Skip to content

Verified Process to Delete Customer in QuickBooks Desktop & Online!

Make a Customer Inactive in QuickBooks

QuickBooks plays a vital role in maintaining customer’s database. However, it is fairly common in every firm to lose a few clients for various reasons. Nobody wants to clog up their database with useless information about a client who has left them. In these circumstances, you can delete Customer in QuickBooks and remove it from your database. You can do this in both QuickBooks desktop and online version. Moreover, If you don’t want to delete a customer, you can always make a customer inactive.

Wondering how to Delete Customer in QuickBooks? Get in touch with our experts at +1(855)-955-1942 to get a quick answer.

Difference Between Making a Customer Inactive and Deleting a Customer  

If you make a Customer Inactive in QuickBooks, it means that it won’t appear in your Chart of Account. Although it does not mean that you won’t be charged a fee for QuickBooks Online as the subscription fee is fixed. You can merge a new account and an inactive account while a similar feature is not available while deleting an account. Deleting an account means permanently removing an account in QuickBooks.

Please keep in mind that even if you delete clients in QBO, the transactions related to them will remain in your company data Reports. A parent customer’s sub-customers will also be deleted if the parent customer is deleted.

In comparison to completely eliminating a customer, making them inactive is a safer choice. The name of your customer will be hidden in the Customer list, but you can find it if necessary. This process keeps a record of all the transactions that happened between you and your Customer in order to verify that the financial data for the year-end reporting and tax filling is absolutely correct. Follow these steps to make a customer inactive in QB:-

Image Illustration for Steps to Make a Customer Inactive in QuickBooks
  • Click on the Sales menu.
  • Select the Customers tab.
  • Tick the box next to the Customer’s name that you want to remove.
  • Choose the Batch actions dropdown.
  • Click on make active.
  • Now press Yes to confirm your action.

There is another way through which you can make customers inactive one at a time. It is great if you don’t have many customers you want to make inactive. Follow these steps in order to do so- 

  • Click on the Sales menu at the left panel and then choose the Customers tab.
  • Choose the Customer you want to make inactive, and then click on Edit.
  • Now click on Make inactive and then press Yes in order to complete the process.
Make Customer Inactive in Quickbooks from Sales menu
Click on Make Inactive button in the edit window
Click the make Inactive Button at the bottom

You are only allowed to remove a customer in QuickBooks that have no transactions under their name. It is to ensure that there are no discrepancies while filing taxes. There are different methods for deleting a customer in QuickBooks for QBD and QBO.

Deleting a Customer in QuickBooks Desktop

Follow the steps to delete customer in QuickBooks Desktop version:

  • Run’ QuickBooks Desktop‘ and Click on ‘Customer‘.
  • Go to ‘Customer Centre‘.
  • Find the name of the Customer you want to delete under ‘Customer and Jobs’.
  • Now click on the ‘Edit” menu.
  • Click on the option that says ‘Delete Customer Job.’
  • A message will pop up stating, “Are You Sure You Want to Delete This Customer Job?“. Now press “Yes” to continue.
  • Now close the ‘Window.’
Permanently delete a customer by clicking Delete Customer Job
Delete Customer Job under Customers

Deleting Customer in QuickBooks Online

Follow the steps to delete a customer in QuickBooks Online version:

  • Open the Customer Menu in QuickBooks and Choose “Customer Centre“.
  • Now Press Enter and click on the “Customer & Job” section.
  • Select that Customer you want to Delete.
  • Click on ‘Edit’ and then choose ‘Delete Customer Job’ and delete all customers in QuickBooks you wish to delete.

It is not unusual in a business that your old customers get back to you. In that case, you can either open a whole new customer account for them or restore their previous deleted account. Follow these steps if you want to restore deleted Customer in QuickBooks:-

NOTE: This feature is only available for QuickBooks Online Version.

  • Click on the Sales button in the left menu.
  • Now choose Customer at the top.
  • Check the Include inactive box in the Settings (Gear icon beside the Export Button).
  • Look for the inactive customer button and then click on Make active link below the Action button.
Steps to Make an inactive customer active again
Restore a Deleted Customer in QuickBooks

Now you can Go to the search bar and find the Customer you just made active.

So, we hope that this post has clarified what you need to do in QuickBooks to inactive a customer account, delete a customer account, and reactivate the inactive customers. If you get stuck while following any of the above steps and need expert assistance, get in touch with our experts by placing a call on QuickBooks Data Service Solutions Helpline Number +1(855)-955-1942.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

nv-author-image

Lily Evans

Lily Evans is a Certified Accountant with Expertise in QuickBooks, Sage and Quicken Accounting Software. Lily has been working with Data Service Solutions for the last 3 years as a QuickBooks Expert and is Helping Accounting software users with their day to day accounting tasks and issues.

© Dataservicesolutions - All Rights Reserved

Disclaimer

"Data Service Solutions" is a Accounting and Bookkeeping service provider. We are distinguished by the virtue of our expertise in various products developed by a wide range of third-party companies. The use of any third-party trademarks, logos, or brand names on our website or other platforms is for informational purpose only. It does not imply any endorsement by Data Service Solutions or vice-versa or that the trademark owner has authorized or collaborated with Data Service Solutions to promote their products and services.

Data Service Solutions does not have any affiliation from any third-party companies, unless any such relationship is explicitly specified. We have no link or affiliation with any of the brand or third-party company as we independently offer support service for all the product errors you face while using different accounting software.

For detailed information on permitted use and specific warranties associated with the software or its peripherals, please contact the concerned third-party directly. Any content accessed, downloaded, or otherwise obtained from or through the use of the website should be at your own discretion.

Intuit and QuickBooks are trademarks and service marks of Intuit Inc., registered in the United States and other countries. It’s Completely Your Choice to Purchase Your Product Directly from Intuit® And Contact Intuit® Directly for Support. Intuit®, The Intuit® Logo, QuickBooks®, TurboTax®, Quicken® Are Registered Trademarks of Intuit Inc. Data Service Solutions Is an Independent from Intuit Inc. Intuit®, QuickBooks®, TurboTax®, Quicken® Among Others, Are the Registered Logos, Trademarks and Brand Names of Intuit Inc. And Are Used Here Solely for The Purpose of Reference.