Is there a way to sort customer names according to last name instead of first?

Hi there!

I'm pretty sure the only way to do this within Quickbooks Desktop is to enter the names last name first as you enter them.  So in the first name field you would put Jones,  and in the last name field you would put Sally H.  In QBO you have the option to view the names differently using the 'Display name as' field.  Just hit the drop down arrow after you enter the client name and choose the last name first option.

Hope this helps!

-Stacy

Hello there, @gard898r.

I see this is your first question so let me take the time to welcome you here to the Intuit Community. Allow me to chime in for a moment and share some additional information about sorting your customers' names in QuickBooks Online (QBO).

The option to sort your customers' names according to their last name is unavailable at this time. However, as mentioned by @SouthernStacy, you can change their profile so it will show as the last name first as a workaround. Here's how:

1. Go to the Sales menu, then Customer tab.
2. Select the customer, then click the Edit button on the customer's profile.
3. Make sure to fill out the First and Last Name fields.
4. On the Display name as drop-down, select the option which starts with their last name. then click Save.

Just in case, you can also check out this article for future reference: How to edit customer information.

This should answer your question for today. Please let me know how it goes by leaving a comment on this thread. I'm always here if you have any additional concerns. Take care and have a great rest of the day!

So, I have to go in and change EVERY SINGLE CUSTOMER'S name???  All 500 of them?? This is so ridiculous, I have no words.

Hello whydoIusethisprogram,

For now, yes, you will have to manually change the display name of the customer. I'll be sure to let our product engineers know about this. 

We frequently update QuickBooks Online and this might be included in the future.  

If there's anything else you need help with QuickBooks, please let us know by leaving a reply on this thread. 

You might also consider putting a few characters of the customer's last name in the account number field within the Customer Information Tab. This will at least allow a sorting column in QuickBooks and MSExcel.

Hello!  Any update on sorting names without having to edit individually?  

Thank you for joining into this thread, @vfdadmin.

Since the Community in a public space, we're unable to provide the specific timeframe as to when a feature will be added into our software.

With this, I'd still recommend following the workaround discussed in this thread. Manually edit your customer's name then, sort your customer's list with their last name.

In addition, you can always visit our QuickBooks Online Blog for news and updates released in our software.

Know that you can always visit our Help Articles page for QuickBooks Online in case you need some tips and related articles for your future tasks.

If there's anything else that I can help you with, please let me know in the comment section down below. I'll be always around ready to help.

Still no updates ? Why would QBO think it would be a good idea to sort customers by first name in the first place?  Seems like fixing something like this would be a simple fix....considering data is entered into separate fields....we should be able to sort by phone number or by any field.  And invoices - any chance they could be a bit more, appealing?  Is there another program that I can export my QBO data?  I have been a QBO online customer for over 5 years and I have yet to see any requests come to fruition.   

I appreciate your input from every angle, chuckchuck2308.

I understand how the workflow you're looking for is beneficial to your business. Right now, this feature is still unavailable. To ensure your voice is heard, I can pass along another feature request on my end. For the time being, you can visit our blog and sign up to our Newsletter. This way, you’ll receive email updates about new changes in the product. Our developers get inspiration from customers, so your voice makes a huge impact.

In case you need tips and related articles in the future, visit our QuickBooks Community help website for reference: QBO Self-Help.

If you need anything else, I'm here for you. Take care.

I will also throw my name in the hat, this is such a basic feature, I can't believe someone did not think of this sooner. Sorting by Last Name is almost always the preferred method.

So, now it's January 2020 and still no fix????

So, now it's January 2020 and still no fix????

I too am astonished that a comnputer program would not default to sorting by last name. Another crzay thing is if you put a Mr. or Mrs. etc. then Quickbooks treats that as being alphabetized by M! By the time you figure out you need a workaround, a use will typically have already entered quite a few customers names.

I have to say this so basic, that I can't imagine that in 27 years since Quickbooks launched, you couldn't have added this feature. Bizzare  

I wish there was too! It is very frustrating. Thankfully I haven't added all of my customers in, this is a new business, I will just have to know to do it when I enter a new customer. I hope this gets fixed soon!

Any updates on this? I agree with the others, this is basic. I am now using Zapier to import into QBO and now I have to change each name manually!! hmmmm....... I'm going to have to look at other programs. This is a major issue for me now.

This is a very important feature to me and many others by the look of it.

Also multiple contacts within one company would be good too - another essential and yet simple requirement. 

Makes a right mess of my accounts at the moment

Thanks for becoming a part of the Community, vanny_uk.
 

The most recent feature request about sorting customers by last name was submitted to our product development team on January 20, 2020. I'll resubmit a new inquiry about it and adding multiple contacts today for you. These are sent as requests, so there's no guarantee the abilities will be created. Currently, the workaround recommended by my colleague, FritzF, is how to sort customers this way in QuickBooks Online.
 

I recommend keeping an eye on our What's New in QBO Archives. In there, Intuit publishes details about recent and upcoming changes to the product which help keeps subscribers up-to-date on what's going on.
 

If there's anything else I can assist with, feel welcome to reach out anytime. Enjoy the rest of your day!

I would also like this feature. It would be nice to set a default display name setting that changes the display names for all contacts. 

Any update on this? Or could you at least explain why this feature is not available? It seems like such common sense it is standard practice to sort last name first.

Changing them manually under the Display name section still the option at this time, @mmplumbing.

I can see the benefits that being able to sort names according to their last name would be a great preference for your business. QuickBooks Online is designed based on the most needed functions and features to make sure your preferred settings, customization, and other components are provided.

The more request this gets, the more likely it'll be part of future enhancements. We always value customers who are keen to give us their feedback. I’ll be sure to follow-up on this matter with our managerial team. This way, they could come up with the appropriate course of action to improve QuickBooks as soon as possible.

As mentioned by my colleague above, you can always check out our blog site. This way, you'll be updated on our latest news and newly implemented changes.

In case you need more knowledge about organizing your QuickBooks account, consider visiting our video tutorials as a reference. You can select each topic listed vertically and horizontally to view them.

Please know that our doors are open for any additional concerns about QuickBooks. Just leave us a message below, and I'll ensure to take care of them. Keep safe.

let me add my name to this list. It is exceedingly strange. I integrate QB with a scheduler and clinical software...both of which list clients by surname first. Easy for these smaller companies but not so easy for the larger QB!

Would be nice to get some feedback from the managerial committee sometime this side of Christmas 2020 please.

Our company needs this feature as well please.