Why doesn't QuickBooks have a customer number field?

Thank you for adding a post here on the Community page, @hdsds19.

I'm here to share some insights about the customer information in QuickBooks Online (QBO).

If you're trying to add the customer's mobile or phone number, you can enter the details under the Phone or Mobile section from the Customer information page. 

Here's how:

1. Open your QBO account, then select Customer from Sales at the left pane.
2. Click on the customer's name to open it.
3. Select Edit beside New transaction.
4. Type in the info under Phone or Mobile, then save.

However, if you're referring to the number of the customer from your record (order from the list), you can add it beside the display name. If you want to use the display name when printing the customer's checks, mark the box beside Print on check as display name.

In case you need an additional reference when managing your customers in QBO, feel free to open this link about how to add customers, sub-customers, delete or merge customers.

Also, open read our help articles for more tips while working with QuickBooks in the future.

I'm always here to help if you have any other QuickBooks questions. Mention my name and leave a comment below. Keep safe, @hdsds19!

I realize there is a place to put phone number, email, etc. What I am looking for from QuickBooks is for there to be a Customer Number field, Account Number field or Reference Number field, whatever you want to call it. I want a dedicated field to add an assigned reference number to customers instead of adding a number to the front of the customer name as you suggest. I came across many workarounds, but ideally it wouldn't be that complicated.

When working with a CRM, or other services having a customer number helps streamline integration.

Hello, hdsds19.

Thanks for getting back to us! I have an idea on where you can put your customer's account number in their profile. 

You might have come across this workaround, but you can add the customer number in the Company box. This box works best since it appears together with the address and complete customer's name (without overlapping any data). Here's an example: 

You don't need to add the customer number in the Print on Check as box (or anywhere where there's already an important data). There are several fields that you can use as well. Try adding it in Other or Notes. When integrating QuickBooks with your CRM, map these fields accordingly. 

A sample check preview:

An invoice sample: 

If you need to do other tasks in QuickBooks, our articles can help you out. Look for them in our Help Articles page.

Change the flag at the top header beside Go to QuickBooks.com if you're using a version in a different country. 

I'm always here to help if you have future questions about managing your customers. I also welcome any other concerns you might have for QuickBooks Online. Just let me know in the reply section below, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Take care out there. 

Hi all,

I must agree.. A customer account number is fundamental and key to locating payments and clients details much quicker. QB Desktop had this, so why can't QBO have it? Having a "work around" of awkward fix around is crazy.

Please can you just add an account number field?

I appreciate you for joining this thread, Dominc.

As of now, the option to add an account number field isn't available. I'll take note of this idea.

In the meantime, you can try the workarounds shared by my colleagues above.

Feel free to visit our Help page if you have some How do I concern. We have laid articles here with detailed information.

I'm just a post-away if you have other concerns. Keep safe!

Hi Adrian,

Thanks for the response. It just boggled the mind that there is no account number field for a customer, but yet you have an account number field for suppliers? ( I have attached)

Is there an ETA for this? Surely this is not too complicated. Just adding an extra field to the customers -> invoicing?

Thanks

Dominic

Thanks for joining this thread and share the same sentiments, @Dominc. I know how you want this feature to be added to QuickBooks real soon. 

Please know that all our suggested plans are still subject for further study to make sure it works when it's added. Though, we're unable to provide the estimated time for this. 

In the meantime, feel free to browse and check out our resources on the  QuickBooks help page. 

We're always around here to listen and help if you have additional suggestions. Have a great day. 

It's completely insane to me that QBO does not currently have such fundamental field (Customer, Member or Account Number). How's that even possible in the technology era we are in?? Guys, it's 2021??!!!

I found a way to add customer information to the left of the company name (attached sample invoice), but I think you get what's the problem we will all run into with this "plumber" method, right?

I case it didn't click, here's some of them: how do one sort by company name, issues with searches etc. 

I found many other threads about this topic and people complaining about it for years now!

<<<<<!!!!!  When will QB finally listen to its customers and take ownership of this limitation (which affects ALL OF ITS CUSTOMERS) and fix this? Rudimentary Customer Information form need....  !!!!!>>>>>   Any other stupid system out there has a "Unique Customer ID" field.  Please shake internal teams up and let's fix this guys!! 21st Century....

Why can we not import the customer detail we need? Not even Title or First Name or Middle name or Surname or Affix is available to import. When I import I bring in 200 plus Customers but the info is useless.

Wish QBO and Desktop could talk up and down.

Hi there, @Anton65.

Can you share with me the error you're getting with when exporting your customer list in QuickBooks? 

Normally, you should be able to import these details in QuickBooks Online (QBO). Any further info would be much appreciated. 

Please add your reply to this thread and I'll get back to you. 

I did reply and the system did not post it.

Let's make sure you'll be able to reply with the post, Anton65.

