How to Set Up a New Customer at Checkout #

Build Customer Profiles Instantly While You Ring Up Sales in register #

When you’re working the front lines of your business, speed and personalization matter. Whether it’s a first-time visitor or a returning customer whose details haven’t been saved yet, register makes it easy to capture and create new customer profiles right from the checkout station.

With just a few taps, you can add a new customer during a sale, ensuring their information is stored, synced with QuickBooks Online, and ready for future interactions.

Let’s walk through the process and explore how this powerful feature drives long-term value.

Step-by-Step: Creating a New Customer at Checkout #

From the Make a Sale screen: #

1. Click into the “Select a Customer” smart search bar at the top of the transaction window.
   
2. Begin typing the customer’s name or company.
   
3. If no match is found, click the “New Customer” button below the search results.
   
4. Fill out the customer’s:
   
   • Full name and/or company name
     
   • Phone number, email address
     
   • Billing and shipping address (optional)
     
   • Any other known details (e.g., payment preferences, notes)
     
5. Click Save. The new customer profile is:
   
   • Immediately attached to the current transaction.
     
   • Automatically added to QuickBooks Online via register’s two-way customer sync.
     

No need to pause the sale or jump between systems—everything happens within the same workflow.

What Happens Behind the Scenes

When you add a new customer at checkout, register syncs that data directly with QuickBooks Online:

• A new customer record is created in QuickBooks Online with the exact details entered.
  
• Any updates made later in either register or QuickBooks will reflect in both systems.
  

The new customer is instantly available for future transactions, sales history reviews, and loyalty tracking.

Benefits of Adding Customers at the Point of Sale #

• Capture important data in real time instead of trying to remember or track it down later.
  
• Improve service on the spot by using the new profile for discounts, notes, or purchase tracking.
  
• Keep QuickBooks updated automatically, eliminating re-entry or sync delays.
  
• Lay the foundation for loyalty and repeat business—it all starts with a name.
  

Unlock full customer reporting and transaction tracking from Day One.

Use Cases: Why This Matters to Your Business #

Here are five common, real-world scenarios where adding a new customer during checkout makes a measurable difference:

1. A New Commercial Account Walks In #

A local contractor visits your store for the first time and wants to open a business account.
You quickly:

• Add their company name and billing info
  
• Enter a note: “Qualifies for Net 30 terms after 3 transactions”
  
• The transaction is recorded under their account, and their details are synced with QuickBooks for follow-up billing or invoicing.
  

Why it matters: Streamlines B2B relationships and prepares the backend for credit terms or future purchase orders.

2. Capturing Info for a Product Warranty #

A customer buys an appliance or product with a 1-year warranty. You create a customer profile at checkout so their purchase is linked to their name and email.

• You enter their contact info and add a note: “Purchased Model #X123 on 5/12/25 – 1-Year Warranty”
  
• If they call with an issue, you can quickly pull up the original transaction and validate the purchase.
  

Why it matters: Saves time on customer support and builds trust through accurate, accessible records.

3. Service Scheduling or Future Invoicing #

A customer purchases a product but opts to schedule installation at a later date. You create their customer profile in register with full address details and use the note field to trigger downstream service activity:

“Schedule installation week of 5/20 | call to confirm preferred day.”

• If you’re using a connected Service app with QuickBooks Online, this note can serve as an internal handoff to initiate the service workflow—such as job creation, technician assignment, or invoice setup—without needing to re-enter customer data.

Why it matters: Streamlines coordination between sales and service teams, reduces scheduling errors or delays, and enhances the customer’s experience through prompt, professional follow-up.

Recap: Why Adding a New Customer at Checkout is a Best Practice #

Advantage	Impact on Business
Fast profile creation	Keeps sales flowing, even with new customers
Real-time QuickBooks Online sync	Eliminates double entry or forgotten updates
Customer notes & history	Enables better service from the very first visit
Customer retention	Helps drive repeat sales and personalized marketing
Builds data for future decisions	Improves reporting, forecasting, and outreach

Final Word #

Every relationship starts somewhere. With register, that moment can happen right at the register. By capturing customer info in real time and syncing it with QuickBooks Online, you set the stage for smarter service, faster transactions, and a more connected business.