

industry is professional services. Industry doesn't really matter however, just seeking a reporting tool that can pull data from QBO Projects Module and generate reports for the the Projects that are created by the company in the QBO Project Module.  The QBO Projects Module have in different piecemeal locations employee names and hours but it does not present the information in simple comprehensive way nor can one generate and print any Project Reports or print or generate any type of Project Budget or Budget Reports (not included the COA accounts listing utter nonsense QBO currently is calling a Budget). It really makes me wonder about QBO that a tool like this can be generated but lacking such critical important key reporting needs a company has. QBO has the most useless budget capability of any accounting software tool i have ever seen. They think that simply listing the COA accounts by company or projects is budgeting. No one reports or needs to track that.  One always needs to budget based on project resources, such as number of employees per project-see employees charging to a project, employee hours charged per employee per project (by week, month, project-to-date) and employee cost by employee per project (by week, month and project-to-date). I am frustrated that QBO cant yet understand this need and develop these key project module reports and wanted to know if any have come up with a way to get QBO Project Module data into any 3rd party reporting and budgeting system that can be shared.

You may start exploring Wrike, Teamwork Projects, and BigTime. They supports QuickBooks. There are also PM application for certain industry (e.g software developer, home builder, accounting firm, agency, studio, etc).

None of those tools give simple project reports as described above.  I want a report that looks like a spreadsheet or table. These systems all think pretty pictures of wheels are always what is being sought.  If know of  a tool that can actually provide a "Project Report" that shows in a table or spreadsheet format that can show a report of hours data for employees assigned to a project and employee cost by week, month..ect.  For example, I am looking for something that will list the employees name along a vertical column and list the time by week, month or any varied time period across the top row and show for each employee along the columns the amount of hours worked per time period on one report and on another the employee cost by employee per time period. Not looking for over-designed graphic wheels or pretty pictures which all systems I have come across so far seem to emphasize. Many of these system also seem to be focused on company performance metrics data , like income ratios....ect as oppose to "project performance data" such as employee hours and cost by project..just still trying to find a good straight forward reporting tool that can pull data form QBO Projects Module and generate much needed Project reports. Thanks and welcome all ides form those that have solved this dilemma for QBO.

I came across a standalone timesheet system called "ClickTime" (ClickTime.com). This is exactly what QBO Project Reporting needs to be able to do. Its frustrating the QBO integrated Timesheet system "TSheets" dont give usefull reports like shown in this "ClickTime" system. TSheets also give pretty awful mostly useless reports.  I use both QBO and TSheets cuurently.  In short, i am looking to see if any stand alone reporting systems exist can be configured to QBO that can generate the type of project and time reports for employees as shown in this "ClickTime" system.  Since TSheets is now configured inside QBO, it has an advantage of use, but like QBO, I find TSheets reports to be mostly awful and useless.

Clicktime is in the same category with TSheets and it supports QuickBooks. Another options are Harvest, Bill4time, Abak and Chrometa.

Should you need a deeper reporting feature, consider a performance manaement app. I noticed the price starts from $500/month

None suggested provides solution seeking.  Still accepting any other ideas that may help with needed Project Reporting options for QBO  Project Module data.  Am somewhat at a loss why QBO cannot get a good business consultant to help them design useful project reports within the Project Module that business actual need as opposed to having their technical programmers try to design business reports.  Simple useful project level reports would be easy to do as all the information and ingredients exist. QBO PLEASE, WE NEED USEFUL PROJECT MODULE REPORTS!!!!!!

Hello there, @drefl, 

I  know the importance of running the project module reports to your business. We are constantly looking for input from our users on how we're doing and ways to make our products better. 

QuickBooks Online (QBO) allows integration with several third-party apps. You can look for it in our App Center. Let me guide you how. 

1. Go to this website: https://apps.intuit.com/.
2. In the Search box, enter a keyword, such as Project or Budget. 
3. Select an app to review its profile. 
4. Check the reviews from the customers on how it helped them. 

Once you've chosen the right app that suits your business needs, click the Get app now button. Then, enter the necessary information to complete the integration process with the program. This way, it can help you track the budget on a "project level" and run project module reports for your customers. 

I'm here anytime whenever you need further help. Take care always, @drefl. 

Awful response QBO. Simply not good enough. If QBO has spent the time to create the project module you need to spend he time to provide paying business customers basic effective reports to effectively use this feature. Suggesting a customer will have to 1. Spend time searching for a 3rd party app, where none currently exist that mines the QBO Project Module to generate Project Module specific reports and 2. Even if one were to exist, that a QBO Customer has to pay a 3rd party to just get basic effective reports on QBO Project Module is crazy. This is s major feature failing and QBO should listen to its longtime paying subscribers and create better and more useful Project Module reports rather than trying to shift that responsibility to some unknown, non-existent 3rd party entity. We need new better and effective QBO Project Module reports. Basic reports that show number of employees charging to a project and hours charged by employee for week, month and to-date is a no brainer. Other reports showing similar for project cost by employee and other reports that show other employee project metrics like employee utilization should exist. What good is s Project Module to a busy business owner if you can’t generate useful basic reports!!!

