The Step By Step Guide to Set Up Multi-Location Inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise

Why would you need Multi-Location inventory?

My clients use Multi-Location inventory to keep track of their inventory items distributed across various locations, and/or they utilize the bin location feature to pinpoint the precise whereabouts of items within a specific site. These locations may include physical warehouses, company vehicles housing inventory, consignment locations, or inventory held at external manufacturers. For instance, consider an HVAC company with three vans, each stocked with inventory parts. You can establish your inventory site by naming each van and optionally assigning bin locations, followed by setting up your inventory to display the quantity on hand for each part.

Multi-location inventory helps businesses track inventory spread across various locations, such as warehouses, vehicles, or external vendors. For example, an HVAC company can monitor inventory in multiple vans.

Steps to Enable Multi-Location Inventory

To get started, we need to enable the multiple locations feature within QuickBooks Enterprise. Keep in mind that multiple Inventory with Bin Locations is only available with a QuickBooks Enterprise Platinum Edition Subscription. If you currently own Gold or Silver you would need to upgrade to the QuickBooks Platinum or Diamond Edition. Contact us to get the best possible pricing and help with implementation, setup, and training

1. Go to the "Edit" menu.
2. Select "Preferences."
3. Choose "Items and Inventory" on the left side navigation toolbar.
4. Click on the "Company Preferences" tab at the top.
5. Choose the "Advanced Inventory Settings" button.
6. Under the "Multiple Inventory Locations" tab, ensure that the "Multiple Inventory Sites" feature is enabled. You can also enable notifications for duplicate inventory transfer numbers or transactions that would cause inventory to go negative.
7. Checkmark the option to track bin locations within a row, shelf, or bin location if desired. Enable notifications to warn that would cause your inventory to go negative. Keep in mind that when you enable Bin Location Tracking in QuickBooks, all your items will be moved to an unassigned site until bins are created.
8. Click "OK" as many times as prompted to complete setting up your preferences.

Setting Up Locations and Bin Locations

Once enabled, you can create and assign locations (like warehouses or vehicles) and even assign bin locations within them for more precise tracking.

Inventory Transfer Between Locations

QuickBooks Enterprise makes it easy to transfer inventory between locations, whether for internal movements or reorders. This can be done through the Inventory Transfer function.

Setting Up Reorder Points

With Multi-Location Inventory, you can define reorder points globally or per site, ensuring you're never short on stock where it’s needed the most.

Tracking Inventory by Site

Using custom reports such as the "Quantity on Hand by Site" and "Inventory Valuation by Site," users can track inventory levels across all locations, ensuring data accuracy.

Bin Location Tracking

Bin Location Tracking allows for even more detailed inventory management. It provides an additional layer of granularity, showing where exactly items are stored in your inventory locations.

Conclusion

Setting up multi-location inventory in QuickBooks Enterprise improves inventory management across multiple sites, enhancing efficiency and control. With this setup, you can easily track and manage stock, streamline transfers, and avoid inventory errors. For further assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.