How to Turn On Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise

Advanced Inventory for QuickBooks can help run your business more efficiently. Read this blog for all you need to know.

How to Turn On Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise Read More »

Like most small business owners, you likely rely on QuickBooks to help manage your finances. But you may not be taking full advantage of all the features QuickBooks offers. One such feature is Advanced Inventory. 

QuickBooks Advanced Inventory is especially useful to businesses in the manufacturing and distribution industry.

This blog post explains: 

  • Everything about Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks.
  • What advanced inventory tracking is. 
  • How this tool can help you run your business more efficiently.
  • How to turn on Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise.

Sick of hunting for spreadsheets when updating your QuickBooks data?

What is Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise?

When it comes to Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Desktop solutions, Enterprise is your only choice.

This tool lets businesses manage all inventory items processes from a central dashboard and account for: 

  • Overhead costs. 
  • Labor costs. 
  • Bill of Materials costs.
  • Cost of goods sold (COGS).

But, what is QuickBooks Enterprise exactly?

QuickBooks dubs Enterprise the “most powerful QuickBooks yet,” with advanced functionality beyond the standard software’s accounting capabilities.

As an all-in-one business solution, QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise automates and simplifies processes such as:

  • Accounting.
  • Payroll.
  • Payments.
  • Inventory.

 Although QuickBooks Online has some inventory management capabilities, it lacks some crucial inventory maintenance and management aspects.

For example, while you can track inventory with QuickBooks Online, you can’t keep a detailed list of assembly items. This makes it difficult for manufacturing firms to monitor their supply of raw materials and finished products accurately.

How does it work?

QuickBooks’ advanced inventory tracking and management work by automating repetitive tasks and streamlining processes related to inventory management.

Some of the Advanced Inventory QuickBooks capabilities include:

  • A centralized dashboard to manage end-to-end order fulfillment.
  • Inventory tracking across multiple inventory locations.
  • Automatic inventory forecasting and customized reporting.
  • Lot, row, shelf, and bin location tracking.
  • Mobile barcode scanning and FIFO costing.

Advantages of Advanced Inventory for QuickBooks Desktop

So, why should you consider QuickBooks Enterprise for inventory management over a separate tool, like an ERP with inventory management capabilities? Let’s look at some of the main advantages of using the Advanced Inventory QuickBooks Desktop solution:

Centralized inventory across multiple warehouses

The QuickBooks dashboard configuration centralizes your data to increase visibility into your processes and track changes and activities.

You can monitor all your inventory items to see how they’re doing from a central dashboard and use multiple location tracking to oversee all your warehouses. 

The tool also has user permissions & roles to keep things secure. Plus, you can customize the inventory tracking options and location tracking to:

  • Transfer inventory between locations.
  • Monitor stockat every warehouse.
  • Launch other background processes.

Barcode scanning to track items

Have your warehouse crew members install the QuickBooks Desktop Mobile app to turn their devices into mobile barcode scanners in a single touch. Advanced Inventory also supports wireless or wired device integration for scanners. Data is transfers directly to your QuickBooks account when your workers scan inventory items. As a result, you save your team countless problems and hours of manual admin work.

Consolidated data on vendors

QuickBooks Enterprise’s Alternate Vendors Center is an electronic repository of all your vendors’ information, from their contact information to pricing details. This saves you the hassle of juggling several file versions at a time. With this feature, you can also track the time it takes for vendors to deliver items and note down shortages.

Automated sales order fulfillment process

Implement the advanced tracking system in QuickBooks to: 

  • Stay on top of every sales order. 
  • Create a priority list of orders to fulfill first.
  • Gain instant access to pertinent information such as inventory levels, incoming delivery schedules, and order statuses.

Limitations of QuickBooks Advanced Inventory

Despite all the benefits you can gain from Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise, it isn’t a perfect solution. After all, Intuit QuickBooks is, first and foremost, an accounting program — not an ERP or MRP.

Let’s take a look at some of the limitations of QuickBooks Enterprise’s Advanced Inventory tool:

  • It doesn’t let companies track lot numbers and serial numbers simultaneously.
  • It doesn’t offer suggestions for the most appropriate vendor based on your budget or time constraints. The Vendors Center is merely a consolidated list of all vendor information.
  • You cannot print out serial numbers and barcode number labels. 
  • It cannot generate random codes for serial numbers or lot tracking to follow product stores.
  • It doesn’t generate forecasting reports or trigger push notifications when inventory levels are down.

QuickBooks Advanced Inventory settings

Trying these additional features is a no-brainer if you’re already using QuickBooks Enterprise to manage your business operations.

The below sections explain how to initiate the Advanced Inventory setup. You can adjust the Advanced Inventory settings in your QuickBooks account to toggle the feature on or off and apply the recommended inventory configurations.

Method CRM lets you run your business, your way.

How to turn on Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks

In order to activate the Advanced Inventory feature, follow these steps:

  1. Initiate your QuickBooks.
  2. Go to the “Edit” menu and click the “Preferences” icon.
  3. Select “Items & Inventory” and choose the “Company Preferences” tab.
  4. Check the “Inventory and Purchase Orders are Active” box.
  5. Click on “Advanced Inventory Settings.” If the button is unclickable, you must first sync your license data online.
  6. Go to the “Help tab, find the “Manage my License option, then “Sync License Data Online.”
  7. Head back to “Advanced Inventory Settings and make sure the box is checked.

And that’s it! Now that you know how to turn on Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise, you can start using the Advanced Inventory functionalities.

Note: Only users with an active subscription to QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise Platinum and Diamond can access Advanced Inventory features. Double-check your QuickBooks Enterprise version, your subscription level, or speak to your Customer Relationships representative to ensure compatibility before enabling Advanced Inventory.

Turn off Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Desktop

Finding out how to utilize the Advanced Inventory tools effectively might take you a few attempts, so don’t lose patience. However, learning how to turn off inventory tracking in QuickBooks Online is easy. All it takes is navigation to Preferences and a few clicks:

Step 1: Go to the “Editmenu and click on “Preferences.”

Step 2: Click onInventory & Items,” then head to the “Company Preferences tab.

Step 3: Click on “Advanced Inventory Settings.”

Step 4: Turn off all the features you no longer want to use.

Step 5: In the “Advanced Inventory Settings” window, click “OK,” then again in the Preferences window. Finally, click “OK” in the warning window.

And that’s it! Now you know how to turn off inventory tracking in QuickBooks Online.

Key takeaways

QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is an excellent solution for small businesses that don’t have the budget for more comprehensive ERPs but still want to optimize their inventory management features.

It’s a solid inventory management tool with: 

  • Inventory tracking across multiple locations. 
  • Mobile scanning compatibility. 
  • A vendor database — and more.

It’s great that you learned how to turn on Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise. But if you have your sights set on business growth, consider expanding your QuickBooks ecosystem. A solution like Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise is not built for scalability or complex inventory and resource management.

Consider Method CRM if you’re looking to integrate Advanced Inventory with other tools and features such as:

  • Field service management.
  • Lead management.
  • Online customer portals.
  • Customized forecasting.
  • Inventory reporting enhancements.
  • Customer relationship management (CRM).

This cloud-based solution provides real-time, two-way syncing with the entire QuickBooks tool hub, so all your accounting and inventory data remains up-to-date every step of the way.

Learn more from our experts about what Method can do for your business with this video.

QuickBooks advanced inventory FAQs

Which QuickBooks edition allows advanced inventory functions?

Only QuickBooks Enterprise Platinum and Diamond users can enable the Advanced Inventory option.

How much does QuickBooks Advanced Inventory cost?

Advanced inventory is free with QuickBooks Enterprise Platinum, costing $2140 for an annual plan, and QuickBooks Enterprise Diamond, costing $4200 billed for the monthly plan. Consult your Customer Success manager about the license requirements to use this feature.

How do I turn on advanced pricing in QuickBooks Enterprise?

Once you’ve set up your inventory parameters, you can configure pricing rules to have QuickBooks adjust your prices automatically based on inventory levels and demand. 

To enable advanced pricing, you must: 

  1. Click on “Edit” and then “Preferences.” 
  2. Under “Sales & Customers,” go to “Company Preferences.”
  3. Click on “Custom Pricing” and select “Enable Advanced Pricing. 
  4. Set up your preferences and click “OK”.

How do I turn on inventory in QuickBooks?

To turn on inventory in QuickBooks:

  1. In “Settings”, go to “Account and settings” and click on the “Sales” tab. 
  2. In the “Products and services” section, go to “Edit”. 
  3. Click on “Show Product/Service column on sales forms” to turn it on. 
  4. Turn on “Track quantity and price/rate” and “Track inventory quantity on hand.” 
  5. Finally, make sure to click “Save and Done to keep these settings. 

Now you can start adding your inventory!

What happens if I turn off Advanced Inventory in QuickBooks?

You can turn off some Advanced Inventory features while keeping others on. You can also turn off the whole Advanced Inventory system. If you do this, QuickBooks will hide and store your data so everything’s still available when you turn it back on.

How do I set up inventory in QuickBooks Desktop?

To configure the necessary preferences for inventory in QuickBooks Desktop and set up Advanced Inventory, you’ll have to: 

  1. Navigate to the inventory settings. 
  2. Click on the “Edit” menu and select “Preferences.” 
  3. Click “Items & Inventory” and choose the “Company Preferences” tab. 
  4. Find the “Inventory and Purchase Orders are Active box” and check it, then select the Advanced Inventory form the menu. 

Click on the “Turn On” button for Advanced Inventory. If the button is unclickable, you must first sync your license data online and start the process again.

Make sure to adjust your inventory settings regularly to keep your information up to date.

Also, remember to keep up with your annual subscription renewal and update your software to its latest version. This supports Advanced Inventory on your computer or mobile device so you can always access the Advanced Inventory module.

Don’t let the limits of QuickBooks hold you back. Try Method for free today!

Image credit: Tiger Lily via Pexels

woman using a barcode a barcode scanner in a warehouse for products on a shelf

Top 10 best manufacturing business management software for 2025

Manufacturing business management software boosts productivity. Check out our top picks for 2025 in this blog!

Top 10 best manufacturing business management software for 2025 Read More »

Your manufacturing business has many moving parts that must be in sync to keep your business structured and organized. Luckily, manufacturing business management software has the tools to create a system that manages all aspects of your business.

In this article, you’ll learn everything there is to know about manufacturing software and how it improves your business.

You’ll also discover the best manufacturing business management software to strengthen your business processes and drive results. 

What is manufacturing business management software?

Manufacturing business management software is a tool that simplifies your manufacturing operations management.

Aspects of your business that manufacturing software improves include:

  • Inventory.
  • Shipping and receiving. 
  • Supply chain management. 
  • Material usage.
  • Accounting.

Let’s take a closer look at how this unique software works. 

How business management software for manufacturing works

No two software solutions work the same way. Manufacturing business software comes in various forms. 

For example, manufacturing and sales software equips your sales team with tools to nurture leads and manage customer relationships. In contrast, manufacturing order software focuses on inventory management and organizing sales orders.

Specific types of software you might consider include an ERP (enterprise resource planning) system or a CRM (customer relationship management) solution. 

A manufacturing CRM focuses more on the customer and sales side of your business, while an ERP takes on a larger scope in managing your entire business cycle.

No matter what you choose, all manufacturing software solutions have the same goal: to simplify your processes. 

Why is manufacturing business management software important?

It’s important to keep your business organized, and the only way to do so is through a system. Manufacturing business management software provides that system to keep everything on track.

Business management software brings your manufacturing business to life and gives you a central place from which to operate your business. It strengthens your processes which results in several benefits for your business. 

Let’s explore what those benefits are.

Benefits of management software for your manufacturing business

In deciding whether manufacturing business management software is right for you, you have to understand the benefits of software on your business. 

The most significant benefit of business management software for manufacturers is the time you save on manual processes. 

Since software simplifies and automates repetitive tasks such as work order creation and billing, your team spends less time on admin and wins more time for revenue-generating tasks. 

Here are some other top benefits of manufacturing business software:

  • Increased visibility of the end-to-end manufacturing process. 
  • Integrate all of your tools into one core system.
  • Keep track of customer information and history.
  • Reduce costs through more efficient scheduling.
  • Present your business as more professional to your customers.

You can reap these benefits through several key features of manufacturing business management software.

Key features of manufacturing business management software

While not all software solutions are the same, there are a few features that you must consider when picking the best solution for your business.

Here are some of the key features of manufacturing business management software.

Financial management

Finance is most likely one of your top priorities for your manufacturing business, so it’s important to choose software with accounting features such as:

  • Estimates and quotes.
  • Invoice creation.
  • Customer and vendor billing.
  • Revenue reports.

Some manufacturing business solutions come with integrated accounting software. This is especially true for ERP systems. 

However, it’s more practical if your manufacturing business software integrates with your current accounting software, as then there’s no need to migrate your data and learn a new system. 

For instance, if you use QuickBooks for manufacturing, ensure your chosen solution integrates with Quickbooks.  

Track your customers better

Customers keep your business afloat, so it’s key that your manufacturing business management  software has features that elevate your customer service.

CRM software typically delivers the best insights into your customers, including their information and history. 

