Before You Start

This guide assumes you have administrator access to QuickBooks Online and your financial data is clean and reconciled.

Overview

30 min
Setup Time
Intermediate
Difficulty
Monthly
Maintenance

What You’ll Learn

  • How to utilize QuickBooks’ built-in Management Reports tool
  • Customizing report narratives and branding for stakeholders
  • Adding a custom KPI dashboard to your report package
  • Exporting and sharing your polished reporting package

1. Understanding Management Reports

Before diving in, understand the core components of a robust management reporting package:

Key Components

  • Executive Summary
  • Profit & Loss (P&L)
  • Balance Sheet
  • Cash Flow Statement

Enhancement Options

  • KPI Dashboard
  • Departmental P&L
  • Budget vs. Actual
  • Graphical Summaries

2. Key Considerations for Your Reports

You have two main options, each with serious pros and cons.

Method A: Internal Stakeholders

This approach is for quick, operational insights.

Pros:
  • Quick, direct insights.
  • Less formal presentation.
  • Focus on operational metrics.
Cons:
  • May lack comprehensive context.
  • Less emphasis on branding.
  • Raw data can be overwhelming.

Method B: External Stakeholders (Board/Investors)

This is for polished, comprehensive presentations.

Expert Tip: For board meetings or investor presentations, a professionally branded package ensures clarity and confidence. The “Management Reports” tool is ideal here.

3. Step-by-Step: Building Your Package

Here is the high-level workflow for a clean setup.

4. Using the Management Reports Tool

  1. 1

    Navigate to Reports

    In QuickBooks Online, go to ‘Reports’ then select ‘Management Reports’.

  2. 2

    Create a New Report Pack

    Click ‘New Management Report’ to start from a template or a blank slate.

  3. 3

    Customize Sections

    Add, remove, or reorder reports. Include custom notes, narratives, and a cover page.

Common Error: Unlinked Accounts

Ensure all accounts have a proper type assignment (Income, Expense, Bank, etc.) in your Chart of Accounts to appear correctly in reports.

5. Refining and Sharing

Final Review Checklist

  • Review report dates and periods
  • Ensure all custom narratives are clear
  • Check branding elements (logo, colors)
  • Verify accuracy of all financial figures

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