Service Item Type

Explaining the Service Item Type

Updated over a week ago

This item type is used for services your company either charges a customer for, or purchases from a vendor.

Note: This item is available in both QuickBooks Desktop and QuickBooks Online.

To add this as an item, you will need to add a new item within the Items app, and choose Service. If you do not see the Items app, you will need to get access permission for this app from your administrator. The Items app is found in the Accounting Lists Pack.


QuickBooks Desktop - Service Item Type

When you select Service, you'll be taken to the New Item Screen. The fields are described below.

  • Item Name/Number*: Identify the service by name or by number.

  • Subitem of: Choose an existing item to associate with this item from the drop down list (e.g. "cleaning out gutters" might be a subitem of "landscaping").

  • Unit of Measurement: How is your service measured (for example, hours, days, etc.)? The options in this drop down list come from your QuickBooks.

  • Income Account*: Choose which account is associated with the customer payment. These options come from QuickBooks.

  • Active Service Item: Click this option to ensure this item appears in the "Active" filter view in the Items list, and so it will also appear in dropdowns.

Service Item - Sale

  • Sales Description: Include descriptions of what is being sold. Use it to include additional information that isn't covered in other fields on this screen.

  • Sales Price: The amount your company charges for this item, in dollars.

  • Tax Code: Choose whether or not this sales amount is tax-applicable.

Service Item - Purchase

  • Service performed by subcontractor or partner: Flags this record in QuickBooks as being subcontracted out to a third party and makes the purchase fields visible.

  • Purchase Description: Include a description of what item was purchased. Use it to include additional information that isn't covered in other fields on this screen.

  • Cost: The price of the item purchased in dollars.

  • Preferred vendor: The vendor from whom you most commonly purchase this item. The list is populated from your QuickBooks account.

  • Expense Account*: Choose which account is associated with the customer payment. These options come from QuickBooks.

  • Save & New: Saves the new or edited item and clears the fields above.

  • Save & Back: Saves the new or edited item.


QuickBooks Online - Service Item Type

When you select Service, you'll be taken to the New Item Screen. The fields are described below.

  • Item Name/Number*: Identify the service by name or by number.

  • Category: Choose the category the item belongs to.

  • Income Account*: Choose which account is associated with the customer payment. These options come from QuickBooks.

  • Active Service Item: Click this option to ensure this item appears in the "Active" filter view in the Items list, and so it will also appear in dropdowns.

Service Item - Sale

  • I sell this service to my customers: When checked, the Sales fields will show up.

  • Sales Description: Include descriptions of what will be sold. Use it to include additional information that isn't covered in other fields on this screen.

  • Sales Price: The amount your company charges for this item, in dollars.

  • Sales Tax Code: Choose whether or not this sales amount is tax-applicable.

Service Item - Purchase

  • I purchase this service from a supplier: Flags this record in QuickBooks as being subcontracted out to a third party and makes the purchase fields visible.

  • Purchase Description: Include a description of what item was purchased. Use it to include additional information that isn't covered in other fields on this screen.

  • Cost: The price of the item purchased in dollars.

  • Expense Account*: Choose which account is associated with the customer payment. These options come from QuickBooks.

  • Purchase Tax Code: Choose whether or not this amount is tax-applicable.

  • Save & New: Saves the new or edited item and clears the fields above.

  • Save & Back: Saves the new or edited item.

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