Dashboards can provide an at-a-glance view of your customers so that your sales reps are always ready to take a call. You can even schedule automated follow-ups to ensure that each customer gets the attention they deserve.

Automated order management

The best manufacturing business software eliminates the need for spreadsheet inventory and order management.

A solution with automation optimizes your processes and simplifies your supply chain workflows to reduce paperwork and increase results.

For the best inventory management options, you should choose customizable software that allows you to upload your current spreadsheets and add fields to your inventory list. 

Now that you’re an expert on manufacturing business software, it’s time to choose the best one for your business.

The best management software for manufacturing companies

The best manufacturing business management software for your business depends on your business needs. 

For example, simple manufacturing software will do if you only want to organize your sales orders. But if you want to integrate all of your tools and automate your workflows, you need a solution with robust features. 

Still not sure which manufacturing software is best for you? Let’s take a look at a few options. 

Best manufacturing business management software for 2022

Without further ado, here are the top 10 manufacturing business management software to enhance your business efficiency.

1. Method CRM

To kick off the list of the best manufacturing business management software, you have Method CRM.

Method CRM is the perfect manufacturing business management and accounting software thanks to its two-way QuickBooks and Xero sync. 

This keeps your data flowing and your entire team on the same page, whether on the shop floor or the sales office.

Method CRM lets you view detailed customer history so you can deliver top-notch service on the fly. You can also generate custom reports to guide your future strategies. 

What’s more, creating work orders is a breeze when you leverage the power of automation. Keep track of important details through accurate work orders, and when the time comes, convert them into error-free invoices with just a few clicks. 

Features

  • Full customization for a unique solution.
  • Time tracking for easy payroll.
  • Native integrations with Google Calendar, PayPal, Zapier, and more. 
  • Customizable report builder for valuable business insights. 
  • A mobile app for busy shop floor managers. 

Pros

  • Two-way sync with accounting software for smooth data flow.
  • No-code platform to cater the solution to your business needs.
  • Easily convert your work orders into invoices. 
  • Several ways to leverage automation for efficient workflows. 

Cons

For now, you must be either a QuickBooks or Xero user to use Method.

Pricing

Method offers the following pricing plans:

  • Contact Management: $25 per user per month.
  • CRM Pro: $44 per user per month.
  • CRM Enterprise: $74 per user per month.

They also offer a free trial. No credit card required. 

2. DELMIAworks

Image credit: Capterra

Formerly known as IQMS, DELMIAworks is an enterprise resource planning solution made for manufacturing businesses.

This ERP system supports the growth of your business from end to end.

While they primarily market to midsize companies, DELMIAworks is a scalable solution that works for companies of any size. 

Features

  • Order processing and procurement automation.
  • Simple, user-friendly interface. 
  • Easy ways to monitor production.

Pros

  • Perfect for midsize businesses.
  • End-to-end visibility and control.
  • Strong reporting capabilities.

Cons

Some users say that this manufacturing solution has a steep learning curve and that DELMIAworks needs a stronger support team.

“There is so much to learn from this software that I don’t think we will ever learn how to use it efficiently.”

MARLENE via Capterra

Pricing

DELMIAworks is a SOLIDWORKS product, so you must contact SOLIDWORKS to request a quote.

3. MIE Trak Pro

Image credit: Software Advice

MIE Trak Pro is made to support manufacturers with all modes of production.

With MIE Trak Pro, you can create sales orders from an RFQ or a PDF in just a few clicks. You have even more options, such as creating work orders through automated triggers.

With features that simplify tasks from inventory to invoicing, MIE Trak Pro minimizes your workload to maximize results. 

Features

  • Personalized formulas for quotes.
  • Drag-and-drop whiteboard scheduling.
  • KIOSK mode to track real-time job progress.

Pros

  • Several options to create sales orders.
  • Serialization to organize raw materials and finished goods. 
  • An integrated accounting system.

Cons

Because they have their own integrated accounting system, MIE Trak Pro’s QuickBooks integration isn’t as robust as other business management software. 

Users who want to continue using QuickBooks may want to skip this solution.

Pricing

MIE Trak Pro has three pricing plans:

  • Essential.
  • Plus.
  • Enterprise.

You must contact them to request a quote.

4. REALTRAC

Image credit: REALTRAC

Next on the list of top manufacturing business management software is REALTRAC.

REALTRAC is a shop management software that helps your team keep the shop running smoothly throughout the day.

This solution allows you to schedule and organize work electronically while tracking progress. As a result, you save machine and labor time while maximizing productivity. 

Features

  • Automatically schedule jobs backward from the due date.
  • Team management capabilities.
  • Convert estimates into job orders. 

Pros

  • Ideal for small and mid-sized manufacturers.
  • Tracks tasks associated with complex jobs and assemblies. 
  • Control who has access to your company data with specific employee permissions.

Cons

While REALTRAC offers a free demo, they don’t offer a free trial of their software. 

Pricing

REALTRAC does not have preset pricing plans. You must contact them to request a quote. 

5. Striven

Image credit: Striven

Striven is an all-in-one business management system that combines your workflows into one process.

Primarily meant for small businesses, Striven has solutions for several businesses, including the manufacturing industry.

This software has features that simplify everything from quoting to inventory control to ensure that you get your daily tasks done in no time. 

Features

  • Customer, vendor, and career portals to organize your business.
  • Create marketing initiatives based on order history. 
  • Production reports to measure progress.

Pros

  • Real-time data on job and employee activity.
  • Implementation plan for a quick start. 
  • Integrated accounting software.

Cons

Striven has limited integrations and does not integrate with popular accounting software, such as QuickBooks. 

Pricing

Striven has three pricing plans:

  • $20 per user per month for up to 20 users + $99 monthly hosting.
  • $15 per user per month for up to 50 users + $299 monthly hosting.
  • $10 per user per month for unlimited users + $499 monthly hosting.

You can also choose to subscribe to individual portals for different monthly prices. 

6. Katana Manufacturing ERP

Image credit: Capterra

The next manufacturing business management software is Katana Manufacturing ERP.

Katana is manufacturing software built for any industry. With features such as video production planning and real-time inventory control, Katana strengthens your business’s processes so that everything is accounted for. 

As an enterprise resource planning system, Katana automates resource allocation based on sales order priority. What’s more, Katana offers several integrations to extend the power of this ERP.

Features

  • Live inventory management.
  • Drag-and-drop order priorities according to material availability and delivery deadlines.
  • Create custom workflows via Katana API.

Pros

  • Several third-party and native integrations, such as Shopify and Amazon.
  • Visual interface for easy progress-tracking.
  • Track manufacturing costs based on your bill of materials and production operations.

Cons

Katana is one of the pricier software on this list, and may be out of budget for some small businesses. 

Pricing

Katana has three pricing plans:

  • Essential: $99 per user per month.
  • Advanced: $299 per user per month. Includes 3 shop floor operators.
  • Professional: $799 per user per month. Includes 3 shop floor operators.

7. QT9 ERP

Image credit: Software Advice

Next, you have QT9 ERP. This solution is made primarily for medical device manufacturers but is valuable to anyone in the manufacturing industry. 

It integrates all of your business processes into one ERP system. 

QT9’s top features include linking all jobs to their correct bills of materials for accuracy and forecasting based on sales, inventory, and future potential. 

It allows you to monitor manufacturing from end to end, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks. 

Features

  • Automatically create jobs from processed sales orders.
  • Gantt chart scheduling. 
  • Auto-generates serial numbers and lot numbers.

Pros

  • Gain a 360-degree view of your business with real-time reports.
  • Visual tools to quickly identify bottlenecks. 
  • Inventory barcoding for easy shop floor management. 

Cons

QT9 does not have native integrations with popular apps in the manufacturing space.

Pricing

There are no preset pricing plans so you must contact QT9 for a quote. 

8. Intellect

Image credit: Capterra

If you’re looking for manufacturing business management software for compliance purposes, Intellect may be the solution for you.

Intellect is a quality management software (QMS) meant to help you reach regulatory compliance requirements. In addition to fast implementation and audit management features, Intellect is also customizable. 

Thanks to their no-code platform, you can build new apps that best match your manufacturing operations management and make this solution uniquely yours.

Features

  • Dashboard with real-time metrics.
  • Automated email reminders for accountability. 
  • Track uptime and downtime across weeks, months, quarters, or years.

Pros

  • Customizable no-code platform. 
  • Step-by-step guided instruction for system admins. 
  • Various tools to prepare for both internal and external audits. 

Cons

Intellect’s platform relies heavily on customization, making it a less ideal software for those looking for an out-of-the-box solution.

Pricing

There are no preset pricing plans, so you must contact Intellect to request pricing. 

9. M1 ERP

Image credit: Software Advice

Next on the list is M1.

M1 is a cloud-based ERP that gives visibility into your entire operation. Designed for small and midsize businesses, this solution is great for manufacturers concerned with repetitive tasks and project management. 

M1’s top features are material ordering and scheduling. Use their manufacturer resource planner to track your supply chain in just a few clicks. 

You can also schedule and manage multiple projects from one place. 

Features

  • Inventory management with real-time data across business functions.
  • Automated scheduling and shipping processes. 
  • Design Studio to personalize the platform.

Pros

  • Integrations with QuickBooks, CADLink, and more. 
  • Sync multiple facilities into the same platform. 
  • Personalized dashboards for each role in your organization.

Cons

Some users say that M1’s customer support could be improved.

“At times customer service response is a bit longer than we would like though once they are working on an issue, they are great at resolving it.”

Pricing

You must contact M1 ERP to request a demo and quote. 

10. Visual EstiTrack

Image credit: Visual EstiTrack

Last on the list of the best manufacturing business management software is Visual EstiTrack.

As the name suggests, this manufacturing business software makes it easier to track your processes. Visual EstiTrack manages your everyday tasks, from creating estimates to processing sales orders.

For example, Visual EstiTrack’s Orders and Releases system lets you define and track sales and shop orders. You can create these orders from existing quotes or from scratch.

Features

  • Visual scheduling for more efficiency. 
  • Option for VisualBooks integrated accounting system add-on.
  • Automated quote calculations.

Pros

  • The visual interface makes it easy to navigate.
  • Customizable to suit your business needs.
  • Attentive and prompt customer support. 

Cons

Visual EstiTrack has limited integrations to centralize your processes.

Pricing

You must contact Visual EstiTrack for a quote. 

Manufacturing business management software FAQs

What is small business manufacturing software?

Small business manufacturing software is a tool that simplifies how you manage your business processes.

Small businesses, in particular, need manufacturing software to drive efficiency and keep up with larger enterprises. 

Why do you need manufacturing business management software?

You need manufacturing business management software because business success is all about organization. Manufacturing business software keeps your data in one place, making it easy to find when needed.

As a result, manufacturing management software saves you time and money that you could put towards revenue-generating endeavors. 

How can an ERP improve my manufacturing business?

An ERP can improve your manufacturing business by centralizing your data and giving you one source of truth. 

Some of the top benefits of enterprise resource management for manufacturers include:

  • Better access to customer information.
  • Improved order accuracy.
  • Custom reports for stronger business insights.

Conclusion: Which manufacturing business management software is best for you?

Hopefully, your search for the perfect manufacturing solution is all done, and you’re ready to skyrocket your business success with one of our listed solutions. 

The right manufacturing business management software transforms your business by boosting productivity and strengthening your workflows.

But you won’t know which is the best for your business until you try them out for yourself.

See what manufacturing operations software can do with a free trial of Method!

Image credit: Chokniti via Adobe Stock

a young man in a blue sweater, looking at a document while sitting at the back of a an open van trunk

How to adjust inventory in QuickBooks

If you’re struggling to keep track of your inventory, read this blog to find out how you can adjust inventory in QuickBooks Online.

How to adjust inventory in QuickBooks Read More »

As a business owner, you must constantly update your inventory quantity whenever your stock levels change. You need to actively decrease your stock list to account for products sold and increase it after a significant restock or vendor purchase.

Naturally, to stay on top of all your stock changes and maintain accurate records, you need to understand how to adjust inventory in QuickBooks Online.

In this how-to article, you’ll learn how to make inventory quantity adjustments in QuickBooks Online and Desktop so you can:

  • Track inventory changes.
  • Update the stock levels with ease.
  • Simplify your accounting processes. 

Let’s get started!

Sick of missing invoices and other data in QuickBooks?

What is QuickBooks inventory adjustment?

QuickBooks inventory adjustment is a tool to modify item details in your list of stock. It helps you ensure your digital records align with your actual inventory quantity to keep your business organized. 

For instance, if you order twenty units of an item, you need to do a physical count and reconcile or adjust your inventory levels to account for the latest stock.

Likewise, if you sell five of your products in batch, you need to remove them accordingly from your inventory items database to maintain accuracy.

Quickbooks Online inventory adjustment is necessary when you:

  • Have expired inventory leading to a loss.
  • Experience a quantity difference due to clerical mistakes.
  • Need to account for products used for promoting and marketing the business.

In a nutshell, inventory adjustment ensures you have a clear and accurate picture of your current inventory items. This helps you monitor low stock items and your customers’ demand to avoid under- or over-stocking.

For those who need additional benefits and a deeper level of inventory management, QuickBooks also lets you:

  • Configure inventory tracking settings.
  • Label items for easier identification. 
  • Transfer stock between locations. 
  • Export inventory reports for analysis.

