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germannutroaster
Level 1

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

 
18 Comments 18
Just_me
Level 10

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

You can't delete. You can only mark as Inactive.  

 

Click on Customer name. 

Click Edit (On the top right, Next to green New Transaction)

Click Make Inactive (down at bottom, on the left of customer info page)

Click Save (on the right)

 

SashaMC
Moderator

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

Hey Germannutroaster,

 

Thank you for reaching out to the QuickBooks Community! In QuickBooks, to delete a customer, you would have to make the profile inactive. To do so, follow these steps below:

 

  1. Go to the Customers tab, put a checkmark on the box beside the customer's name.
  2. Click the Batch Action drop-down and select Make Inactive.
  3. Click Yes to confirm the removal.

The customer will be removed from all reports and so forth. Click the Reply button if you have any other questions. I'm always here to help. Have a good day!

cooper2617
Level 1

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

My 2017 edition of quick book pro say i have reached my max of customer of 14,500..

How do I per delete those customers that I already have marked and inactive..??/

Please respond... [email address removed]

Thank you

Ron

Nick_M
QuickBooks Team

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

Hey there, cooper2617.

 

Thanks for stopping by the Community this afternoon. I'm happy to help you out. In order to delete a customer, they have to have no transactions associated with them, the reason you can't delete customers that do have transactions associated with them, even if they're inactive is because this would in turn, cause your books and taxes to be off. However, you can delete the transactions associated with them and then delete the customer.

 

Here's how:

 

1. Click the Customers menu. Then Customer Center.

2. Select the customer.

3. Double click the transaction from the Customer Information section.

4. Select the Delete icon at the top.

5. You'll be prompted with Are you sure you want to delete this transaction? then, click the OK button.

6. Hit the Save and close button.

 

After that, delete the customer's name from the customer's list. Please follow the steps below.

 

1. Select the Customers menu and choose Customer Center.

2. Choose the customer.

3. Right click it and select Delete Customer.

 

If there's anything else I can help with, feel free to post here anytime. Thanks for dropping by and have yourself a lovely day. 

 

LoadWarrior
Level 1

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

That doesn't work.

 

DebSheenD
QuickBooks Team

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

I'm here to make sure that you'll be able to delete a customer in QuickBooks Online, LoadWarrior.

May I know if there's an error message that you encountered when deleting a customer? This way, we can provide you accurate steps and fixes.
 

Let's perform some troubleshooting to determine if this is a browser-related issue. The stored cache can affect the performance of QuickBooks Online (QBO) which can cause unexpected behavior.

 

To start, I'd suggest opening your QBO account via a private window. This will open QBO in a clean slate and loads fresh data.

Here are the keyboard shortcuts:
 

  • Mozilla Firefox / Microsoft Edge: Press CTRL Shift P
  • Safari: Press Command Shift N
  • Google Chrome: Press CTRL Shift N

Once signed in, delete a customer. If it works, I'd recommend going back to the regular browser and clear the cache. Alternatively, you can use other compatible browsers.

Additionally, I've included this article that'll help you edit customer information: Edit customer information.

I'm only a few clicks away if you need assistance with deleting customers in QuickBooks Online. It's always my pleasure to help you out again.

Thrive Landscapes Ltd
Level 1

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

Did something change with quickbooks online?  I can no longer see a way to make a client inactive?  

MJoy_D
Moderator

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

I can help you with making your client inactive, @Thrive Landscapes Ltd.

 

You can still remove a client or a customer by making it inactive from the Customers tab. 

 

A project may be attached to its profile. You'll need to delete that project first to inactivate the customer successfully.

 

Here’s how to delete a project:

 

  1. Go to the Project menu on the left side of the screen.
  2. Click the Options dropdown under the Actions column of the project that you'd like to delete. 
  3. Select Delete from the options. Then, click on Yes to confirm.

 

For more information about deleting a project or reactivating it, refer to the following article: Projects FAQ. This will also show you how to move transactions to another project if it still has a balance. 

 

Once done, you can now go back to your Customers tab to make that client inactive. To guide you in making it inactive, check the following reference: Add and manage customers in QuickBooks Online

 

On the other hand, this article will show you how to update any information associated with your customers: Edit customer information.

 

I'm always here if you need more guidance in making your client inactive. Just let me know by leaving a reply below. Keep safe and enjoy the rest of the week!

Thrive Landscapes Ltd
Level 1

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

No project assigned... I think the instructions are outdated.

