Add a new location or department from a transaction

Company Settings 1 min read Updated Aug 14, 2026
On this page
  1. Before you start
  2. Steps
  3. What happens next
  4. Notes
  5. Related

Create a location or department while you are coding a transaction. It is added to QuickBooks Online and selected on that transaction.

Before you start

  • Location or department tracking must be turned on for that company in QuickBooks Online. If it is not, the plus button is greyed out and its tooltip reads Department disabled.
  • Client users only see the plus button if the accountant turns on Client Settings → Location/Department on the company’s General settings tab.

Steps

  1. Open the company’s transactions, find the transaction, and click the chevron at the far left of the row to expand it.

    Expand chevron at the left of the first transaction row

  2. In the expanded panel, click the green + next to Location/Department.

    Green plus button beside the Location/Department picker in the expanded transaction row

  3. Type the name in Name in the Create a new Department/Location window.

    Name field of the Create a new Department/Location window filled in with Albuquerque

  4. Click Create, then click Approve or Save on the transaction row to send the change to QuickBooks Online.

    Create button in the Create a new Department/Location window

What happens next

  • A New Department Created message confirms it was written to QuickBooks Online.
  • It is selected on the transaction and available in the Location column for that company from then on.

Notes

  • Location and department are the same field. QuickBooks Online lets each company choose the label it prefers, which is why you see both words in Debits.
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