How to enter inventory adjustments in QuickBooks Online

You can add inventory in QuickBooks Online as individual quantities or total values. 

Follow the steps outlined below for each procedure. Before you make any adjustments, it’s good practice to backup inventory records for safety. This safeguards your business against data loss due to unforeseen mishaps, like technical malfunctions or accidental deletions.

And if you ever need to look back at past stock levels, the ability to search for and retrieve historical inventory data is at your fingertips.

Adjust inventory values

Here’s how to adjust inventory value in Quickbooks Online:

  1. Choose the “Vendor” menu option on your screen.
  2. Under “Inventory activities,” select the “Adjust quantity” tab from the Vendor submenu.
  3. Click “Total value” from the “Adjustment type” drop-down list.
  4. Enter the exact date you’re adjusting, then use the drop-down box to pick the specific account you want to track your inventory modifications.
  5. Make your changes in the “Item” column.
  6. Type the inventory item’s new adjustment value in the “New value” column.
  7. In the “Memo” area, enter the reason for the change.
  8. To save the change, click the “Save” button.

The date is crucial when using QuickBooks to adjust inventory on hand, as the item’s average cost is modified based on the date you specified.

Adjust inventory quantities

Follow these steps to learn how to change an inventory quantity in QuickBooks:

  1. On the web page tab, select “Vendor,” “Inventory activities,” then “Value on hand.”
  2. On the “Adjustment type” tab, choose “Quantity.” Here, you can either decrease or increase your product quantities.
  3. Enter the correct date when you’re adjusting. If you wish to track the specific quantity adjustments, select the tracking option under “Adjustment account.”
  4. After account selection, add the products you’re altering to the “Item” column. 
  5. Enter the amount in the “New quantity” section if the item is brand new. If you want to change the amount of an item you already have in stock, enter the change under the “Quantity difference” field. You can also add a memo or notes and attachment of supporting documents. 
  6. Click “Save.”

When adjusting inventory quantities in QuickBooks Online, ensure that:

  • The quantity difference has changed as per your alterations. For example, if you subtract two items from the stock list, the asset quantity should be reduced by the exact amount.
  • You have the date right – with incorrect dates, you might adjust the wrong quantities.

Pro tip: User permissions: Control who can make adjustments to maintain adjustment history and audit trail integrity.

How to adjust your inventory quantity or value in QuickBooks Desktop

If you don’t know how to adjust an inventory value in Quickbooks Online, you’ll likely end up with an inaccurate report valuation.

Here’s how to adjust inventory in QuickBooks the correct way.

Decide what details you need to adjust

You first need to decide precisely what details you want to modify, whether it’s the:

  • Total value of your stock.
  • Product quantities on hand.

Set up your inventory adjustment account

The next step is to set up an inventory adjustment account.

With this account, you’ll be able to track current and future inventory changes you make in your business.

Here’s what you need to do to set up the account:

  1. Click “Company,” then “Chart of accounts.”
  2. Select “New” from the “Account” option.
  3. Select “Cost of goods sold” from the lists menu of “Other account types.”
  4. Label the account with a name you can easily recall/identify, as this account will come in handy when adjusting any scrap inventory.

Adjust your inventory

To adjust your inventory on QuickBooks Desktop, follow these steps:

  1. Choose the location category from the list in the “Location” box.
  2. Select the “Quantity on hand” tab, then the Adjustment quantity.
  3. Enter the proper amount in the “Adjustment quantity” section. The adjustment unit is set to the item’s standard unit of measurement by default. You can change the value as needed.
  4. Do one of the following:
    1. To add the inventory modification to the table, click “OK.”
    2. To enter other inventory modifications, click “OK” and “Add another.”
    3. To reject all inputs and exit the pop-up window, click “Cancel.”

Make sure your inventory status is now correct

Review each inventory report review and status to ensure the new inventory levels and changes you made match the QuickBooks inventory on-hand report.

To do so:

  1. Click “Inventory,” then “Reports.”
  2. Choose the “Inventory valuation summary” to see the total value of your goods.
  3. Review the products you modified and ensure all the quantity adjustments are recorded.

Need an easier way to keep your QuickBooks data up-to-date?

How to adjust your inventory quantity or value in QuickBooks Online

You can adjust your current inventory quantity or value in QuickBooks Online by: 

  • Adding something new.
  • Editing existing information.
  • Deleting outdated data. 

Here’s how.

Enter an inventory quantity adjustment

Follow these simple steps to learn how to update inventory in QuickBooks:

  1. Choose “+ New.”
  2. Choose “Inventory quantity adjustment.”
  3. Enter the date of the adjustment.
  4. In the “Product area” section, choose the items accordingly and input new product information if necessary. The description and current amount on hand are auto-filled.
  5. Enter a new quantity or quantity change for each item.
  6. If you have extra details regarding the modification, write them in the “Memo” field.
  7. Click “Save and close.”

Edit or delete an inventory quantity adjustment

If you want to correct inventory you’ve already input into QuickBooks Online, follow the steps below:

  1. Pick a record from the “Adjustment type” drop-down menu.
  2. Choose “Actions” and “Edit,” or just click the “Edit” button. You should see an  “Edit inventory adjustment” pop-up window.
  3. Change the adjustment quantity, units, and other entries you want to edit.

Click “OK” to apply your edits to the database — or hit “Cancel” to reject them — then exit the pop-up.

If you’re constantly making quantity difference adjustments in a rush, you’ll likely end up entering specific values twice, which leads to confusion and inaccuracy down the road.

So, you must remove duplicate entries to make your stock database less ambiguous.

To delete an inventory adjustment in QuickBooks Desktop, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the “Adjustment” tab and select the “New” option under the drop-down menu.
  2. Select the “Inventory” section.
  3. Select the particular item you want to delete from the list. Here, you should select the “Quick reports” option.
  4. Select the date range by clicking on the “All” tab.
  5. Right-click on the product and press the “Delete” key.

Pro tip: Location tracking (if enabled) and department or class tracking (if enabled) offer granular details on your distribution or inventory usage. 

Why is it important to adjust inventory in QuickBooks?

As a business owner, you need to: 

  • Manage backordered items. 
  • Effectively organize inventory categories.
  • Calculate the total inventory value — and more. 

With so many responsibilities, it’s difficult to prioritize inventory adjustment. However, reconciling your inventory count is essential for various reasons:

Physical count discrepancies: Validate product SKUs and barcodes and count physical inventory for verification so that you can check for discrepancies in inventory records. This way, you can correct any variances and update the new quantity value to ensure your product/service selection matches your system records.

Shrinkage: Review related transactions to report on inventory shrinkage caused by theft, damage, or waste.

Damaged goods: Inspect items for quality control and remove items from your inventory that cannot be sold. For example, you must remove obsolete or discontinued items. 

Expiration: The older your business, the more you will depreciate inventory assets. Make sure to track and list items that are out of stock, out of date, or otherwise unsellable. 

Data entry errors: Check and correct any data entry errors to prevent costly inventory inaccuracies.

Write-offs: Debit inventory for sales or goods that are no longer valuable to the company to reflect accurate inventory valuation change — as this has an impact on financial statements.

Returns: If you sell items from your inventory that are later returned, ensure you update your transactions. This way, you can credit inventory for returns and restock items based on demand. It helps to review inventory turnover rates to understand how often you sell and replace items over a certain period.

Gifts and promotions: Allocate inventory properly for promotional giveaways to keep your sales figures untouched.

Key takeaways

If you’re running a large-scale business where you need to allocate stock to different locations, conducting a physical inventory count of your stock is daunting.

Luckily, QuickBooks Online and Desktop simplify this process. Whether you need to reconcile the inventory count after a physical check or record inventory discrepancies, QuickBooks has got you covered.

Using QuickBooks to make multi-lined inventory adjustments is relatively easy. But it gets challenging and time-consuming if you lack the know-how.

This is why you should consider connecting your QuickBooks account with Method CRM.

Method offers a diverse and efficient set of inventory adjustment features that let you to alter multiple values on one screen. As a result, you reduce the time and effort necessary to make any inventory adjustment.With Method, you can take charge of your inventory and get instant, accurate stock records of all your assets.

Adjusting inventory in QuickBooks FAQs

How do I adjust inventory entries in QuickBooks?

To adjust inventory entries in QuickBooks:

  1. Choose the “Menu” icon. 
  2. Browse the “Products and services” drop-down list.
  3. Select the item you wish to change and click “Edit” in the “Actions” column. 
  4. Make your adjustments under “Quantity on Hand,” and hit “Save.” 
  5. Browse the “Products and services” drop-down list, select the item you wish to change, and click “Edit” in the “Action” column. 
  6. Modify the “Quantity on Hand” and hit “Save”.
     

What account should I use for inventory adjustment?

You should use an Inventory Adjustment account to balance the inventory account and stock levels of your business accurately.

With QuickBooks, you no longer need to import inventory data from a spreadsheet. You simplify the process of integrating existing records into QuickBooks.

How do I fix inventory problems in QuickBooks?

To correct inventory issues in QuickBooks, inspect and analyze inventory trends over time, including the valuation summary report for each item. 

Once you access the valuation report of each item, you can identify any discrepancies or errors and make the necessary corrections.

Can you edit an inventory adjustment in QuickBooks?

Once an inventory adjustment is saved in QuickBooks, it can’t be directly edited. If you find a mistake in an adjustment you’ve made, you need to reverse the incorrect adjustment and then enter a new, correct adjustment. This ensures that your inventory records remain accurate.

For proper tracking, make sure to note these in the memo field.: 

  • Inventory adjustment date. 
  • Adjustment reason. 
  • Adjustment reference number. 

Can you manage inventory in QuickBooks Online?

Yes, QuickBooks Online is a comprehensive tool to organize and monitor inventory activities. It lets users: 

  • Input new product items and articles.
  • Sync inventory with other platforms.
  • Allocate stock to various locations. 

It’s a system designed to calculate and audit inventory for accuracy, so you can maintain balanced accounts and order products to replenish stock in time.

Sign up for a free trial of Method CRM today!

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How to track inventory in QuickBooks: Managing inventory

Find out all about how you can track inventory effectively with QuickBooks Online.

How to track inventory in QuickBooks: Managing inventory Read More »

When starting a small business, knowing how to track inventory in QuickBooks is relatively easy, as you handle a smaller product base.

But based on our first-hand experience, as your company expands, your customer base grows too — and you start selling more products in large quantities.

At this point, inventory tracking becomes unmanageable on your own, and manually counting stock items is time-intensive. You risk losing track of your stock level and ending up with unfulfilled orders and dissatisfied clients.

Are you seeking to better understand how to track inventory in QuickBooks?

This detailed guide helps you answer that question and maintain the right financial balance in your business.

Sick of missing invoices and other data in QuickBooks?

What is QuickBooks Online?

QuickBooks Online is a web-based accounting platform that is accessible even while you’re mobile. You can use its built-in tools to do things like: 

  • Carry out bookkeeping processes.
  • Monitor stock levels.

Organize what you buy and sell​​.

Because QuickBooks Online keeps your information in the cloud, it can be backed up for data security. This makes it easy to implement inventory security measures as the data is only accessible with the input of a password.

In some ways, QuickBooks Online is more secure than QuickBooks Desktop, which is open to anyone who has access to your computer.

Get started with your free trial of QuickBooks Online here

Why is it important to track inventory?

Knowing how to track inventory in QuickBooks lets you keep an accurate record of expenses and avoid costs related to inventory errors. It’s important to run inventory reports to: 

  • Keep tabs on how frequently you need to replenish stock.
  • Know which of your products or services are popular.
  • Stay organized and profitable.

QuickBooks lets you use barcodes and scanners to simplify and speed up product management for incoming and outgoing items. In our experimentation and usage, efficiency is streamlined with barcode scanning.

By understanding how to track inventory in QuickBooks, your replenishment orders can be optimized for better efficiency. Stock that can be monitored in real-time means your inventory:

  • Can be analyzed for sales trends.
  • Is adjusted for returns and damages.
  • Is maintained with accurate pricing and the tax rate.

Does QuickBooks Online track inventory?

After putting it to the test, QuickBooks Online does track inventory. Knowing how to track inventory in QuickBooks Online lets you:

  • See insights on existing stock.
  • Monitor sales and set reorder points.
  • Configure restocking notifications.
  • Organize items that can be categorized by product type.

If applicable, you can also add non-inventory items and services to these sales documents.

But does QuickBooks Online track inventory the way you need it to? Let’s find out.

How to enable advanced inventory in QuickBooks

Advanced inventory is a feature available in QuickBooks Enterprise that lets you allocate how inventory can be configured for multiple locations, such as different warehouses or vendors.

If you are not using QuickBooks Enterprise, you’ll need to purchase it to use the Advanced Inventory feature.

To enable advanced inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise:

  1. In the “Edit” menu select “Preferences.”
  2. Under the “Items & Inventory” section, find the “Company Preferences” tab.
  3. Check the “Inventory and Purchase Orders are Active” box.
  4. Select the “Advanced Inventory Settings” button.

How does inventory tracking work in QuickBooks Online?

You can retrieve accurate data on your products and stock levels by understanding how to track inventory in QuickBooks Online.

