Add product and service items to QuickBooks Online

Learn how to set up product and service items you buy and sell, but don't track as part of your stock.

In QuickBooks Online, it’s easy to track how much you make and spend on each product or service. You can also enter these products and services you sell as items so you can quickly add them to sales forms. This gives you more detailed financial reports and helps you complete transactions faster.

Here's how to add services and products you don't plan to track as part of your stock.

Note: If you want to track product quantities, add them as stock items instead.

Step 1: Add a new product or service item

You only have to create a product or service once. After you create them, you can add them to sales forms as many times as you need.

Tip: Already keeping track of your products and services in a spreadsheet? Save time and import them all at once.

1. Go to Sales and select Products & services (Take me there).
2. Select New.
3. Select Non-stock or Service.
4. Enter a Name for the product or service and a SKU, if you track them.
5. From the Category ▼ dropdown, select the category that best describes your product or service. Find out more about item categories.
6. Select the I sell this product/service to my customers checkbox. If you don't sell the item, you can leave it unchecked.
7. In the Description on sales forms field, enter a description. This is what your customers will see on their sales form.
8. Enter an amount in the Sales price/rate field.
   Note: If you charge a variable rate for services, you can leave the Sales price/rate data field blank. Add the price when you fill out the invoice or sales receipt.
9. Select the account you want to use to track the sale from the Income account ▼ dropdown.
   

   Tip: You can use an income account QuickBooks has already set up for you, or select + Add new to create a new income account. Find out more about adding accounts to your chart of accounts.

10. If you need to track VAT, select the appropriate VAT from the VAT ▼ dropdown.
    Note: If you don’t see this dropdown, follow the steps to set up VAT in QuickBooks.
11. When you're done, select Save and close.

Now you can add the product and service to your invoices, sales receipts, expenses, and other sales forms. You can also track it on your financial reports.

Step 2: Add a service or product’s purchasing info

If you want to track how much you spend on a product or service:

1. Go to Sales and select Products & services (Take me there).
2. Find the product or service on the list and select Edit in the Action column.
3. Select I purchase this product/service from a supplier.
4. Add a description. This shows on bills, purchase orders, and other forms you send to suppliers.
5. Add the Cost. If the price changes, don’t worry. You can still enter the updated price when it’s time to buy supplies.
6. Select the account you use to track the cost of things you sell from the Expense account ▼ dropdown.
7. If you need to track tax on your purchases, select an appropriate tax from the Purchase tax ▼ dropdown.
8. Select your preferred supplier.
9. When you're done, select Save and close.

Step 3: Track and manage product and service items you sell

Once you’re all set up, you can easily track what you buy or sell. Here's how to get started:

• If you need more supplies, get help with ordering from suppliers.
• Get sales insights using these reports.

Edit a product or service item

You can review and make changes to any of your product or service items from the Products and Services menu.

1. Go to Sales and select Products & services (Take me there).
2. Find the product or service you want to change.
3. Select Edit in the Action column.
4. Make your changes.
5. When you're done, select Save and close.

Change a product or service item type

If you add a stock item as a non-stock item, or a service item as a stock item by mistake, don't worry. Here's how to change an item's type.

Delete a product or service item

You can make items inactive so they don't show up on sales forms, lists, or financial reports anymore. This doesn't delete the item, it just hides it:

1. Go to Sales and select Products & services (Take me there).
2. Find the product or service you want to change.
3. From the ▼ dropdown under the Action column, select Make inactive, then select Yes to confirm.

To reactivate an item later on:

1. Go to Sales and select Products & services (Take me there).
2. Select the Filter icon.
3. From the Status ▼ dropdown, select All, then select Apply. This shows you all of your active and inactive items.
4. Find the product or service that you want to reactivate.
5. From the Action column, select Make active.