Track materials purchased by customer for job I am doing?

Hello there, @CCCBuilder.

I appreciate you reaching out to us here in the Community. I can share some information about tracking the materials.

You can do job costing to track the expenses and income in QuickBooks Desktop. For job-related purchases (subcontracted services), you can use a bill, check, or credit card charge transaction.

Here's how:

1. Click the Vendors tab at the top menu bar and select Enter Bills (go to Banking if you want Write Checks or Enter Credit Card Charges).
2. Go to the Items tab.
3. Enter necessary information.
4. Make sure to fill-in the details below the Customer:Job column.
5. Hit Save & Close. 

Since it has to be paid by an outside source, I suggest setting it up as a vendor, then use a clearing account. This way, we'll be able to show in the system where the payment came from originally.

If you want to create a dummy ACH debit and credit, you can also consider doing it to avoid deducting amounts from your company's bank. Also, another option would be a journal entry and use the clearing account to transfer the payment from your bank to the clearing.

Additionally, here are some helpful references that you can check out about tracking job costs, as well as setting up a clearing account:

• Tracking job costs in QuickBooks Desktop.

• Set up a clearing account.

Please know that I'm just a post away if you have any other questions. Have a great day ahead.

So the customer who bought the materials while out of town, where do I show money coming from them to pay for the materials?  The vendor will be where the materials were bought, what would be the expense account for this bill then?

Still not sure this was the answer...do I need to reword the question?