Before getting started with the QuickBooks Online inventory system, we determined through our tests that you must activate the inventory tracking option. Then, you can add inventory goods and track every item you sell.

The QuickBooks-generated report helps you check inventory status and know if you need to restock.

Below are the steps for how to track inventory in QuickBooks Online.

Step 1: Turn on inventory tracking

Before adding any inventory goods, you must enable the inventory tracking tool in QuickBooks Online.

If you have not yet activated the QuickBooks Online inventory feature, you should do so by following the directions below:

  1. Go to the QuickBooks “Settings” menu.
  2. After that, select “Account and settings.”
  3. Choose the “Sales” tab.
  4. Click “Edit” in the “Products and services” section.
  5. After that, navigate to “Sales forms,” and activate the “Show product/service” option.
  6. You can toggle the “Track inventory quantity on hand” and “Track quantity and price/rate” settings here.
  7. Click the “Save” button and select “Done.”

We have found from using this product that QuickBooks Online defaults to the FIFO (first in, first out) approach, meaning that the first item you purchase is the first item you sell.

However, note that not all accounting software programs employ the FIFO technique.

Step 2: Add in the inventory items

You can gradually add inventory items and services to QuickBooks after enabling the inventory feature in QuickBooks Online.

To properly add stock in QuickBooks Online and track product quantities, ensure to:

  1. Enable the inventory tracking option if you haven’t already.
  2. Add the product name, category, and SKU, ensuring the SKU is at least three characters long.
  3. Add the product count, inventory assets account, and a low stock warning.

Step 3: Keep track of the sales you make

After entering all inventory goods into QuickBooks Online, you should track when you sell them.

As indicated by our tests, you can do so in two ways:

  1. Prepare an invoice if you expect to get paid at a later date.
  2. Include a cash memo/note if the client paid cash upfront.

QuickBooks Online reduces on-hand stock counts depending on the amounts you specified on the cash note or invoice.

You can quickly check what is on order and what is on hand by hovering your mouse cursor over the quantity you have entered for the item for the details to show.

Step 4: Restock the inventory

After ordering your new stock inventory in QuickBooks, you can track what’s in order and what you get from your vendors.

The quantity will automatically increase according to the number of products you receive.

If you run out of stock, you can reorder it easily. Here’s how:

  1. Check the “Sales” tab for low-stock or out-of-stock products.
  2. Generate the purchase order and mail it to the supplier. This order will inform the producer of your order specifications.

Remember to set restocking alerts on QuickBooks to get notified when you’re low on goods and need to restock.

Step 5: Use the reports to monitor the inventory status

You can assess various information with QuickBooks-generated reports, such as: 

  • Top sellers.
  • Money spent.
  • What is currently on hand.

You can also use reports to check inventory progress and status.

This is everything you need to know when it comes to understanding how to track inventory in QuickBooks Online!

Wish you could get more from QuickBooks? Method makes it possible.

Why should you use QuickBooks Online for tracking inventory?

Drawing from our experience, you should use QuickBooks Online to track inventory because it helps you handle several suppliers and pay them on time.

Apart from that, QuickBooks Online also lets you:

  • Keep track of all your inventory items and quantities.
  • Sort items according to whether they are taxed or not.
  • Update inventory amounts automatically.
  • Create purchase orders and distribute them to merchants.
  • Keep track of overall sales and profitability at each of your locations.

Do you need more advanced features when considering how to track inventory in QuickBooks Online? Keep reading to find out whether its inventory tracking advantages outweigh its limitations.

Advantages of QuickBooks Online inventory tracking

While QuickBooks Online includes popular features to help you manage your material and products, here are three key advantages of using it specifically for inventory tracking:

  • Easy inventory tracking: QuickBooks Online tracks inventory at all stages, making it easier for your team to understand your operations and fulfill orders quickly.
  • Simplified accounting: You can keep track of your inventory, sales orders, production, finances, and customers all in a single place.
  • Less admin time: QuickBooks Online requires little manual effort to keep your sales orders in sync. This way, you significantly reduce administrative time to focus on other important parts of your business.

QuickBooks inventory management tips

Set up products and services correctly

An organized system of invoices and sales receipts makes it easy to consistently update inventory records. QuickBooks has features to:

  • Perform regular reconciliation.
  • Set up inventory tracking.
  • Record purchase orders that can be customized with specific categories.

Some businesses use first in, first out (FIFO) or last in, first out (LIFO) strategies to sell inventory based on when they receive inventory items.

If you utilize FIFO or LIFO costing methods, you can set up your inventory so it is synced with purchase orders. That makes it easy to train employees on inventory procedures so they know if older products need to be sold first.

Use the reorder point feature

It’s easier to stay on top of your stock levels when your system is set with reorder points that alert you when inventory runs low.

QuickBooks will adjust inventory levels based on your purchase orders so you don’t have to conduct physical inventory counts as frequently. Also, your inventory should be audited for discrepancies so that your numbers are more accurate.

Knowing when stock is scheduled for regular cycle counts helps you monitor sales trends and seasonal demand.

Regularly update inventory quantities

While you can update inventory quantities manually, CRM (customer relationship management) integrations take care of these tasks for you.

For example, if you integrate with third-party inventory management software, you ensure your stock:

  • Is integrated with e-commerce platforms.
  • Is linked with vendor information.
  • Is integrated with sales data.
  • Is documented with detailed notes.

While your inventory is updated regularly by a CRM platform, your stock should be reviewed monthly for inaccuracies.

Although you might know how to track inventory in QuickBooks, CRM software automates and simplifies the process.

Conduct periodic physical counts

An accurate inventory requires periodic audits to verify that your records match the stock in your warehouse. Your data needs to be reconciled with physical counts to make sure it reflects what you have on hand.

Also, your physical stock needs to be validated against sales receipts and should be checked against invoices. Oftentimes, this information is reported in the end-of-year financial statements for tax purposes.

Monitor inventory reports

QuickBooks can calculate totals and produce simple inventory reports, but you may want to consider the installation of CRM software to track your data across all your accounts.

Use assembly items for bundled products

The inventory assembly feature in QuickBooks lets you sell multiple products in a bundle. Rather than manually listing each item as sold, you can subtract the items automatically from your inventory.

This feature saves time when you create sales receipts or invoices, or enter bills for inventory purchases. This is because you can list bundles as one product while you still account for individual items.

Track inventory across multiple locations

If you are wondering how to track inventory in QuickBooks when you need to set up multiple locations or warehouses, it’s possible using QuickBooks Advanced Inventory.

Note that this feature is only available in QuickBooks Enterprise.

Limitations of QuickBooks Online inventory tracking

QuickBooks Online is excellent for financial management. But our findings show that when it comes to manufacturing management, there are a few limitations. QuickBooks:

  • Does not support multiple locations: The software works well only when dealing with a single location or warehouse. It is unable to track inventory across multiple locations.
  • Lacks serial number tracking feature: This is a disadvantage for manufacturing business owners who track their products for quality control standards with serial codes.
  • Cannot track assembly orders: This is vital if your business outsources material from different locations to assemble the parts to create a product.

Key takeaways

Despite being a phenomenal accounting tool, do you know how to track inventory in QuickBooks Online the way manufacturing businesses need it to?

In reality, our research indicates that QuickBooks lacks the functionality to track more extensive inventory across multiple warehouses. It also doesn’t provide synchronized stock levels if you’re running your business on different e-commerce platforms.

That said, you can complement QuickBooks Online’s shortcomings with a specialized inventory management system.

Automation tools save you time and make inventory management easier. Method is a cost-effective solution that automates inventory tracking and reporting. 

With Method, you can effectively prevent accounting mistakes caused by inefficient inventory management.

Learn more about the capabilities of Method CRM with this video.

QuickBooks Online inventory tracking FAQs

Can I track inventory manually in QuickBooks Online?

Yes, you can track inventory manually in QuickBooks Online. But QuickBooks Online Plus users can leverage the built-in automatic tracking feature.

Can QuickBooks Online track inventory in multiple locations?

No, QuickBooks cannot track inventory in multiple locations. QuickBooks facilitates the tracking of inventory quantities on hand per location. Using it to run multiple warehouses for your business is challenging.

Can you track inventory in QuickBooks Desktop?

All versions of QuickBooks Desktop include basic inventory tracking features. However, if you need advanced features or need to track inventory across multiple locations or vendors, you may need to upgrade your QuickBooks plan.

If you seek professional guidance for complex inventory needs, consider integrating with a CRM solution like Method to add this flexibility to your QuickBooks account.

How to turn off inventory tracking in QuickBooks

If you’re using a different platform to track your inventory, you may wish to turn off inventory tracking in QuickBooks.

To turn off inventory tracking in QuickBooks:

  1. Click the “gear icon” at the top right corner of the screen.
  2. Under “Your Company”, click “Accounts and Settings.”
  3. Select “Sales.”
  4. Navigate to “Products and Services” and uncheck “Track inventory quantity on hand.”
  5. Click “Save” then “Done.”

How do I set up inventory items in QuickBooks?

You can set up inventory items in QuickBooks by selecting “Items and services on the homepage and clicking “New” under the item list. Choose “Inventory part” in the drop-down menu and add the necessary details.

Sign up for your free trial of Method CRM today!

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a black calculator near a ballpoint pen on a paper with calculations on it

How to add inventory items in QuickBooks

This blog post guides you on how to add inventory to QuickBooks efficiently to ensure your stock is monitored.

How to add inventory items in QuickBooks Read More »

As a small business owner, making additions to inventory on QuickBooks Desktop or Online is tricky when you don’t know where to look.

The good news is that understanding QuickBooks’ robust inventory feature is easier with the right guide.

Beyond learning how to list new products by adding inventory to QuickBooks, it’s useful to understand how your accounting software can automate tasks while providing invaluable insights into your customer base. This blog covers content that teaches you how to add inventory to QuickBooks efficiently, so you can rest assured that you’re properly monitoring and accounting for all your stock.

Need an easier way to keep your QuickBooks data up-to-date?

QuickBooks inventory tracking

QuickBooks inventory tracking is a powerful tool designed to simplify the management of your business’ stock. It’s a comprehensive solution for adding, monitoring, and managing inventory. 

When adding inventory to QuickBooks, it’s important to note that you’re not just organizing your stock. You’re tapping into a system that automates your tasks. This is especially beneficial if you require multiple location tracking, as is the case when you allocate items to different locations.

One of the biggest benefits of using QuickBooks for inventory management is its ability to provide real-time insights into your stock levels. This ensures that each location has adequate inventory based on its specific demand.

Inventory vs. inventory asset in QuickBooks

In QuickBooks, differentiating between “inventory” and “inventory asset” is crucial for accurate bookkeeping and financial management.

Inventory represents the physical stock available for sale. It’s a variable figure, influenced by: 

  • Purchases. 
  • Sales.
  • Stock adjustments. 

In QuickBooks, each sale of inventory items reduces your quantity on hand and impacts financial statements through debit adjustments to your cost of goods sold (COGS) and revenue.

An inventory asset, on the other hand, is the monetary value of your inventory. It appears as a current asset on your balance sheet. This account increases when you purchase new stock and decreases when you sell items. 

Maintaining the balance between inventory and inventory asset accounts is essential, so QuickBooks automates these adjustments to reflect accurate financial statuses.Now, let’s see how to add inventory items in QuickBooks Desktop and Online.

How to add inventory in QuickBooks Desktop

Before starting your journey with QuickBooks Desktop, you’ll need to organize everything in place for effective inventory management.Follow the steps in the section below to ensure you’re setting yourself up for success.

Turn on inventory tracking

To successfully monitor and record inventory items in QuickBooks, you’ll need to enable inventory tracking first. This helps you backup inventory data and retrieve product information effectively down the road.

To do this, you need to: 

  1. Head to the “Settings” tab and select “Account and settings.”
  2. Click on the “Sales” menu.
  3. From the “Products and services” drop-down menu, choose “Edit.”
  4. In the “Sales Forms” column, enable “Show Product/Service.” You can also make adjustments to inventory sales prices if you have non-static pricing scales.
  5. Tick both “Track quantity and price” and “Track inventory quantity on hand.”

Save your changes and click “Done.”

Add your product’s name, SKU, and category

After finishing the initial inventory setup, it’s time to input the inventory item in QuickBooks that you’ll be selling.

To do so:

  1. Navigate to “Get paid & pay” and click on the “Products and services” tab from the drop-down menu.
  2. Select “New” then “Add a product or service.” Then choose “Inventory.”
  3. Label products with barcodes and input your product’s name, SKU, and category to keep track of the type of item listed.

Select the required unit and category from the drop-down menu.

Add your product’s quantity, reorder point, and inventory asset account

To make the most out of QuickBooks Pro’s robust inventory management feature, you need to automate the tedious task of keeping track of inventory counts.

Follow these steps to get started. 

  1. Input your item’s initial inventory count and enter the start date. Organize items by type to make tracking this specific inventory part type easier.
  2. Add a date to the “Reorder point” text box so you’ll be notified when a particular item is about to run out.

Toggle “Inventory asset” in the drop-down menu. QuickBooks uses this option to track standard costs across the board so you can price items competitively.

