Skip to main content

SUMMER SAVINGS 90% OFF QuickBooks for 3 months* Ends 8/27

Buy now
Switch to QuickBooks and 70% off for 3 Months
Talk to Sales: 877-683-3280
Hours
Mon - Fri, 5am - 6pm PST
Sat - Sun, 7am - 4pm PST
Product support & help
Need help signing in?
J
jayeh
April 7, 2024
Solved

Why isn't my QuickBooks Online management report showing period or year comparisons?

  • April 7, 2024
  • 7 replies
  • 49 views

Hi,

 

I have created a set of management reports for our EOY accounts. I've included the Balance Sheet Comparison report and the P&L Comparison Report however when I do the reports it doesn't include the comparisons. I know they did last year but I can't get it to happen this year. Any help greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers

Best answer by Emma_P

If your Balance Sheet or Profit and Loss management report isn't showing a comparison column, you can turn that on from the report's edit panel. Here's how:

  1. Go to Reports, then select Management reports.
  2. Open the report package that contains your Balance Sheet or P&L report, then select Edit.
  3. In the Reports and charts section, find the report you want to compare and select Edit on it.
  4. Change the report type, title, or period if needed, and turn on the option to compare the previous year and/or previous period.
  5. Save your changes and preview the report to confirm the comparison column now shows up.

 

This is the same place you'd go to reorder reports, add a new report to the package, or delete one you don't need.

What if you don't see an option to turn on comparisons?

Since this is a QuickBooks Online web app, a browser cache or cookie issue can sometimes keep options like this from showing up correctly. It's worth clearing your browser's cache, and if that doesn't help, clearing Intuit-specific cookies:

  • Clear your browser's cache and restart it.
  • If the option still doesn't appear, clear just the Intuit-specific cookies (search "intuit" in your browser's cookie settings) and restart again.
  • Google Chrome tends to give the most consistent results with QuickBooks Online reports, so it's worth trying that if you're on a different browser.

 

Have more questions about setting up your management reports? Just ask below.

 

Resources:
Create, view, or edit a Management report in QuickBooks Online
Clear cache and cookies to fix issues when using QuickBooks

 

7 replies

A
AbegailS_
Level 6
April 7, 2024

Thank you for reaching out regarding the issue you are experiencing with your management reports in QuickBooks Online, @jayeh. I understand that you would like to include comparisons in your reports, and I'm here to assist you.

 

As I've replicated your concern here on my end, running a Profit and Loss and Balance sheet comparison report requires specific customizations to ensure data are showing accurately on the report.

 

To enable the comparison feature and include previous year or previous period data in your reports, please follow these steps:
 

  1. Navigate to the Reports tab in QuickBooks Online.
  2. Select the Management  reports tab.
  3. Look for the specific report under your management reports, such as the Balance Sheet or P&L report.
  4. Click on the report to open it.
  5. Once the report is open, locate the Reports and Chart page.
  6. On the Reports and Chart page, you will find checkboxes or options to enable comparisons.
  7. Check the box that allows you to compare the report with the previous year or previous period, depending on your desired comparison.
  8. Save the changes you made to the report settings.
  9. Re-run the report, and the comparisons from the previous year or previous period should now be included.

See screenshot below for your visual reference. 

 

 

I'll include this article for more details: View and edit management reports in QuickBooks Online

 

Moreover, you'll want to memorize the data added to your reports to save current modifications made from them. It also includes insights on how to set schedules and email information for a memorized report.
 

Your success in running reports with QuickBooks is our top priority. We're always here to help.

J
jayehAuthor
April 7, 2024

Hi thanks for the quick reply. I've gone to the page where you said. The checkbox however isn't there. Please see attached screenshot.

 

Thanks for helping

H
Heide DC
April 7, 2024

I appreciate you for giving additional information like this screenshot to resolve the financial management report issue, @jayeh.

We can perform troubleshooting steps when facing display preferences malfunctions might be caused by certain browser-related issues. This problem sometimes occurs with outdated browser versions, cookies, and cache files. Let's work together to resolve this so you can get back to your business.

 

In your case, since the options disappears from a comparison report, we can log in to your QBO account by logging in a private window. This way, it'll allow to begin a fresh start using these keyboard shortcuts by accessing an incognito window on supported browsers:

 

  • Safari: Control + Option + P
  • Google Chrome: Press Ctrl + Shift + N
  • Firefox or Internet Explorer: Ctrl + Shift + P
     

Once you have opened the browser window, log in to your QBO account and see if the program will run properly. If it does, proceed to clear your browser's cache. This process will remove and fix specific issues and help the program run optimally. Alternatively, you use other supported browsers to login QBO and generate your financial comparison management report for Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet.

 

Moreover, you can visit this article to know everything to get started about saving your customized reports in QBO: Memorize reports in QuickBooks Online.

 

If you have more questions or concerns about financial management report issue, don't hesitate to reply in the comment section. I'll be around and always here to lend a hand for you. Keep safe.

Emma_P
Emma_PCommunity ManagerAnswer
Community Manager
August 20, 2026

If your Balance Sheet or Profit and Loss management report isn't showing a comparison column, you can turn that on from the report's edit panel. Here's how:

  1. Go to Reports, then select Management reports.
  2. Open the report package that contains your Balance Sheet or P&L report, then select Edit.
  3. In the Reports and charts section, find the report you want to compare and select Edit on it.
  4. Change the report type, title, or period if needed, and turn on the option to compare the previous year and/or previous period.
  5. Save your changes and preview the report to confirm the comparison column now shows up.

 

This is the same place you'd go to reorder reports, add a new report to the package, or delete one you don't need.

What if you don't see an option to turn on comparisons?

Since this is a QuickBooks Online web app, a browser cache or cookie issue can sometimes keep options like this from showing up correctly. It's worth clearing your browser's cache, and if that doesn't help, clearing Intuit-specific cookies:

  • Clear your browser's cache and restart it.
  • If the option still doesn't appear, clear just the Intuit-specific cookies (search "intuit" in your browser's cookie settings) and restart again.
  • Google Chrome tends to give the most consistent results with QuickBooks Online reports, so it's worth trying that if you're on a different browser.

 

Have more questions about setting up your management reports? Just ask below.

 

Resources:
Create, view, or edit a Management report in QuickBooks Online
Clear cache and cookies to fix issues when using QuickBooks

 

Need QuickBooks guidance?
Log in to access expert advice and community support instantly.
Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement