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Create a new company file with a blank chart of accounts

When you start a new company file, QuickBooks creates a preset chart of accounts based on your type of business. The chart of accounts list can be customized by adding, modifying, or deleting accounts as needed.

To create a new company file with a blank chart of accounts, select the options that will minimize the number of preset accounts that QuickBooks creates. QuickBooks will still create a chart of accounts for the new company file, but it will contain only a few accounts, which can be deleted or marked inactive.

 

Detailed instructions
Steps for QuickBooks 2012

To create a new company file with the fewest possible accounts, use either of the following methods.

Use Express Start (quicker)

  1. Choose File > New Company.
  2. Click Express Start.
  3. Create the new company file:
    1. Enter the information about your business.
      1. Enter your Company Name
      2. Enter your Industry
      3. Enter your Company Type
    2. Click Continue.
    3. Enter your business contact information, and then click Create Company File
    4. Click Start Working.
  4. Choose Lists > Chart of Accounts.
  5. Click an account in the list once to select it.
  6. Click the Account button and select Delete Account:
    • If QuickBooks prompts you to confirm deleting the account, click OK.
    • If QuickBooks displays a message that the account cannot be deleted:
      1. Click OK.
      2. Click the Account button and select Make Account Inactive.
  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all accounts have been deleted or marked inactive.
Use the Advanced Setup (more detailed)

  1. Choose File > New Company.
  2. Click Advanced Setup.
  3. Enter your information about your company in the first window, and then click Next.
  4. In the Select your industry window, select General Product-based Business or General Service-based Business depending on your business type, and then click Next.
  5. Continue entering information about your company in each of the interview windows, clicking Next after each one.
  6. When prompted, select a file name and location for the new company file, and click Save.
  7. Continue entering information about your company in each of the interview windows, clicking Next after each one.
  8. In the Review income and expense accounts window, click to clear the checkmark next to each account that has one, and then click Next.
  9. Click Go to setup .
  10. Click Start Working.
  11. Choose Lists > Chart of Accounts.
  12. Click an account in the list once to select it.
  13. Click the Account button and select Delete Account:
    • If QuickBooks prompts you to confirm deleting the account, click OK.
    • If QuickBooks displays a message that the account cannot be deleted:
      1. Click OK.
      2. Click the Account button and select Make Account Inactive.
  14. Repeat steps 12 and 13 until all accounts have been deleted or marked inactive.
Steps for QuickBooks 2011 and earlier

To create a new company file with the fewest possible accounts, use either of the following methods.

Skip the new company interview (quicker)
  1. Choose File > New Company.
  2. Click the Skip Interview button.
  3. Create the new company file:
    • QuickBooks 2007 and later:
      1. Enter the information about your company in each of the first 3 windows, clicking Next after each one.
      2. In the Select your industry window, select Other/None, and then click Next.
      3. Click Finish.
      4. Select a file name and location for the new company file, and then click Save.
    • QuickBooks 2006:
      1. Enter the information about your company in the first window, and then click Next.
      2. Select (No Type) in the company type list, and then click Next.
      3. Select a file name and location for the new company file, and then click Save.
  4. Choose Lists > Chart of Accounts.
  5. Click an account in the list once to select it.
  6. Click the Account button and select Delete Account:
    • If QuickBooks prompts you to confirm deleting the account, click OK.
    • If QuickBooks displays a message that the account cannot be deleted:
      1. Click OK.
      2. Click the Account button and select Make Account Inactive.
  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all accounts have been deleted or marked inactive.
Use the new company interview (more detailed)
  1. Choose File > New Company.
  2. Click the Start Interview button.
  3. Create the new company file:
    • QuickBooks 2007 and later:
      1. Enter the information about your company in the first window, and then click Next.
      2. In the Select your industry window, select General Product-based Business or General Service-based Business depending on your business type, and then click Next.
      3. Continue entering information about your company in each of the interview windows, clicking Next after each one.
      4. In the Add your bank account window, select No, and then click Next.
      5. In the Review income and expense accounts window, click to clear the checkmark next to each account that has one, and then click Next.
      6. Click Finish.
    • QuickBooks 2006:
      1. Begin entering information about your company in each of the interview windows, clicking Next after each one.
      2. In the Select your industry window, select Other/None, and then click Next.
      3. Continue entering information about your company in each of the interview windows, clicking Next after each one.
      4. In the Add your bank account window, select No, and then click Next.
      5. In the Review expense accounts window, select No, and then click Next.
      6. In the Review income accounts window, select No, and then click Next.
      7. Click Finish.
  4. Choose Lists > Chart of Accounts.
  5. Click an account in the list once to select it.
  6. Click the Account button and select Delete Account:
    • If QuickBooks prompts you to confirm deleting the account, click OK.
    • If QuickBooks displays a message that the account cannot be deleted:
      1. Click OK.
      2. Click the Account button and select Make Account Inactive.
  7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until all accounts have been deleted or marked inactive.

If this solution does not resolve the issue, you can read discussions and post messages and questions relating to your issue on the Intuit QuickBooks Community site for free or you can contact a technical support agent for additional guidance. Fees may apply.

KB ID# HOW12392
5/16/2012 1:17:07 PM
QYPPRDQBKSWS02 9046 Pro 2010 128a56