Add your product’s sales, tax, and purchasing info

One of the things businesses appreciate about QuickBooks is its ability to manage tax settings for all types of articles.

Here’s how you can easily manage products and inventory tax rates: 

  1. Write a detailed sales description for everything on your items list. These descriptions and details will appear on all sales receipts and documents you send to buyers.
  2. Add unit price and sales price once you calculate them.
  3. Select which account you want to use for tracking sales transactions and credit returns to inventory from the “Income account” drop-down list. Tick Inclusive of sales tax, if applicable.
  4. In the “Sales tax” category drop-down menu, choose the applicable purchase tax.
  5. Add the cost per item. If the original cost of an item changes, you’ll be able to change it later.
  6. From the “Expense Account” selection menu, choose “Cost of Goods Sold” to track the average cost.
  7. Select the appropriate tax settings for each basic item type.
  8. Hit “Reverse charge” and select your preferred vendor.
  9. Click on “Advanced options” and add the category or SKU for your tracking item.
  10. Save your work with the “Save” icon and close QuickBooks.

If you follow the above-outlined steps, you’ll be well on your way to successfully tracking inventory items in QuickBooks Desktop.

How to categorize inventory purchases in QuickBooks

To manage inventory categories or purchases in QuickBooks, create and select appropriate inventory items when recording a purchase description. This automatically updates your inventory asset account. 
Use product categories, vendor or custom fields to accurately track spending patterns.

How to change a non-inventory product to inventory

Unfortunately, converting a non-inventory item to regular inventory status isn’t possible in any QuickBooks version.

Instead, you’ll need to create a new item entry with the correct inventory status and export all existing product details to it.

Adding inventory to QuickBooks Online

If you’re working with QuickBooks Online instead of QuickBooks Desktop pro, adding inventory to QuickBooks happens slightly differently. 

Follow the steps below to ensure you’re tracking your inventory items in QuickBooks Online effectively.

Turn on inventory tracking

Before diving into inventory accounting and adding inventory to QuickBooks Online, you’ll need to do some foundational work to configure inventory preferences. This will also help you sync inventory with online store sites down the road.

Here are a few of the settings you need to tweak: 

  1. Navigate to “Settings” and choose “Account and settings.” Then, navigate to “Sales.”
  2. Click “Products and services” and select “Edit.”
  3. Enable “Show Product/Service” on sales forms.
  4. Do the same with “Track quantity and price/rate” and “Track inventory quantity on hand.”
  5. Click “Save” then “Done.” 

Wish you could get more from QuickBooks? Method makes it possible.

Add your inventory products

Now that you’ve configured your QuickBooks Online settings, you’ll be able to add inventory or non-inventory items easily.

Adding inventory items to QuickBooks Online is similar to QuickBooks Desktop, so the guide above will help. For each item, be sure to include a: 

  • Product image upload.
  • Unit of measure.
  • Notes or comments. 

However, adding non-inventory items or services to track is slightly different — here’s how: 

  1. Navigate to “Get paid & pay/Sales” and choose “Products and services.” Then click on “New” and select “Non-inventory or service.”
  2. Enter a name and relevant SKU.
  3. From the “Category” drop-down menu, select the relevant tags and titles for you to sell items from inventory.
  4. Tick the “Sell this product/service to my customers” box and add a description in the provided field.
  5. Enter a selling price for your service and the income account selection for tracking purposes.
  6. Choose the relevant tax options and save your work. 

Keep track of what sells

After inputting all the inventory items in QuickBooks, it’s important to monitor inventory turnover rate and review inventory levels monthly. That way, you’ll be able to survey, audit, and track product sales transactions much easier.

You can do this through invoices or receipts, depending on how your customer wants to pay.

Restock your inventory

If you’ve entered an inventory reorder point, you’ll be notified when it’s time to restock items below threshold.

QuickBooks Online also helps you analyze and track merchandise if you order products from suppliers or vendors. It can also count items for verification and automatically update stock numbers on your website.

Use reports to check the status of your inventory

Once you’ve amassed a fair share of purchase orders, sales, receipts, and other related data, you can generate reports on QuickBooks Online.

You’ll be able to quickly and easily: 

  • Inspect items for damage.
  • Identify best-selling items. 
  • Phase out slow-moving stock.
  • Remove outdated items. 

As you report on inventory turnover, you’ll anticipate inventory needs and ultimately stay on top of your company needs. 

Plus, you can record inventory discrepancies and account for items that depreciate inventory over time. This way, you consistently update the stock count and adjust the inventory value for accuracy. Don’t forget to survey staff on inventory processes for smooth workflows. 

How to add inventory in QuickBooks Online?

In QuickBooks Online, enable inventory tracking in your settings, then go to “Products and Services” to add new items. 

Input product details such as: 

  • Product name/description.
  • Product category. 
  • SKU or item number. 
  • Category.
  • Sales price.
  • Initial quantity on hand.
  • Reorder point. 

QuickBooks automatically updates inventory quantities and values with each transaction.

Why you should enter items into QuickBooks Online inventory

Entering items into QuickBooks Online Inventory ensures accurate tracking of stock levels and financial reporting. It aids in managing inventory efficiently, so you can:

  • Check inventory levels daily.
  • Catalog items for easier search.
  • Reconcile inventory with physical count.
  • Analyze inventory trends, sales, and product performance.
  • Audit inventory for accuracy.
  • Calculate the total inventory worth.

It’s crucial for accurate financial records, affecting purchasing and sales strategies.

Key takeaways

QuickBooks is a powerful tool for businesses of all sizes, but mastering its full suite of features is challenging without reliable guides and tutorials.

But, with a bit of time and practice, QuickBooks helps automate the more tedious aspects of your business and frees up more of your time to focus on what matters.If you’d like to extend QuickBooks’ inventory tracking and reporting capabilities, consider integrating Method CRM.

Watch this video to understand how Method can help you manage and automate all areas of your business.

QuickBooks inventory tracking FAQs

Can you upload inventory to QuickBooks?

Yes, you can upload inventory to QuickBooks. To do this, create an inventory list and import inventory data from CSV to QuickBooks. This method is efficient for managing large inventory lists or frequent stock changes.

How do I import inventory from Excel to QuickBooks?

To import inventory from Excel to QuickBooks:

  1. Format your Excel sheet with necessary inventory details like product name, cost price, and quantity. You should also include barcode scanning and vendor information.
  2. Open QuickBooks: Navigate to “Lists” and then “Item List.”
  3. Start the import: Choose “Excel” and select “Import from Excel.”
  4. Select your Excel file and map its columns to QuickBooks fields.
  5. Check for accuracy and finalize the import.

How do I enter my inventory in QuickBooks?

To enter your inventory into QuickBooks, navigate to the “Settings” panel and click on “Products and services.” Fill out all the necessary details and choose your account and taxation information. Click “Save” to save changes to inventory settings and exit the page.

After entering the data, QuickBooks also lets you export inventory reports, so you can validate product information regularly for up-to-date inventory management. 

How do I add multiple inventory items in QuickBooks?

You can add multiple inventory items on QuickBooks by selecting the “Lists” drop-down menu and choosing “Add/Edit Multiple Items.”

What is the difference between Inventory and Inventory Asset in QuickBooks?

Inventory is usually automatically generated while importing external data. Each sale reduces inventory quantities and will debit sold items from inventory, affecting financial statements.

An inventory asset, on the other hand, is a unique item in QuickBooks that tracks item quantity, cost per item, and other sales-relevant details. You must balance inventory accounts, as QuickBooks automates these adjustments for accurate financial statuses.

Start your free trial of Method CRM today!


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How does inventory work in QuickBooks?

Ever wondered how managing inventory in QuickBooks works? This blog details what you need to know.

How does inventory work in QuickBooks? Read More »

Inventory management is an essential part of any business. Managing your inventory in QuickBooks has advantages, such as accurate tracking or simplified order management.

If you’re a small to medium-sized business already using QuickBooks, why not track your inventory on the same platform?

However, manual entry of QuickBooks inventory can be time-consuming.

In this blog post, you will learn about:

  • QuickBooks’ capabilities for inventory management.
  • Integrations that allow you to get the most out of your accounting software. 

By the end, you’ll know the answer to the question: How does inventory work in QuickBooks?

Let’s start with an overview of QuickBooks’ inventory management.

Need an easier way to keep your QuickBooks data up-to-date?

Using QuickBooks for inventory management

If you already use QuickBooks for accounting, consider using it for inventory management.

Why? It’s more efficient to keep inventory information in a single platform.

And if you’d rather keep your team away from your accounting software, you can always opt for an integration to protect your data and keep your books up-to-date.

If you have a small business, tracking inventory in QuickBooks saves time on data entry.

Plus, automating inventory management lets you improve accuracy and efficiency.

Can QuickBooks do inventory management?

Yes! QuickBooks can do inventory management.

If you’re a user of QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, you can manage inventory out of the “Products and Services” page under the Sales tab.

QuickBooks products and services dashboard showing inventory levels of products for a business.
Image credit: QuickBooks

However, you will need to manually add each item, which can be challenging if your business handles many products.

The QuickBooks inventory reporting capabilities are also quite limited. So you need to consider that QuickBooks can’t generate insights into areas of your business besides accounting.

Does QuickBooks have an inventory management system?

It is possible to manage inventory through QuickBooks, but there isn’t a dedicated tool.

Through QuickBooks, you can:

  • Manage inventory items and quantities.
  • Track inventory cost and value.
  • Generate basic inventory reports.
  • Create purchase orders.

If you’re a growing business, QuickBooks inventory management may not meet all your needs.

To automate and keep track of inventory levels, you need more comprehensive inventory management software.

First, let’s look at the advantages of managing your inventory with QuickBooks. Then, you’ll learn how to beat the limitations of Intuit QuickBooks inventory.

Advantages of managing inventory in QuickBooks

There are a few benefits of managing inventory in QuickBooks. Below are the main four.

Keep track of every product you buy and sell

With QuickBooks inventory management, you can keep track of every product you buy and sell. This is important for businesses that want to maintain accurate inventory records.

Plus, knowing what products you have on hand makes it easier to make informed decisions about purchasing inventory. You can avoid overstocking or running out of products.

Get instant notifications

Another advantage of managing inventory in QuickBooks is that you get instant notifications when inventory levels are low. This way, you can reorder inventory before you run out of products.

With low inventory alerts, you can avoid stock-outs and lost sales. Keep your business running smoothly by staying on top of inventory levels.

Inventory insights on demand

With inventory management in QuickBooks, you can generate inventory reports with just a few clicks. This gives you visibility into your inventory levels and helps you make informed decisions about purchasing inventory.

QuickBooks inventory reports can help you track inventory turnover, average days to sell, and other vital metrics.

Stay in sync with online sales

With inventory management in QuickBooks, you can automatically update inventory levels when orders are placed online.

This way, you can avoid over-selling or under-selling products.

How to do inventory management in QuickBooks

There are a few ways to do inventory in QuickBooks. The most common is manually adding inventory items and quantities on the “Products and Services” page.

Image credit: QuickBooks

Another way to manage inventory is to use an inventory management software integration.

With an integration, you can link your QuickBooks account to your inventory management software.

This way, inventory levels automatically update in QuickBooks when items are sold or purchased. 

The benefit of using an inventory management tool, over QuickBooks inventory, is that you can automate inventory tracking and get comprehensive reports.

Best inventory management integrations with QuickBooks

1. Cin7

Dashboard for the company, Cin7, showing stock levels for a product.
Image credit: Cin7

Features

  • Inventory management.
  • B2B eCommerce.
  • Order management and fulfillment.
  • Report and forecasting.
  • Payment portals.

Pros

  • Save time on manual inventory management and verification.
  • Optimize stock levels with visibility across channels.
  • Mitigate IT risks with expert-tech support.

Cons

Some users have reported issues with the QuickBooks integration, namely when it comes to syncing data and incorrect calculations of sales margins.

Pricing

Cin7 offer three pricing plans:

  • Small Business: $399 per month, 2 users included.
  • Business: $599 per month, 5 users included.
  • Advanced: $999 per month, 8 users included.

There is also an Enterprise plan for an indefinite price. Cin7 offers a free trial to new users.

Online payments, automated leads, and customer management?

2. ShipStation

Inventory dashboard on ShipStation showing batch levels, with processing and shipping dates.
Image credit: ShipStation

Features

  • Order management and automation.
  • Custom label creation.
  • Remote inventory management.
  • Integrations with sales channels like Shopify, Amazon, eBay, and more.

Pros

  • All-in-one sales management platform.
  • Fast data importing.
  • Maintained carrier discount rates.

Cons

Some users have reported printing label incompatibilities and a lack of support on the Customer Service end.

The software is also not very intuitive, so less tech-savvy users may have a learning curve.

Pricing

Shipstation offers six pricing plans:

  • Starter: $9.99 per month, 50 monthly shipments.
  • Bronze: $29.99 per month, 500 monthly shipments.
  • Silver: $59.99 per month, 1000 monthly shipments.
  • Gold: $99.99 per month, 2000 monthly shipments.
  • Platinum: $149.99 per month, 5000 monthly shipments.
  • Enterprise: $229.99 per month, 7500 monthly shipments.

 There is a 30-day free trial available, no credit card required.

