How to Create Sub-Customers in QuickBooks Online

In this blog post, I’ll show you how to create a sub-customer of an existing customer. 

Sub-customers are helpful if you bill a parent company but work on their clients and want to track each client.

An example would be a plumber who wants to track different job sites, but in the end, they all get billed back to a general contractor.

Or an attorney with one customer but different matters for that customer.

Quick Instructions:

  1. Click Sales -> Customers in the left side menu
  2. Click the New Customer button
  3. Fill in the sub-customer’s information
  4. Check the “Is a sub-customer” box
  5. Select a Parent customer
  6. Click Save

Keep reading for a complete walkthrough with screenshots:

Creating the Parent Customer

To begin, we’ll make the parent customer. 

Click Sales -> Customers in the left side menu.

Open Customers in QBO from Sales in the left side menu

Then click the green New customer button on the right.

New customers button in QBO

In the Customer pop-out, enter the parent customer’s name and click Save. (You can fill out as much information as you want, but you only need the Company display name to save a new customer).

Creating a new customer in QBO, all you need to enter is a display name to save.

When you create a new customer it drops you onto that customer’s detail page. Click the blue Customers link on the left to return to the Customer list.

Link to click on a customer detail page to return to the Customers list

Creating a Sub-Customer

To create a sub-customer, click the New customer button again. 

Enter a name for the sub-customer and then check the “Is a sub-customer” box.

A drop-down will appear. Select the primary customer.

Another checkbox will appear: “Bill parent customer.” If you check this box, invoices you create for the sub-customer will be billed to the parent. You can read more about how this works in the QuickBooksHelp article “Use the bill parent customer option on invoices in QuickBooks Online.”

When you’re ready click the Save button.

Creating a sub-customer in QBO

Sub-Customers in the Customer List

When you view the Customer list sub-customers appear indented below the parent customer.

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This content is for information purposes only and should not be considered legal, accounting, or tax advice, or a substitute for obtaining such advice specific to your business. Additional information and exceptions may apply. Applicable laws may vary by state or locality. No assurance is given that the information is comprehensive in its coverage or that it is suitable in dealing with a customer’s particular situation. Gentle Frog, LLC does not have any responsibility for updating or revising any information presented herein. Accordingly, the information provided should not be relied upon as a substitute for independent research. Gentle Frog, LLC does not warrant that the material contained herein will continue to be accurate, nor that it is completely free of errors when published. Readers and viewers should verify statements before relying on them.

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