We'll keep working to improve your experience using QBO, @drefl. 

I can see the inconvenience that caused you when searching for an app in our App Center. This is currently the recommended method to help achieve your goal. 

I personally hear your insights about having a Project Module in the system. With this, I'll make sure to pass all of your requests to our Product Development Team. They can check on them and might consider adding this module in the future. This helps you get a better and effective Project Module reports in the program. 

You can visit this website: Blog Posts. In this link, you'll get the recent news, features, and updates about QBO and what our product engineers are working on.

Please know that I and the Community are available to help if there's anything else you need, @drefl. 

Let me be clear.

1.THERE IS NO CURRENT 3rd PARTY APP THAT MINES QBO PROJECT MODULE AND PRODUCES PROJECT SPECIFIC REPORTS. Telling customer to use this route is nonses!!!

2.QBO days it listen to customers well one of the first and constant customer feedbacks on the QBO Project Module has been on this modules lack of uses full Project Reports. It has been over 1+ years and still QBO has not addressed this deficiency!!!!!

I have attached the bellow a direct response from a well known QBO 3rd Party software configurable entity and app developer that confirms this QBO NEEDS TO RELEASE AN UPDATE TO THE QBO API THAT TO ALLOW 3rd PARTIES TO DEVELOP 3rd PARTY PROJECT REPORTS AND BUDGETS FOR THE QBO PROJECT MODULE OR QBO NEEDS TO CREATE THE CRITICAL NEEDED PROJECT MODULE REPORTS THEMSELVES. THESE IS NO OTHER WAY AS SINCE A UPDATED API IS NOT AVAILABLE AND NO 3RD PARTY HAS ACCESS TO QBO PROJECT MODULE AS OF DECEMBER 2019. THIS HAS BEEN A REQUEST SINCE 2017, ALMOST 3-YEARS!!!!!. This is long standing critical ask and need. QBO needs to make this a priority!!!
"...Good to hear back from you! I understand your pain with the QBO Projects feature. I can tell you that NO third party has the ability to generate the reports you want because Intuit has not released the next version of the API, which is rumored to include access to the Projects feature. ..That being said, we plan on adding an interface to QBO Projects once it is available...To be honest with you, part of the reason this whole system was developed was because of the frustrations you have described.... " QBO THIS IS A REAL FRUSTRATION THAT MANY HAVE WITH YOUR SYSTEM!!!

Hi there, drefl.

I can see how this feature would be helpful for you and to your business. Since this isn't currently an option to pull up Projects Module data and create weekly project budgets, I recommend to sign up and post this question to our Intuit Developer Community.

The Intuit Developers Forum is a place where customers, engineers, and product developers come together to discuss a variety of development topics and answer integration questions. 

Please leave a comment below if you encounter any other issues. I'm always here to assist. Have a great day!

This request has been made to QBO via all routes including the system feedback route you indicated above since 2017. STILL NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THE SYSTEM ENGINEERS OVER LAST ALMOST 3-YEARS!!!!, frustrated that QBO IS NOT LISTENING TO THIS CRITICAL CUSTOMER NEED. All i  keep getting as a reply is either 1.look for 3rd party app-noe can exist as no 3dr paty has access to the QBO Project Module!!! or 2. leave a comment via system feedback-which has been done mutiple times over last 3 years and QBO has done nothing!!.  It seems that QBO has new customer service staff every few months and each think that they are the first to tell you to do one of the two useless ideas listed. ITS BEEN ALMOST 3 DANG YEARS MAKING THIS REQUEST USING ALL QBO FORUMS AND FEEDBACKS!!!

@drefl did you ever find a workable solution?  I have been struggling for months and months with this and my management is sick of waiting for an automated solution.  We actually pay someone part time to pull the data from QBO and Tsheets each week to generate the exact reports you were talking about last year.  But they are in excel and terribly prone to human error.  It's a complete waste of money when it seems like such a simple engineering task to add a few feature that would actually make the projects tab useful (ug - i'm also at my wits end with this).  

I share your pain. As a technical professional services firm and longtime user of QBO, over 8 years, I have come to the realization that this system doesn’t really cater to professional services or government services firms. That is why on RV when you see the QBO adds is shows cash based entires line food service trucks and house repair technicians. The only solution is likely an ”exit strategy” from QBO to another software platform that caters to professional services and project based management. Best of luck

Thanks for the quick reply! I have be pouring through options and I'm starting to think your strategy makes most sense if QBO doesnt address this soon.  It's become a major point of contention with our management since we too are a tech services co and need to be able to accurately and efficiently report on projects.