3. MRPeasy

MRPeasy dashboard showing a  GANT chart to display production schedule.
Image credit: MRPeasy

Features

  • Sales and order management.
  • Production planning and reporting.
  • Real-time inventory overview.

Pros

  • Accurate lead time when quoting.
  • Prevent stock-outs through automation.
  • Improved customer satisfaction with on-time deliveries.

Cons

While most parts of the platform are highly intuitive, users have reported difficulties using some of the features, like production scheduling. There also isn’t much room for report customization.

Pricing

MrPeasy offers four pricing plans:

  • Starter: $49 per user per month.
  • Professional: $69 per user per month.
  • Enterprise: $99 per user per month.
  • Unlimited: $149 per user per month.

A 30-day free trial is also available to new users, no credit card required.

4. inFlow Inventory

Inflow Inventory's timeline graph showing fluctuations in cashflow, sales completed, cost of goods sold and sales profit.
Image credit: inFlow Inventory

Features

  • Inventory management.
  • Sales and invoicing.
  • Barcode generator.
  • B2B portal.

Pros

  • Send purchase orders through any device.
  • Create custom reports with templates.
  • Save time by generating scannable barcodes.

Cons

Users have reported a lack of in-depth customization for reports. Although the accounting software integration is reliable, other integrations are not so strong.

Some users also struggle with navigating the platform.

Pricing

InFlow offers four pricing plans:

  • Entrepreneur: $99 per month, with 2 users.
  • Small Business: $279 per month, with 5 users.
  • Mid-Size: $549 per month, with 10 users.
  • Enterprise: $1649 per month, with 25 users.

You can try InFlow with a 14-day free trial.

A tool that goes beyond inventory management in QuickBooks

While QuickBooks inventory management can be helpful for small businesses, it’s not enough for growing businesses.

Enter Method.

Method

Features

  • QuickBooks two-way sync, so your inventory data is always up to date.
  • Online customer portal for an improved customer experience.
  • Mobile app to keep you in the loop anytime, anywhere.
  • Custom reporting based on your business needs.
  • Native integrations with Gmail, Outlook, Mailchimp, Zapier, and more.

Pros

  • Save time and enhance accuracy when you sync inventory data between Method and QuickBooks.
  • Reusable templates to personalize emails, reports, invoices, estimates, and more.
  • No code, unlimited customization to create a tailored solution.
  • The ability to automate your business all around.

Cons

Method is currently only available in English to users of QuickBooks or Xero.

Pricing

Method offers three subscription options:

  • Contact Management: $25 per user per month.
  • CRM Pro: $44 per user per month.
  • CRM Enterprise: $74 per user per month.

Method also offers a free trial, no credit card required.

Key takeaways

Managing inventory is vital to the success of any business. However, keeping track of all items, customers, and transactions can be challenging.

While it is possible to manage inventory in QuickBooks, there are downsides such as:

  • Manual data entry.
  • Limited reporting capabilities.
  • Lack of personalization.

This is why many businesses opt for a robust integration that simplifies workflows through automation.

QuickBooks inventory FAQs

How does inventory work in QuickBooks?

With QuickBooks inventory, you can create inventory items for each product or service you sell and then track the quantity of those items.

Then when you make a sale, QuickBooks automatically deducts the inventory from your records.

What is considered inventory in QuickBooks?

Inventory in QuickBooks is any physical product or service that you sell. 

This includes inventory that you:

  • Manufacture. 
  • Purchase from a supplier. 
  • Assemble from components.

What is the best way to track inventory?

There are a few different ways to track inventory in QuickBooks. The best way will depend on the specific needs of your business.

One option is to use QuickBooks inventory items. This way, you can create an inventory item for each product or service you sell and then track the quantity of those items on hand.

Another option is to use QuickBooks inventory assemblies. 

With this method, you can track the inventory of the components that make up a product, and then QuickBooks automatically calculates the inventory of the finished product.

See why QuickBooks users love Method.

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Everything you need to know about QuickBooks inventory management

Find out all you need to know about using QuickBooks Inventory Management to track your stock.

Everything you need to know about QuickBooks inventory management Read More »

Inventory management systems are applications that help businesses monitor their supply, plan what kind of purchases to make and when, and have a firm grasp of how each product moves through the supply chain.

Businesses can adopt standalone inventory management programs to take care of their stocks or use the inventory modules found in other key business software, such as:

  • ERPs.
  • CRMs.
  • Accounting systems.

QuickBooks, one of the most popular accounting software in the world, comes with its inventory management system.

And if you’re a small-to-medium-sized enterprise already relying on QuickBooks for your accounting, wouldn’t it make sense to track your inventory levels there, too?

This blog post attempts to answer that question by looking closely at QuickBooks’ inventory management system’s capabilities.

Sick of missing invoices and other data in QuickBooks?

Can QuickBooks do inventory management?

Yes, QuickBooks can do inventory management through QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise.

With these software solutions, businesses can keep track of every product they buy and sell as it moves through its life cycle.

What QuickBooks inventory management & tracking software can do for you

These are some of the critical features QuickBooks’ inventory management software solution offers:

  • Track inventory quantities and related costs in real time.
  • Avoid understocking and overstocking with an inventory calculator.
  • Send inventory notifications when stocks are low, or items arrive.
  • Create purchase orders and convert them into bills to fast-track payments.
  • Create inventory reports summarizing products stocked, best-sellers, sales, taxes, and more.

With QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, you have more flexibility regarding inventory management.

With this solution, you can use inventory tracking features across multiple warehouse locations. You can also:

  • Print labels.
  • Track items with a bin number.
  • Use a mobile barcode scanner that connects directly to your QuickBooks account.

Is QuickBooks good for inventory management?

QuickBooks can be good for inventory management to some extent. But not everyone will find QuickBooks’ inventory management satisfactory.

This is because QuickBooks is, at its core, accounting software created for accounting professionals. It’s not an ERP or MRP – it’s not built to manage and automate complex manufacturing management workflows.

QuickBooks Enterprise provides advanced inventory tools on top of other features, such as:

  • Accounts payable management.
  • Order tracking.
  • Sales fulfillment.
  • Reporting.

But if you’re a small business with a steady and predictable revenue stream, QuickBooks will at least help you track your sales and inventory.

Advantages of QuickBooks inventory management

So, why should you use QuickBooks for inventory management? Here are three reasons to try it out:

View your quantities on hand

QuickBooks inventory management lets you easily and quickly see how many items you have in stock. This makes it easier to prioritize purchases, speed up lead times, and keep inventory levels balanced.

Track stock value in real-time

Through inventory management QuickBooks lets you track inventory value in real time. This is especially important for planning and ensuring that your inventory costs are always up-to-date.

By doing so, inventory costs are more accurate, and you can plan for inventory expenses more accurately.

Stay on top of orders

You can keep track of customer orders and inventory levels through QuickBooks too. This ensures you’ll know when inventory needs to be replenished and help prevent inventory shortages.

Low stock alerts

You can also use QuickBooks inventory management to set up low inventory alerts. This helps you monitor inventory levels, so you always have enough stock. It will trigger a notification to warn you when it’s time to replenish inventory items.

Keep your inventory in order

QuickBooks Enterprise offers a new mobile barcode scanning feature that allows employees to scan sales orders using their mobile devices. This dramatically reduces the time spent manually entering information into a spreadsheet or database and minimizes the risk of human error.

With this feature, you improve efficiency in your warehouse and allow your employees to focus on other, more complex tasks.

Stay in sync with your business

One of the best things about using cloud-based accounting software is that all your data is accessible via desktop or mobile, whether in or out of the office. The same can be true for your inventory data if you manage it via QuickBooks.

Moreover, you won’t have to worry about manually transferring or syncing data from one software to another.

Disadvantages of QuickBooks inventory management

Through their inventory management QuickBooks does not serve businesses as well as an ERP or MRP would. This is because the primary function of the software is accounting.

Businesses on the path toward growth need more than the functionalities QuickBooks’ inventory management can offer.

Below are three reasons why you shouldn’t use QuickBooks for inventory management.

Limited reporting and analytics

While QuickBooks can provide some impressive accounting reporting, it only offers a little insight into other aspects of your business. This is especially true if you use different tools or sources to keep track of your processes.

For example, QuickBooks won’t be able to produce detailed profitability reports or tell you whether a product is worth re-ordering.

Stop spending your day sending emails, estimates, and invoices.

Your company may outgrow the product

QuickBooks is much less functional than most manufacturing-specific inventory management and enterprise resource planning tools.

Especially when it comes to features such as:

  • Advanced order management.
  • Order fulfillment.
  • Tracking for unshipped orders.
  • Raw materials to finish product conversion.

Add-ons may be needed for a more seamless process

With limited capabilities outside of accounting and simple inventory monitoring, you’ll likely need to integrate QuickBooks with multiple other third-party apps. 

Not only is it cumbersome to deal with various programs, but it’ll also be costlier in the end.

How to use QuickBooks for inventory management

So, you’d like to give QuickBooks inventory management a go. Here’s how you can start tracking your inventory:

Turn on inventory tracking

Make sure to have inventory tracking turned on on QuickBooks. To do this, you must:

  1. Click on Settings and look for Account and settings.
  2. Click on the Sales tab and choose Edit under Products and services.
  3. Toggle the Show Product/Service column on the sales form button. If you want flexible pricing for your products, make sure to turn on price rules as well.
  4. Select Track quantity and price/rate and Track inventory quantity on hand.
  5. Click Save and Done.

Keep track of what sells

You have two options for tracking your inventory with QuickBooks Online or Desktop:

  • Creating an invoice for later payments.
  • Attaching a sales receipt for customers who pay right away.

Once you’ve entered all the necessary information, QuickBooks will deduct the amount stated on the invoice or sales receipt from your stocks on hand.

Use reports to check the status of your inventory

Once you’re all set, you can start adding inventory items, products, and services to your QuickBooks account.

To get a full view of how your inventory is doing, you can pull up reports to find out which items are flying off the shelves, which items are still on hand, how much each item is, and more.

Get the most out of QuickBooks inventory management with Method

As your business blooms, you should be prepared to meet your growth demands. That includes equipping your business with systems that can handle advanced inventory management, supply chain management, human resources, accounting, CRM, and more.

As great as QuickBooks is for accounting, it’s not ideal for managing all the other aspects of business operations.

Enter Method CRM, a cloud-based CRM with instant, two-way integration with QuickBooks. Method simplifies and automates various manufacturing business processes, from order fulfillment to lead generation.

How Method works

You can create custom reports to view your inventory levels and get recommendations on items to reorder. And because Method feeds all the data back to QuickBooks, you can say goodbye to manual double-entry.

Watch the video to learn more about how Method CRM can help your business.

Key takeaways

Inventory is one of the most important aspects of any business, but it can be challenging to manage.

When it comes to inventory management QuickBooks can make the process easier for some businesses, but there are some significant drawbacks. 

QuickBooks inventory management software isn’t ideal for businesses requiring a system better tailored to their specific needs. So if you could use added functionalities, your best bet is to find a comprehensive QuickBooks integration.

QuickBooks inventory management FAQs

What inventory method does QuickBooks use?

QuickBooks Pro and Premier use the average cost method to calculate inventory costs. QuickBooks Online uses the first-in-first-out (FIFO) method, and QuickBooks Enterprise can use either of the two.

How do I account for inventory in QuickBooks?

To account for inventory in QuickBooks, you must first enable the inventory feature in your QuickBooks account. Navigate to the account settings and find the “Sales” tab.

Once there, choose “Edit” beneath “Products and services”. Toggle the “Show Product/Service” column on the sales form button before selecting the “Track quantity and price/rate” option as well as “Track inventory quantity on hand.

Save the new settings, and you’ll be ready to track inventory.

Does QuickBooks have an inventory scanner?

Yes, QuickBooks has an inventory scanner. With QuickBooks Enterprise, you can turn your crew’s Android devices into mobile barcode scanners. You can use this functionality to track and manage each inventory item more efficiently.

Get started with a free trial of Method CRM today!

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How to use QuickBooks for manufacturing

QuickBooks manufacturing apps can improve your business operations, but has some limitations to be aware of.

How to use QuickBooks for manufacturing Read More »

For manufacturers, QuickBooks is their go-to accounting software. Yet, it also offers some inventory management and other tools too. But these are basic, and while you could use QuickBooks for manufacturing up to a point, you’ll hit its limits as you grow.

Need an easier way to keep your QuickBooks data up-to-date?

Can you use QuickBooks for manufacturing?

Yes, you can use QuickBooks for manufacturing, but in a few areas. The most well developed part of QuickBooks’ manufacturing features is its inventory management tools. You can use it to track raw materials, manage customer communications, and price inventory.

But you’ll start seeing that QuickBooks’ inventory management tools are geared for finance. For example, you can cost materials, price goods, calculate duties, and account for fees.

It’s worth remembering that QuickBooks is an accounting platform. It’s for managing books, not a production site or a warehouse. 

QuickBooks Online manufacturing features

QuickBooks Online is a solid accounting app. It’s really accessible for small businesses while also versatile enough for bigger companies.

But outside of its financial management features, QuickBooks Online is limited, at least when it comes to specific business tasks.

