What's the difference between sales by customer summary vs income by customer summary? Wondering if there is a difference? If it matters which one I view?

Hello,

Excellent question.

Sales by Customer Summary will ONLY look at sales transactions such as invoices and sales receipts. (Not deposits where you just record a deposit from a customer with no sale transaction)

Income by Customer Summary shows you income, expenses and Net income by customer.  Basically a mini Profit and Loss by customer.  It takes into account ANYTHING hitting the income accounts that are tied to the customer name. (invoices, sales receipts, deposits, etc.)

can you please explain it  in  more detail.

Thanks for checking in with us, ayushi.

Aside from the descriptions provided by my colleague on both reports, the Sales by Customer Summary report tells us what the total sales for each customer as well as the total sales for each job. While the Income by Customer Summary report shows us the gross profit from each customer. The gross profit for each customer is calculated as the total sales to a customer less the cost of goods sold to that particular customer. If you need to modify the reports, just follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Reports menu.
2. Find and open a report on the search field. 
3. Use the basic filters on the report to adjust things like the report dates.
4. Tap Customize.

Then, proceed to Step 2: Customize a report section in the Customize reports in QuickBooks Online (QBO) article to modify it. Visit our Reports page for more insights about running reports in QucikBooks. 

I'm just one post away if you need a hand with exporting your reports or nay QBO related. I'll be here to ensure your success. You have a good one.

A sales by Customer report should not include the deposits.  I have a client who's "Sales by Customer Report" on their dashboard, totals invoices and deposits, thereby inflating the "Sales" number.  Deposits paid by customers are not Sales.  Even the though the details have negative numbers, the total doesn't treat them as such.