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carparts4sale
Level 1

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

I have 6 properties and need to be able to run reports on each and keep rent and expenses divided. With quicken home basic it was very easy because you could tag each property. 

Solved
Best answer October 15, 2018

Best Answers
john-pero
Community Champion

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

"What is the best way to setup simple start"

By upgrading to Essentials. No, really. You cannot set up recurring auto-posting rent charges in Simple Start, a must for billing tenants. I prefer Plus with class tracking and for us (much much larger than 6) we track each property as a class  and use P&L By CLass all the time.

So, with any QB for rentals you have the following Customer hierarchy.

Customer is the property

Customer:Customer is the actual apartment

Customer:Customer:Customer is the tenant

You can have additional levels if you have more than one building on a property or different portfolios (owners managed for) Total of 5 inclusive levels.  DO NOT have the child customers bill with the parent since it for whatever reason prohibits producing a statement for the tenant alone

Create a beginning invoice for each tenant and memorize it. I suggest having it post 10 days prior to due date (usually 1st of month) so you can get it in their hands via snail mail in timely fashion.

Charge security deposits as paid on Sales Receipt rather than the first invoice. You can do it all with invoice but I find it easier to find it when it needs returned.

If you stick with Simple Start you can collect rent and post it as sales receipts and as invoices but only in Essentials and up can you avoid having to manually enter invoices each month. Is that time saved worth $20/month (retail difference) or the additional reporting, not to mention the ability to manage vendor billing which you cannot do in Simple Start - only you can decide that for yoruself.

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12 Comments 12
john-pero
Community Champion

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

"What is the best way to setup simple start"

By upgrading to Essentials. No, really. You cannot set up recurring auto-posting rent charges in Simple Start, a must for billing tenants. I prefer Plus with class tracking and for us (much much larger than 6) we track each property as a class  and use P&L By CLass all the time.

So, with any QB for rentals you have the following Customer hierarchy.

Customer is the property

Customer:Customer is the actual apartment

Customer:Customer:Customer is the tenant

You can have additional levels if you have more than one building on a property or different portfolios (owners managed for) Total of 5 inclusive levels.  DO NOT have the child customers bill with the parent since it for whatever reason prohibits producing a statement for the tenant alone

Create a beginning invoice for each tenant and memorize it. I suggest having it post 10 days prior to due date (usually 1st of month) so you can get it in their hands via snail mail in timely fashion.

Charge security deposits as paid on Sales Receipt rather than the first invoice. You can do it all with invoice but I find it easier to find it when it needs returned.

If you stick with Simple Start you can collect rent and post it as sales receipts and as invoices but only in Essentials and up can you avoid having to manually enter invoices each month. Is that time saved worth $20/month (retail difference) or the additional reporting, not to mention the ability to manage vendor billing which you cannot do in Simple Start - only you can decide that for yoruself.

carparts4sale
Level 1

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

Hi, thanks for the response. I can achieve customer levels on simple start so that isn't an issue. I do not send my tenants invoices for rent. They pay it on the first and my data import from my bank picks it up and can automatically categorize it if I set bank rules.  I guess one question is how I would assign expenses for each property.  Say if I bought a faucet at menards and wanted to tag it to a certain property.
MarshallA
Intuit

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

Hello,

 

Another reason @john-pero is correct about not using SimpleStart.  By using QBO Plus, you can assign expenses to specific class(property).  That way you can see not only the income by each property, but also the expenses that you're incurring for each property.

sonyak
Level 1

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

I have the same question - on how to break out expenses by unit.  If you found an answer please share. thanks!

john-pero
Community Champion

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

You are correct that ecpenses have to be allocated on properties. Each property is reported as its own Schedule E column. Only full time real estate professionals as defined by tax law can combine all properties into a single P&L. To "attach" expenses to properties without using class tracking you can make each property to be your top level customer, with the units as sub customers and the tenants as the lowest rung. For this to work best you  use billable expenses and Mark the expenses as billable to the specific property. 

 

You have to follow up with invoicing your property customer and then internally receiving payment from your property as customer (into a clearing account)

Peter5
Level 2

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

Hello,

I have multiples rental buildings. 

Instead of this:

Customer is the property

Customer:Customer is the actual apartment

Customer:Customer:Customer is the tenant

 

Can I do something like this:

Customer is the property

Customer:Customer  is the tenant

 

MorganB
Content Leader

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

Hey there, Peter5.

 

Thanks for posting your question here in the Community. I'd like to provide some additional insight on setting up properties in QuickBooks Online.

 

Yes, setting up a property as a customer and each tenant as a sub-customer would work. I'd make sure the reporting would work for what you need when using this scenario. This article will give you some helpful pointers on customizing reports: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/community/Getting-started-with-QuickBooks/How-to-Customize-Financial-R....

 

I'd also double check with your accountant to make sure this arrangement would work for your business setup.

 

Keep up the great work and let me know if you have any other questions. Take care.

Malcolm Ziman
Level 10

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?


@john-pero wrote:

 For this to work best you  use billable expenses and Mark the expenses as billable to the specific property. 

 


No it's not Billable. Just fill in the "customer" (property). Don't mark as Billable.

 

Then run P&L by Customer, which you can't collapse to just top level.  That's why it's better to use Class (Plus only)

Cosyflatsandhouses
Level 1

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

Already answered, but for very old Quickbooks 2008 I use this method...

 

Set-up like this....

Make a new CUSTOMER & CLASS = YOUR PROPERTY NAME


Create a new JOB = EACH New TENANCY 

HMO ROOM = Sub class of PROPERTY NAME CLASS you have created.

 

Your tenants are JOBS or PROJECTS they are NOT customers.

 

Your CUSTOMER should be a property you are the owner of.

 

im using Quickbooks 2008 enterprise - my reports are exquisitely detailed and easily drilled down.

 

Leah34
Level 2

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

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albirk83
Level 1

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

So I set up all my properties under property but I am not able to assign multiple properties to one transaction.  Do I have to set up classes instead?

JoesemM
Moderator

What is the best way to setup simple start for rental property?

Greetings @albirk83, it is a pleasure to have you here in the Community forum. I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude for your participation in this thread. Allow me to assist you in sharing valuable information on how to effectively manage your rental properties and transactions in QuickBooks. 

 

Assigning a transaction to multiple properties is currently unavailable, as it requires creating separate transactions and assigning each one to a single property. In your scenario, setting up classes can help you easily track and map your properties. This approach will facilitate efficient management of your assets and ensure transparency in your financial records.

 

To turn on class tracking, here's how:

 

  1. Click the Gear icon.
  2. Select Account and Settings.
  3. In the navigational bar, click Advanced.
  4. Select Categories.
  5. Check off Track classes to turn on class tracking.
  6. Click Save and then Done.

Here's how to set up classes:

 

  1. Click the Gear icon and All Lists.
  2. Select Classes. ( You can also add locations by selecting Locations.)
  3. Click the New button.
  4. Add the name of the class or location and click Save.

 

You may also follow the setup shared by Cosyflatsandhouses above for creating property names and assigning classes. These instructions will enable you to accurately and efficiently organize your properties.

 

To keep track and manage your classes in QuickBooks Online, check out these articles:

 

 

Furthermore, I have included some informative articles that can assist you in effectively managing your classes and handling reports within QBO:

 

 

Should you require further assistance about your rental properties and class tracking in QBO, please do not hesitate to leave a comment below. I am always available to provide any additional support you may need. Thank you for your visit and have a pleasant day.

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