Normally, you should be able to post in our system without any issues once you're able to log in . You can launch a private window (incognito) and check if you're still getting the same problem. I've provided the shortcuts keys below so you can follow:
 

• Press Ctrl + Shift + N (Google Chrome)
• Ctrl + Shift + P (Firefox)
• Control + Option + P (Safari)
  
  

Once logged in, return to your default browser. Your cache and extensions are probably interfering with the scripts where QuickBooks is trying to run the page. Clear the cache so you'll be able to work with a clean slate. If not, you can switch to a different browser.

Furthermore, QuickBooks provides variety of reports that tells you the aspects of your business. You'll just have to filter and customise them so you'll be able to get the data you need most. I've provided this article for more information: Customise Reports In QuickBooks Online.

Keep in touch if you have any concerns when posting here in the Community. I'll be here to help.

Thanks for allowing me to give feedback RaymondO

I'm attaching an Excel Spreadsheet with relevant issues showing:

1. Data required when opening Customers
2. Data we need for School/Colleges for Students and ways we deal with it.
3. Data allowed to be imported by QBO with too little detail to meet the requirements in 1. above. How can we fix this issue?
4. And a request for a report that can reflect more Customer details i.e. "Title" and "Suffix" as we use the detail for Student numbers and Grades etc.
5. If you can give me a direct mail address to communicate with I'll also appreciate it.

Thank you for this info. I'll also look at using the Company field in future so the Client reference on the bank payment will be usable. I wrote the next points earlier and it relates to importing information from Students at different schools and also exporting reports with more of the above information to Excel.

Thanks for providing a PDF file, Anton65.

 As my colleague shared above, you should be able to import customers with the details you've mentioned. That said, I'd suggest importing them on an incognito window. You may follow the steps laid out by MariaSoledadG.

As for the report, you can run the Customer Contact List report to show all your customer details. 

Lastly, you can reach out to our Phone Support team. Since Community is a public forum, we're unable to share confidential information such as mailing addresses. Our best option is to contact our phone agents.

You can reach out to them through the ? Help icon.

I've also added this article as your guide in customising report: Modify reports.

Keep me posted whenever you need help. I'll be around!

Can one change the Name of "Company" to "Student Number" or "Customer Number" or just "Number"?

Hi @Anton65,

Thank you for posting here in the Community. I can provide clarification about changing the Company field in QuickBooks Online.

Currently, the option to replace the default name from Company with a different one is unavailable. Though, it would be beneficial to have the ability to change the name in the Online version, too.

Our engineers might be working to bring this feature over to this platform in the future. As we assess this, I recommend sending your feedback through these steps:

1. Click the Gear icon in the upper-right corner.
2. Select Feedback under Profile.
3. Share your feedback.
4. Hit Next to submit.

I've attached an article you can use for future reference about customizing forms, like how to include custom fields and other information in QuickBooks: Customise invoices, estimates, and sales receipts in QuickBooks Online.

Glad to answer any other questions you might have about the QuickBooks Online platform. Visit the Community space again, and I'll help you out.

I'm attaching a revised Pdf printed Excel Spreadsheet with relevant issues showing:

1. Data required when opening Customers
2. Data we need for School/Colleges for Students and ways we deal with it.
3. Data allowed to be imported by QBO with too little detail to meet the requirements in 1. above. How can we fix this issue?
4. And a request for a report that can reflect more Customer details i.e. "Title" and "Suffix" as we use the detail for Student numbers and Grades etc.

Sorry - I do not see the attachment referred to in previous message.

Hope it attaches this time.

I can see the attachment in your last response to us. Allow me to quickly address your concerns and inquiries, Anton65.
 

As you may have observed, not all details when setting up a new customer can be imported.  This includes suffixes, parent customer details, and linking the sub-customer to main accounts. You also need to manually type in their student numbers in the Other field once the data is imported. 

Let me share these articles that provide more details about this:

• Import Customers or Suppliers from Email contacts to QuickBooks Online
• Common Questions About Importing Data to QuickBooks Online

After that, customise the Customer Contact List report. This will let you add the Other and any other columns you need to show the data that you want to be part of the report . Here's how: 

1. Go to the Reports menu and look for Customer Contact List.
2. Click the Customise button in the upper-right hand corner.
3. Select Change columns and check the box for Other.
4. Choose Run report.

Then, click the Export button to download your data to Excel.

You can include these details in sending your feedback or feature requests to our engineers. You might also consider using a third-party app that can help you import the information you need into QBO. Here's how: 

1. Go to the Apps menu and proceed to the Find apps tab.
2. Click the drop-down list for Browse category and select Manage Customers. 

Let me know if you're able to put in the customer or student information in QBO. I would also get back here from time to time and check if you need anything else. 

Thank you for this info JenoP

I'll look for the App you referred to.

Regards

Anton

@Anton65 

Another option, you can prepare your Customer List data with the following template

then utilize an importer tool

https://transactionpro.grsm.io/qbo

Thank you for the feedback.

The Customer List does not give me the option to add the "Title" and "Affix" columns as per your proposal.

Regards

Anton

Have you tried the importer tool as I mentioned earlier?