Why reports matter and which ones to use #
Running a successful business requires more than just making sales — it requires visibility. With register by ability business syncing sales transactions to QuickBooks Online in real time, business owners gain immediate access to accurate, actionable data.
Utilizing QuickBooks Online reports transforms that data into insights, helping you understand your cash flow, monitor sales performance, track inventory, and stay compliant with tax obligations.
Regularly reviewing these reports empowers you to make informed decisions, catch issues early, and keep your business running smoothly and profitably. Whether you’re tracking daily operations or planning for long-term growth, reports are the foundation of confident, data-driven management.
reports to use in QuickBooks Online #
QuickBooks Online offers a powerful suite of reports that help you monitor your business performance, manage daily operations, and make informed decisions. When paired with register by ability business, which syncs sales transactions in real time, these reports become even more valuable by providing timely, accurate insights into your revenue, expenses, inventory, and customer activity. Whether you’re tracking daily sales, reviewing your financial position, or preparing for tax time, the right reports in QuickBooks Online can help streamline your workflow, improve cash flow management, and support the overall growth and stability of your business.
Core Business Reports #
These reports offer a financial snapshot of the business and are essential for decision-making, tax prep, and understanding performance at a glance.
Profit and Loss (P&L) #
Why it matters: With sales syncing automatically from register, this report provides an up-to-date look at how much revenue you’re earning vs. how much you’re spending — ideal for tracking profitability by day, week, or month.
Balance Sheet #
Why it matters: Gives you a moment-in-time picture of your business’s financial health, including assets like cash and inventory, and liabilities such as accounts payable or loans.
Accounts Receivable Aging Summary #
Why it matters: Quickly identify which customers owe you money, how long their balances have been outstanding, and who to follow up with — critical for managing cash flow.
Daily Operations Reports #
These help you reconcile daily activity from Register and ensure all transactions are syncing as expected.
Transaction List by Customer #
Why it matters: See a detailed breakdown of all transactions by customer, including those entered via register. Great for auditing daily sales and verifying real-time sync accuracy.
Invoices and Received Payments #
Why it matters: If your workflow includes creating invoices or applying payments in QuickBooks Online, this report confirms those transactions are being posted and matched properly.
Inventory & Vendor Reports #
If you’re selling physical products, these reports help ensure your inventory records are accurate and up to date.
Product/Service List #
Why it matters: Shows a complete list of products and services in QuickBooks Online, including sales and purchase info. Useful for verifying item setup and pricing consistency with register.
Inventory Valuation Detail #
Why it matters: Tracks quantity on hand, asset value, and cost for each inventory item. This is vital for managing stock levels and understanding inventory’s impact on your balance sheet.
Purchases by Vendor Detail (optional) #
Why it matters: Helps you keep track of vendor orders and restocking activity, especially useful if you enter bills or purchase orders in QuickBooks Online alongside register sales.
Sales & Sales Tax Reports #
These provide visibility into your revenue streams and tax obligations — all of which are made more accurate by Register’s real-time data syncing.
Sales by Product/Service Summary #
Why it matters: Understand which products or services are your top performers. Use this data to adjust pricing, inventory, or marketing efforts.
Sales by Customer Summary #
Why it matters: Know who your most valuable customers are. Use this insight for loyalty programs, promotions, or targeted follow-ups.
Sales Tax Liability Report #
Why it matters: Automatically tracks what you’ve collected in sales tax by jurisdiction — crucial for timely and accurate tax filings.
Sales Detail Report (customized) #
Why it matters: A detailed breakdown of every sale — filtered by customer, product, or date — ideal for auditing, troubleshooting discrepancies, or daily closeouts.
Customer Reports #
These help you manage relationships and maintain up-to-date records for service, support, or marketing purposes.
Customer Contact List #
Why it matters: Easily access customer names, emails, and phone numbers. This is helpful for outreach, support, or exporting to a CRM or email tool.
Customer Balance Summary #
Why it matters: View what each customer owes in a single snapshot. Crucial for managing credit terms and collections.
Bonus: Custom Report Tips #
To get the most out of your register + QuickBooks Online integration:
- Create and save custom reports with filters specific to your operations (e.g., only sales from today or this week).
- Schedule automatic report emails to yourself or your team — stay on top of activity without logging in daily.
How Often Should You Run Key Reports? #
To get the most value from your QuickBooks Online reports, it’s important to review them on a consistent schedule.
Daily, monitor transaction-level reports like Transaction List by Customer, Invoices and Received Payments, and Inventory Valuation Detail to stay on top of sales, cash flow, and stock levels.
Weekly, review Profit and Loss and Accounts Receivable Aging Summary to assess financial performance and follow up on overdue customer balances.
Monthly, analyze broader reports like the Balance Sheet, Sales by Product/Service Summary, and Sales Tax Liability Report to evaluate profitability, prepare for filings, and make strategic decisions.
Regularly scheduled reviews not only keep your financials accurate and up to date — they also help you proactively manage your business with confidence.