Now, you do get some basic tools to manage inventory. You can use QuickBooks Online to track things like raw materials, work-in-process (WIP) inventory, and finished goods. 

But when you start growing, you’ll start hitting quality of life issues. 

One example: QuickBooks Online can track individual inventory items, but you can’t convert these into finished goods. You’ll need to manually reconcile how a drop in raw materials led to an increase in product. This isn’t realistic when you’re working across thousands of entries. 

Likewise, QuickBooks Online can’t handle large volumes of data. So, as your operations scale up, you’ll push and pull more data through QuickBooks. This will lead to slower loading speed and other performance bottlenecks. 

QuickBooks Desktop manufacturing tools are better

Compared to QuickBooks Online, you will get more manufacturing-specific tools in Desktop, like manufacturing reports, project cost comparisons, and inventory assembly management.

QuickBooks Desktop can also track inventory products based on individual parts. You can also segment those across manufacturing, wholesale, and general contracting tasks. 

Based on these features, you can support more complex manufacturing tasks on Desktop. But it’s also worth noting that as of September 30, 2024, you cannot buy new QuickBooks Desktop licenses or subscriptions (unless you go for Enterprise). 

QuickBooks Enterprise manufacturing tools offer the most

Compared to QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Enterprise has the most to give. For one thing, you get much deeper inventory management capabilities compared to Online. In addition, you also get bill of materials (BOM) cost tracking, job costing, multi-location support, and custom pricing levels.

Enterprise also comes preloaded with reporting templates that give you deeper visibility of your production line. These include:

Inventory Valuation Summary Report: This tells you the value of your inventory, including how much product you have on hand, the cost of keeping it, and sales prices. You can use this report to find slow-moving inventory, which can help you decide on discounts or ending production.

Inventory Stock Status by Item Report: This report gives you more clarity about inventory, like how much you’ve committed to existing orders, for example. 

Assembly Shortage by Item Report: You can use this report to see if you carry enough raw materials or sub-assemblies to start/continue production. 

Like QuickBooks Online, Enterprise also gives you cloud access as an option. So, you can see your QuickBooks data from different locations. This is a key feature if you work across multiple sites, like a production facility in one place and a warehouse in another. 

Limits of using QuickBooks for manufacturing

Whether it’s QuickBooks Online or QuickBooks Enterprise, the main problem with QuickBooks is its strength: it’s a great accounting platform. So, everything QuickBooks offers for inventory or other processes, it does so to help with financial reporting.

But when it comes to making the more tactical parts of your business, like forecasting how many raw materials to order, setting production schedules, or real-time item tracking, QuickBooks isn’t going to help much, if at all. 

For example, while QuickBooks can track individual items, it can’t convert them into a finished product. So, if you update the raw inventory level, QuickBooks might show “shipping negative,” forcing you to manually reconcile the information. 

The other problem with QuickBooks is that if you keep shoehorning processes into it and make it do more than what it’s designed for, you make the app worse.

For example, QuickBooks can’t handle large volumes of information. If you load too many lines of data from non-accounting tasks, you’ll make QuickBooks slower and less stable. 

When you stretch QuickBooks beyond what it’s designed for, you’ll end up covering gaps with lots of manual data entry, double/triple checking spreadsheets, and other tasks that will waste your time and energy. 

As you grow, you can’t afford to be dealing with such problems. The best way to work around QuickBooks’ limits is to build on top of it with specialized software.

QuickBooks for manufacturing best practices

One reason why many businesses want to start their software growth with QuickBooks is because it’s the source of truth on their financial health. It makes sense for your financial information to help inform other parts of your business.

While QuickBooks can help with everything, it can’t do everything on its own.

Intuit understood this fact, which is why they nurtured a strong ecosystem of third-party apps that work on top of QuickBooks. This way, you can carry your QuickBooks data to other parts of your business while also adding more specialized tools.

Get everything you need to run your business in one place.

Must-have QuickBooks add-ons for manufacturing companies

The Intuit app store offers certified inventory management software, manufacturing software, and much more, filling every business need.

As a growing manufacturer, you should prioritize: 

1. QuickBooks MRP

To properly manage inventory and manufacturing processes, you should invest in a QuickBooks material requirements planning (MRP) suite. A QuickBooks MRP gives you advanced inventory tracking tools, like real-time updates, traceability, purchase order syncing, and many others. 

2. QuickBooks CRM

If you’re trying to drive more sales, keep customers happy, reach new markets, and just grow as a manufacturer, then you need a customer relationship management (CRM) suite. 

A solid QuickBooks CRM will help you connect your front office teams with your inventory and production tasks. 

Why is this important?

It opens more points of visibility for forecasting and pricing. For example, you can track sales data to see where customer demand is going. If product demand is going up, you might order the right raw materials in advance and avoid a stockout or delayed shipments. 

You can also connect more people to your QuickBooks data without having to add them to your QuickBooks account. 

Your account likely wants to limit QuickBooks access for risk and security purposes. By using a CRM for manufacturing, you can get employees to issue purchase orders, transactions, or other items outside of QuickBooks. But that new data will still sync with your QuickBooks data.

Some CRM vendors can even build fully custom workflows for you. That way, you can automate other tasks and processes that are unique to your business. 

One such CRM is our very own Method!

Next steps

By now you’ll have a good grasp of what QuickBooks add-ons for manufacturing you need. The next step is to compare the different options available. 

Our guide on the best software for manufacturing companies will give you a good start. In fact, we’ve also compared the top CRM for manufacturers.

If you’d like to see our QuickBooks CRM in action, then give our video demo a look. Or, if you want to try it out for yourself, sign up for a free two-week trial!

QuickBooks manufacturing FAQs

Can QuickBooks build assemblies?

Yes, QuickBooks is capable of building assemblies. You can combine each inventory assembly item to build a single product.

What industries use QuickBooks the most?

Businesses in all industries use QuickBooks primarily for accounting-related activities. When it comes to QuickBooks manufacturing, it is most useful for small-to-medium enterprises that can manually ensure inventory data is accurate and up-to-date.

Do manufacturing companies use QuickBooks?

Yes. Smaller manufacturing companies use QuickBooks for inventory tracking, sales order fulfillment, powerful reports, and general business management.

What is negative inventory in QuickBooks for manufacturing?

Negative inventory occurs when you generate an invoice on QuickBooks without updating your inventory availability.

If you hit the lowest inventory quantity for a specific item and create an invoice for a manufacturing order, QuickBooks will register your inventory level as -1.

Doing so risks incorrectly calculating costs with negative inventory and throwing off your finances.

Start your Method CRM free trial today!

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birds-eye view of many bright cargo containers on asphalt

What is the supply chain for manufacturing?

Learn everything you need to know about how a supply chain works, as well as its advantages.

What is the supply chain for manufacturing? Read More »

All companies that deal with inventory use a supply chain, from small businesses to enterprises.

A well-oiled and efficient supply chain is critical for manufacturing companies who wish to compete in today’s fast-paced market. 

This article will discuss the facets of a supply chain for manufacturing and how digitized supply chain management (SCM) solutions can help with optimization.

What is a supply chain?

A supply chain is the network of companies and individuals involved in a product’s lifecycle. That includes everything from the raw materials to the delivery of the finished product to the customer.

Supply chain operations begin with the customer ordering a product. 

In its basic form, the links on the supply chain from beginning to end are:

  1. Sourcing of the raw materials from suppliers.
  2. Manufacturing the materials into basic parts.
  3. Assembling the basic parts into a finished product.
  4. Selling the finished product to the customer or end users.
  5. Delivering the product to customers or end users.

What are the main supply chain models?

There are several business models for supply chains. But all share two main goals: efficiency and responsiveness, with the end goal being customer satisfaction.

Each model has its own approach to achieving those goals. 

Choosing which supply chain model is best for a company largely depends on its goals and specific needs based on the industry.

The main supply chain models are:

  • Continuous flow model Best for established companies that produce the same products consistently.
  • Fast chain model — Best for companies whose products depend on trends, such as fashion.
  • Efficient chain model — Best for highly competitive markets where pricing is key.
  • Flexible model — Best for companies with sporadic production, such as seasonal products.

Now let’s take a closer look at the supply chain for manufacturing.

Supply chain for manufacturing

A product’s lifecycle starts with raw materials and ends when the finished goods reach the consumer.

The manufacturing company is the middleman in this lifecycle.

Upstream operations are the steps leading up to manufacturing in the supply chain. In turn, downstream operations are the steps further down the supply chain manufacturing process.

Upstream operations for manufacturers involve sourcing raw materials through suppliers or vendors. That includes:

  • Finding and evaluating suppliers.
  • Developing quality standards for the materials.
  • Ensuring correct quantities are purchased on time. 

After the manufacturer has converted the raw materials into a product ready to sell, the downstream operations come into play.

Those operations involve distributing the finished product to the consumer via wholesalers, distributors, or retailers.

As there are many moving parts, incorporating software for manufacturing would help companies improve the flow of goods and manufacturing capabilities.

Supply chain manufacturing process

The supply chain manufacturing process requires careful planning and managing all parts of the supply chain.

Let’s now look at the main processes involved in a manufacturing supply chain.

  1. Planning: In this stage, companies develop a strategy that addresses how their products will satisfy the needs and demands of the customer. The main focus is on developing a system that will generate maximum profit.
  2. Sourcing: This stage focuses on developing relationships with suppliers. Dependable suppliers are instrumental in maximizing the productivity of manufacturing operations. This stage also includes planning different methods for shipping, delivery, and payment of the raw materials.
  3. Production: This stage consists of the design, production, testing, packing, and delivery of the product. It also provides companies with essential data for determining quality levels, productivity, and production output.
  4. Delivery: This is the logistics phase, where delivery planning happens once orders are accepted. Establishing warehouses, choosing carriers, and setting up an invoicing system are included in this stage.
  5. Returns: The final stage in the supply chain manufacturing process involves dealing with the return of a defective product. This stage is crucial to setting flexible and efficient supply networks for handling returned products. This stage also requires responding to customer complaints and queries through a customer service department. 

Advantages of manufacturing supply chain management

Manufacturing companies require highly optimized supply chains to get ahead of the curve. Let’s look at some benefits of effectively managing the supply chain for manufacturing.

Take a holistic approach to transformation to capture end-to-end value

Efficient manufacturing supply chain management helps businesses capture value across the entire supply chain.

It lets manufacturing companies identify potential problems throughout the supply chain before they become real issues, allowing for better allocation of resources.

It also ensures continuous improvement of manufacturing processes and quality production.

Transform manufacturing processes for better productivity

By efficiently managing the supply chain for manufacturing, businesses reduce costs, optimize performance, and maximize customer satisfaction.

By leveraging supply chain networks, manufacturers can access improved visibility across their supply chains.

This also lets them make better decisions about supply availability and production timelines to create a streamlined supply chain process.

Boost operational health by identifying skill gaps and building capabilities

A supply chain management system can provide visibility into a manufacturing operation’s demand, supply, and capacity.

This will enable you to track personnel skills and identify areas where training or additional personnel may be needed to meet supply goals.

By developing capabilities in your supply chain, you can remain competitive and improve your overall operational health.

Foster a quality culture to create competitive advantage

Implementing supply chain management in manufacturing processes helps create a quality culture focused on customer satisfaction, cost savings, and product innovation.

This helps you gain a competitive advantage by providing superior services and products.

Leverage digital and autonomous supply chain opportunities

Digital supply chains let manufacturers monitor supply, demand, and capacity in real-time, resulting in better decision-making and faster reactions to market changes.

Autonomous supply chain processes allow for better inventory accuracy, cost savings, and improved customer service.

By leveraging the power of technology, manufacturers can also optimize their supply chain operations for greater efficiency and supply reliability.

Supply chain management vs business logistics management

The terms supply chain management and business logistics management are often used interchangeably.

While both refer to management in a supply chain, they target different aspects of SCM.

Let’s look at the similarities and differences between supply chain management and logistics.

Both SCM and logistics:

  • Store, move, and deliver goods efficiently.
  • Ensure the smooth flow of goods from the beginning to the end of the supply chain.
  • Deal with information or goods and services. 
  • Lead to increased customer satisfaction.

However, SCM doesn’t only involve logistics management but also other activities, such as production, labor, manufacturing, and delivery.

Logistics is one of many aspects of supply chain management. So, the difference between the two comes down to the focus areas. 

The goal of SCM is to optimize the efficiency of processes throughout the supply chain. The goal of logistics, on the other end, is to satisfy customers’ needs on time. 

Supply chain management best practices

Supply chain managers must adapt to the global market’s growing scale and speed.

An efficient way to do this is by incorporating the following best practices:

  • Facilitate collaboration with all companies involved.
  • Generate metrics to measure efficiency.
  • Speed up inventory and minimize waste.
  • Create a resilient supply chain with short cycles.
  • Incorporate supply chain technology

Manufacturing supply chain solutions

A supply chain management solution bridges gaps in the supply chain and guarantees companies efficiently meet consumer demands.

Companies must adopt a solution tailored to their specific needs to gain a competitive edge.

One way to do this is to adopt business management software that can tackle the pain points in the supply chain for manufacturing.

Method CRM is an excellent option for small to medium businesses in the manufacturing space.

It integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks and Xero, providing a one-stop solution for everything from inventory management to sales fulfillment.

