Okay, let's talk about something a bit…awkward. Contractors in QuickBooks Online. We've all been there, right?
That moment when you realize you need to, shall we say, *remove* one. It's like spring cleaning, but for your business relationships. Sometimes, it's just gotta happen.
The "Delete" Dilemma
First, let's get one thing straight. You can't actually *delete* them. I know, I know. Unpopular opinion: I think you should be able to!
It's my QuickBooks and I want to be able to delete people off of it. But alas, no. Intuit, are you listening?
The "Mark as Inactive" Maneuver
So, what *can* you do? You have to "mark as inactive". It sounds so…passive-aggressive, doesn’t it?
Here's how it goes down. Log into your QuickBooks Online account. Ready to embrace the inactive life?
Head over to the "Contractors" section. This is where all the magic (or, well, lack thereof) happens.
Find the contractor in question. The one you need to, politely, usher out the digital door. Select them.
Now, look for an "Edit" button. It's usually hiding in plain sight, mocking you with its simplicity.
Click that "Edit" button. Feel the power surging through you. Okay, maybe not.
You should see a checkbox labeled something like "Inactive" or "Mark as inactive." Check it.
Bam! They're gone. Well, not really *gone*. They're just…sleeping. Inactive. In contractor limbo.
Finding the "Inactives"
But what if you need to find them again? Maybe you need a record of past payments. Don't worry, they're not completely lost.
Go back to the "Contractors" section. Look for a filter or a "Show inactive" option. It’s usually tucked away somewhere.
Click that option. Suddenly, a ghostly apparition of your past contractors appears. Spooky!
You can now view their information. You can even reactivate them, if you dare! But hopefully, you won’t want to.
A Word of Caution
Before you go on an "inactive" spree, consider this. Make sure you've paid them everything you owe them!
Also, keep records of all payments. You never know when you might need them. Trust me on this one.
And finally, document everything. Keep track of why you marked them as inactive. Future you will thank you.
The Unpopular Opinion, Revisited
Look, I understand *why* QuickBooks doesn't let you delete contractors. It's all about record-keeping and audit trails. It makes sense, *sort of*.
But still. Sometimes you just want a clean slate. A fresh start. A contractor-free (well, almost) QuickBooks.
So, until the day QuickBooks Online gives us a true "delete" button, we'll have to settle for "mark as inactive." It's not perfect, but it gets the job done. Mostly.
Now, go forth and conquer your contractor list! May your QuickBooks be ever in your favor. Good luck!