 

Thrive Landscapes Ltd
Level 1

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

Seriously?  I have to scroll to the middle of 2700 contacts (keep in mind the screen only shows 50 contacts at a time!) check a box and then batch archive? 

Thrive Landscapes Ltd
Level 1

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

There is no longer a make inactive option? 

AlexV
QuickBooks Team

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

Hi Thrive Landscapes Ltd!

 

Thanks for the reply. You can still make a customer inactive. Let me further assist you.

 

You can follow these steps:

  1. From the Sales menu, select Customers.
  2. Search and select the customer's name, then click Edit.
  3. Tap Make inactive and Yes to confirm.

 

If you still can't see this option, it could be because of the browser you're using. You'll want to use an incognito window and check it from there. Incognito won't save your browsing history which can result in an error. These are some of the shortcut keys:

  • Google Chrome: Ctrl Shift + N
  • Safari 11 or newer: ⌘ Shift N
  • Mozilla Firefox: Ctrl Shift P
  • Microsoft Edge: Ctrl Shift P  

 

Also, you'll want to clear the cache and make sure you're using a supported and up-to-date browser. This can help in fixing any browser-related issues.

 

I added these links you can review if you need help in running financial reports:

 

Leave a comment again here if you need more help. Take care!​​​​​​​

Indycals
Level 1

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

How do you do this on Quickbooks Mac?

Indycals
Level 1

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

How do you delete a customer on Quickbooks Mac?

RCV
QuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

Let me help you with this process in QuickBooks for Mac, Indycals. 

 

The option to delete or remove a customer in QuickBooks for Mac is unavailable. What we can do is to inactivate them in the software. Let me show you how:

  1. Go to the Customers on the top menu.
  2. Choose Customer Center.
  3. Select a customer name.
  4. Tap the “Inactive” check box.
  5. Press OK.

 

To hide the inactive customer from the list, just follow the steps below:

  1. Go to the Customers menu.
  2. Choose the list containing the inactive items you want to hide.
  3. Clear the “Include inactive” check box. Clearing the “Include inactive” check box hides all inactive customers. Also, selecting the “Include inactive” check box displays inactive items in gray

 

If you need to organize your growing number of customers, we can create customer groups in QuickBooks Desktop for Mac. Here's how:

  1. Go to the Customer Center, then press the + icon.
  2. Tap New group.
  3. Enter a group name, then select the customers you want to add.
  4. Press Add, then OK to save the group.

 

Here's a link you can refer to for more details about the user's guide for QuickBooks for Mac 2021. Feel free to browse this link here if you need help with managing your customers on your software. It'll route you to our general payroll topics with articles.

 

The Community always has your back, and I'm just a post away should you ever need anything. Just leave a comment below and I'll get back to you. Have a great day ahead.

Indycals
Level 1

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

Well, I'm on 2019 so I don't see exactly what you are describing (include inactive checkbox), but how does any of this help me get around the 14,500 customer limit, which is the problem I am encountering. I cannot upgrade to Quickbooks online because I need the ability to work in Quickbooks when I don't have internet access - such as on a flight with no or insufficient internet access. Right now I am merging 'inactive' customers into a single customer, but this is just a temporary workaround and not a viable 'fix'. 

PJware
Level 1

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

What if you messed up and imported the wrong list when starting a new company, and the list HAS to be deleted?

MadelynC
Moderator

How can I delete a customer from our customer base???

QuickBooks Online (QBO) offers a way to delete your data and start over with new books, @PJware. I’d be glad to discuss it with you.


When you start a new company and happen to mess up your books or list, you have the option to purge your QBO account. It deletes all your data entered or imported into the company.


Here’s how you do it:

 

  1. Log in to your QBO account.
  2. Change the URL to include /purgecompany. Example: URL shows https://...qbo.intuit.com/app/homepage, change to: https://...qbo.intuit.com/app/purgecompany.
  3. The next screen will provide a summary of the items to be deleted. Type the word “YES” after, then select OK.
  4. Click Wipe Data once your selections are complete. You'll be routed to your homepage once done.


Please know that you're unable to restore or reverse your file after the process.


On the other hand, if your books are 60 days old or older, you can either start a new account or make the incorrect list inactive, as mentioned above. And for transactions, you can either remove them manually or utilize a deleter tool to accomplish it. See this reference to learn more about purging your data: Delete your data and start over in QBO.


These articles will give you depth information about managing your customers, vendors, services, inventory items, and non-inventory items in the program:

 


Drop me a reply if you have other questions about handling your list. I'll be happy to assist you further. Have a great day ahead!

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