With Method, you can optimize your manufacturing process through these great features:

  • Wholesale and manufacturing chart of accounts.
  • ATP (available-to-promise) supply chain management.
  • Customized price levels and bill of materials (BoM) cost tracking.
  • Functionality over multiple locations.

Learn more about Method’s capabilities with this video.

Key takeaways

When making a product, you can liken the supply chain for manufacturing to the circulatory system in your body. Each step in the process helps move materials efficiently from beginning to end. 

But the entire system becomes compromised if there is a blockage in one of these veins.

Manufacturers need a comprehensive view of their supply chain to maximize productivity and ensure a competitive advantage. 

The best way to do this is by adopting a digitized manufacturing SCM solution, like Method CRM.

In the video below, check out how an integration with Method helped double this shipping container company’s revenue in just three years.

Supply chain for manufacturing FAQs

What are the 3 types of supply chain strategies?

The three supply chain strategies are demand-driven, agile, and collaborative. The first focuses on meeting the consumer’s demand, the second on quicking adapting to demand, and the latter on collaboration between the various parties in the supply chain.

What is the best supply chain model?

Which supply chain model is best depends entirely on the company’s goals and what industry it operates in. The continuous supply model would be best if the goal is to produce the same goods that require slight variation consistently. The fast chain model would be most efficient for fashion, for instance, as companies operate in a trend-based industry.

What is the supply chain process cycle?

The supply chain process cycle involves five main stages, starting with the supplier and ending with the consumer. These stages typically include planning, sourcing, production, delivery, and returns.

Start your free trial of Method CRM today!

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a man standing in front of a computer in a manufacturing plant

Top 9 best CRM software for manufacturing companies in 2025

This blog post compares the top 9 best CRM systems for manufacturing companies in 2025.

Top 9 best CRM software for manufacturing companies in 2025 Read More »

There’s a lot to consider when choosing the best CRM software for manufacturing businesses.

First, you should understand the specific needs of your industry.

For example, let’s say you manufacture a product that calls for multiple touchpoints in the customer journey. In this instance, you’d need a CRM with features specifically tailored to customer service and management.

But you also want to ensure that your manufacturing industry CRM is easy to use and personalizable.

Finding a CRM for manufacturing industry that grow with your company is also important. 

Throughout this article, you’ll understand how CRM systems stimulate growth in manufacturing.

And to help you make the right decision, we’ve compiled a list of the top 9 best CRM software for manufacturing industry in 2025.

What’s a CRM?

A CRM, or customer relationship management system, is software that helps businesses manage customer interactions and data. 

The primary purpose of using a CRM system is to nurture relationships with current and potential customers throughout the buyer’s journey.

A CRM for manufacturing industry gives you a complete view of your customers by tracking all interactions in one place. 

You can use this valuable customer data to improve marketing strategies, sales processes, product development, and overall operations. 

What’s a CRM for manufacturing industry?

Using CRM in manufacturing industry is known to increase sales and ROI while reducing customer churn rates.

A CRM solution for the distribution and manufacturing industries helps businesses manage customer relationships and data in a way that’s tailored to their needs.

Some of the most popular features in a manufacturing industry CRM include:

  • Quoting and pricing.
  • Opportunity management.
  • Customer portals.

The best CRM software for manufacturing helps you increase customer engagement, boost sales, and improve customer support and marketing strategies.

What are the main features to look for in a CRM for manufacturing?

Now that you’ve learned about the use of CRM in manufacturing industry let’s take a closer look at the features that most manufacturers look for.

When choosing a CRM solution for the distribution and manufacturing industries, prioritize the following.

1. Configurability

Configuring the software to your company’s specific needs is a critical part of a manufacturing industry CRM. 

You want to be able to adjust workflows, create custom fields, and add or remove functionality as needed. The more you can mold your CRM software to your business, the better.

2. Customization

Once you’ve found a configurable CRM, you’ll want to ensure it’s also customizable. This means being able to personalize the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to fit your company’s needs. 

You should be able to change things like colors, fonts, and logos. The best CRM for manufacturing industry let you create custom reports and dashboards too.

3. Integrations

Integration is one of the most critical features to look for in a CRM for manufacturing industry. 

Ideally, you should choose a solution that integrates with the rest of your manufacturing software stack.

Examples of valuable integrations include your accounting software like QuickBooks or email campaign manager.

Why should you use a CRM for manufacturing

There are many reasons to use a CRM system in any industry, but the benefits are especially pronounced in manufacturing.  

For one, the best CRM for manufacturing help you increase sales by improving your marketing and sales processes. 

You can use your CRM to automatically send targeted emails to customers based on their interactions with your company. You can also segment your customer list so that your sales team only contacts the most qualified leads.

With a manufacturing CRM, you can offer your customers a portal where they can:

  • View their purchase history.
  • Track their orders.
  • Submit support tickets. 

Below is an example of what a portal from a CRM for manufacturing industry offers.

Let’s review how your business can benefit from a dedicated manufacturing industry CRM.

How can I benefit from using a CRM for manufacturing?

If you’re still not convinced that a CRM system is right for your manufacturing business, consider the following benefits.

1. Improved customer engagement

CRM systems give you complete visibility into your customer interactions and data. You can use this valuable information to improve marketing strategies and sales processes.

2. Increased sales and ROI

A CRM solution for manufacturing helps you increase sales and ROI while reducing customer churn rates. 

3. Boosted productivity

The use of CRM in manufacturing industry lets you boost productivity by automating repetitive tasks such as email marketing or lead generation. 

4. Better forecasting and planning

CRM systems make it easier to forecast future sales and marketing trends. You can use this information to improve product development or operations.

5. Informed decision-making

A CRM system provides managers with valuable data that they can use to make informed decisions about marketing, sales, and operations. 

How can I choose the best CRM for my manufacturing industry?

Now that you know the benefits of using a CRM system in manufacturing, let’s look at how to choose the best CRM for your business. 

There are many different types of CRM solutions on the market, so choosing one that can be tailored to the manufacturing industry is essential. 

You have learned that configurability, customization, and integrations are the three main things to watch out for. But what else do you need to know? 

To help you find your perfect fit, below are the best CRM software for the distribution and manufacturing industries.

How we selected the best CRMs for manufacturing industry

When putting together this list, we looked at various factors, including:

  • Configurability.
  • Customization.
  • Integrations. 
  • Other key features.

We also considered user reviews of these CRM systems from reputable sources such as Capterra and G2 Crowd.

From our research, we were able to narrow down the list to the top 10 best CRM software for manufacturing industry.

Best CRM software for manufacturing in 2025

Compare the best CRM software for manufacturing in 2025 with this comprehensive list of features, pros, cons, and pricing details.

1. Method CRM

Features

  • QuickBooks and Xero two-way sync, so your financials are always up to date.
  • Online customer portal for an improved customer experience.
  • Mobile app to keep you in the loop anytime, anywhere.
  • Custom reporting based on your business needs.
  • Native integrations with Gmail, Outlook, Mailchimp, Zapier, and more.

Pros

  • Save time and enhance accuracy when you sync customer data between Method and QuickBooks or Xero.
  • Reusable templates to personalize emails, reports, invoices, estimates, and more.
  • No code, unlimited customization to create a tailored solution.
  • The ability to automate your business all around.

Cons

Method CRM is currently only available in English to users of QuickBooks or Xero.

Pricing

Method CRM offers three subscription options:

  • Contact Management: $25 per user per month.
  • CRM Pro: $44 per user per month.
  • CRM Enterprise: $74 per user per month.

Method CRM also offers a free trial, no credit card required.

2. Zendesk Sell

Image credit: Zendesk

Features

  • Email integrations.
  • Sales engagement tools.
  • Task overview.
  • Call and text log.

Pros

  • Useful reporting options.
  • Easy onboarding and team creation.
  • Smart list generation through filtered data.

Cons

Some users have reported a lack of customization and limitations with the pipeline. 

Pricing

Zendesk Sell has three subscription options:

  • Team: $19 per user per month.
  • Growth: $49 per user per month.
  • Professional: $99 per user per month.

Zendesk Sell offers a 14-day free trial.

3. Thryv (previously LeadMaster)

Image credit: Thryv

Features

  • Job scheduling.
  • Billing and invoicing.
  • Marketing automation.

Pros

  • Centralized tools for different business needs.
  • Quick and helpful customer service.
  • Customer engagement across channels.

Cons

Some users have reported a steep learning curve in the beginning. A lack of automation surrounding billing and invoicing is another limitation of this CRM for manufacturing industry.

Pricing

Thryv offers three subscription plans:

  • Plus: 2 users.
  • Premium: 6 users.
  • Unlimited: 10 users.

Pricing is calculated on a custom proposal basis so there are no preset pricing points listed online.

4. Maximizer CRM

Image credit: Maximizer

Features

  • Knowledge base management.
  • Support ticket management.
  • Goal setting/tracking.

Pros

  • Centralized sales data.
  • Ongoing sales team improvement.
  • Informed decision-making through customized reporting.

Cons

Users reported limited capacities, so it’s not a scalable solution. There have also been issues with syncing integrations.

Pricing

Maximizer offers three subscription plans:

  • Small Office: $35 per user per month.
  • Business: $55 per user per month.
  • Professional: $100 per user per month.

5. NetSuite CRM

Image credit: NetSuite

Features

  • Marketing automation.
  • Customer service management.
  • Partner relationship management.

Pros

  • Centralized view of customer data.
  • Visibility into sales pipeline and forecasts
  • Streamlined marketing campaign management.

Cons

Not very user-friendly, so third-party integration can be challenging without a specialized support team. Many users have reported a steep learning curve.

Pricing

Pricing for this CRM for manufacturing industry is calculated on a custom basis.

6. Insightly

Image credit: Insightly

Features

  • Lead routing.
  • Advanced project management.
  • Built-in phone feature.
  • Integrations with over 250 apps.

Pros

  • Business cards easily scanned on mobile app.
  • Easy conversion of won opportunities into projects.
  • Customizable fields to control how you capture data.

Cons

Insightly does not offer strong reporting. Customization is also limited, giving you only a high-level view of your business.

Pricing

Insightly offers three subscription plans:

  • Plus: $29 per user per month.
  • Professional: $49 per user per month.
  • Enterprise: $99 per user per month.

Insightly does not offer a free trial. The free plan has minimal features and only allows for two users.

7. Claritysoft CRM

Image credit: Claritysoft

Features

  • Email marketing.
  • Contact and sales management.
  • Reporting and dashboards.

Pros

  • Easy to customize.
  • Powerful email integrations.
  • Pipeline management automation.

Cons

Some of the most important features like workflow automation are not available in the lowest price tier. Some users have also reported glitches and slow speeds when running the software.

Pricing

Claritysoft offers three subscription plans:

  • Professional: $39 per user per month.
  • Accelerator: $49 per user per month.
  • Enterprise: $69 per user per month.

There is a 3-user minimum for any subscription.

8. SugarCRM

Image credit: Sugar CRM

Features

  • Quote management.
  • Sales forecasting.
  • Reporting and dashboards.
  • Mobile app.

Pros

  • Intuitive marketing automation tools.
  • Affordable solution for small businesses.
  • Useful third-party integrations.

Cons

Some users have expressed difficulties navigating the interface and customizing the platform. 

Pricing

SugarCRM offers four subscription plans:

  • Sell: $49 per user per month.
  • Serve: $80 per user per month.
  • Enterprise: $85 per user per month.
  • Market: $1,000 per month for 10K contacts.

9. monday sales CRM

Image credit: Monday

Features

  • Contact and lead management.
  • Sales pipeline and forecasting.
  • Marketing automation.

Pros

  • Easy to personalize.
  • Intuitive user interface.
  • Great for collaboration and building engagement.

Cons

The platform lacks a good reporting feature and popular email integrations.

Pricing

Monday sales CRM offers five subscription plans:

  • Individual: $0, up to two users.
  • Basic: $17.30 per user per month.
  • Standard: $23.60 per user per month.
  • Pro: $40.20 per user per month.
  • Enterprise: Custom pricing.

You can try the first four plans with a free 14-day trial.

CRM for manufacturing FAQs

Now that you’re equipped with all the knowledge necessary to pick your best CRM software for manufacturing.

Let’s take a look at some other frequently asked questions.

Does Salesforce provide a CRM for manufacturing industry?

Yes and no. Salesforce does not have a specific CRM solution for the manufacturing industry. 

However, automotive, aerospace and defense, consumer goods, electronics, and more manufacturing industries have turned to Salesforce with success. 

However,  it may not be the best CRM for manufacturing small businesses due to the complexity of the tool. 

You can see how Salesforce compares to Method, for example, as a CRM for manufacturing industry here

What are the 3 types of CRM?

The three types of CRM are operational, analytical, and collaborative.

  1. Operational CRM automates and manages the sales process from beginning to end.
  2. Analytical CRM provides data-driven insights to improve marketing and sales strategies. 
  3. Collaborative CRM facilitates communication and collaboration between different departments in a company.

What industries need CRM?

Any business that relies on sales coming in can benefit from a CRM system. This includes, but is not limited to, manufacturing, wholesale, healthcare, technology, consulting, and financial services.

Get started with a free trial of Method CRM!


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