I cannot understand this either, this is essential for any business. More unbelievable is that what we are supposed to use is sales estimate but that does not even show the price of the item, only cost. that has to be fixed asap as well. 

If the feature is critical for your business, consider having a 3rd party app. Otherwise, switch to QB Desktop or another cloud-based accounting app with Sales Order feature. Purchase a 3rd party conversion service if required. 

Made that mistake before. Invested in 3rd party companies to develop integration, only to have them stop supporting after one year or less. I think this happened to me more than 4 times in the past 12 years. Not going 3rd party for a basic QB function. Stuck with QB enterprise for the moment, but actively searching for online alternative that is more appropriate for remote workers in this day in age. QB enterprise is antiquated, and QBO is lacking this basic functionality.

@condron 

If you are using QBD Enterprise, we may recommend another app to explore.  It offers the flexibility of the cloud, or the security of on-premise deployments. The pricing is consumption-based, so you can add additional users and features as your business grows without automatic bumps. The cost to you is based on the features and resources that you use, not the number of users who access the system. The price is determined by three factors:

What applications do you want to use?
What type of license are you considering: SaaS Subscription, Private Cloud Subscription, or Private Perpetual License?
What is your projected level of consumption based on the volume of your business transactions and data storage?

Another useless reply from a tone deaf company.

And yet another useless reply. I wish comments had a thumbs down choice but I know intuit is afraid they would be overwhelmed with negative votes.

Are you tone deaf? 

Why do you keep posting the same tone deaf reply over and over again. ESTIMATES ARE NOT SALES ORDERS!

What is the product?

---

@micnet_aws wrote:

What is the product?

---

Are you using QB Desktop Enterprise?

Sales Order in Desktop is used to convert an accepted proposal that now has a customer purchase order associated with it thus the conversion to a Sales Order. When the work has been performed the sales order is then turned into an Invoice and sent. At that point to Sales Order is closed. So in Online how do you identify a proposal/estimate as one that has a PO for it? As opposed to the ones that have not been accepted by the customer and are still proposals with no PO? Sales order are used an a measure of the backlog of work available for the future. Do we lose that capability in Online? Thanks Gary Brown [phone number removed] [email address removed]

Thanks for joining the thread, @garybrown.

Let me provide you with some information about the estimate in QuickBooks Online. When creating an estimate, we can copy it to a purchase order. 
 

First, we need to make sure that the purchase order feature is turned on. 

Here's how:

1. Go to Settings, then select Account and settings.

2. Go to Expenses.

3. Select the pencil icon in the Purchase orders section.

4. Turn on the Use purchase orders switch.

5. Select Save, then Done.
 

Once done, we need to create an estimate and then copy it to a purchase order. I'll guide you how:

1. Select + New.

2. Select Estimate.

3. Enter customer and product or service details. Then select Save.

4. A dropdown choice of Create invoice or Copy to purchase order will appear next to the amount.


 

5. Select Copy to purchase order.

6. Select a Vendor.

7. In the Item details section, select the same customer used on the purchase order.

8. Select Save and close.

Only items marked as purchased from vendors get copied over to purchase orders. You can verify that your products or services are marked accordingly by following these steps:

1. Go to the Gear icon,  then select Products and services.

2. Find the product or service. Then select Edit.

3. In the Purchasing information section, select the I purchase this product/service from a vendor checkbox.

4. Select Save and close.
 

Please refer to this article for more information: Copy an estimate to a purchase order. 
 

You may also want to learn how to convert an estimate into an invoice in QuickBooks Online. This linked both estimate and invoice, which keeps your books accurate. 
 

Let me know if you have further questions about estimates by clicking the REPLY button below. I'm always around to help you out. Keep safe and have a good one!

The missing Sales Order feature from Quick Books Online is a real issue and there is not an acceptable work around for those (me) using this software in a distribution business.  It's been almost 4 years that the users have been begging for this feature to be added.  Is there any hope from QBO that this feature will be added to the package?  I would be willing to pay more for this necessary component.  The "bolt on" apps are complicated and dilute the effectiveness of the native product.  Is there any hope?

Of course there is hope... Haven't you heard about this amazing workaround that you can use an estimate instead?! /sarcasm

I was hoping QBO would be better than QB Desktop, enabling me to apply a down payment to a SO... Just to find out there isn't even a SO to begin with... Well then, back to the drawing board...

I read your solution instructions and I think you missed the boat. The first thing you refer to is turning on Purchase Orders as used as an Expense. The Sales Order is on the revenue side not the expense side. Based on that I believe you solution makes no sense. i hope QBOL put on their big boy business pants and finish the software like they should have been all along. it sucks that there isn't a plan and date to finish this bank feed software product and turn it into a real accounting tool

It's more than 4 years since you said, "We’re working on releasing this feature soon"

@CDew67 

If the feature is critical for your business, consider having a 3rd party app. You never know "how soon" they intend to do so. Otherwise, switch to QB Desktop Premier or another cloud-based accounting app with Sales Order feature. Purchase a 3rd party conversion service if required.

Like many QBDT users I have been holding off moving to QBO due to the lack of Sales Orders which are, in my opinion, a critical feature for any business-to-business user.

Faced with the imminent termination of QBDT in the UK on 30th June I finally made the move in early June. At that time I was told by Intuit sales that QBO would be adding Sales Orders in the "July to September timeframe" and also that "you should probably assume September".

I have seen nothing since then but am hoping this was not an exaggeration to secure my order - has anyone else been advised of this plan?

Sales Orders have been in desktop for many years. Its like Intuit is still learning from scratch and doesn't have a clue  how accounting works. Why must users be waiting for standard features all the time that make QBO a usable accounting package? This just adds to the constant frustration real accountants have with QBO and Intuit's lack of appreciation for the clearly superior desktop product you keep trying to replace.  Still haven't got it close to right.

Well, it's October now... Do tell if they have implemented

Welp.  Its March, 2024.  I read through this whole thread hoping to find something useful.  Clearly, they didn't implement the Sales Order functionality in July, Aug, or Sept of last year as promised to the last person in this thread.  Or Oct, Nov Dec of last year.  Or Jan, Feb, Mar of current year.

Estimate <>Sales Order.  Workarounds = nightmares.