Multi-entity accounting definition: Multi-entity accounting involves managing the finances of a company that operates under multiple legal entities.
Whether you run a franchise or have multiple businesses, multi-entity allows you to establish entity accounts. The value of multi-entity is that you can have different accounts share the same customization. Furthermore, you can customize screens to aggregate data from all entities.
Even though the entities have new company account names and separate QuickBooks databases, in reality they are all syncing to the same back-end as all other entities.
NOTE: Entity accounts must all be on QuickBooks Desktop or all on QuickBooks Online. They cannot differ in online or desktop versions. Thus, if the first entity is on QuickBooks Online, the remaining entities must also be on a QuickBooks Online account.
Currently, multi-entity is not available out-of-the-box, and requires advanced customization. This may include, but is not limited to:
Updating print templates to support multiple entities.
Updating email templates to support multiple entities.
Reviewing shared or existing dropdowns.
Reviewing shared resources & users.
Updating email settings and business logic for emailing transactions
This article will cover the basics of multi-entity, but does not detail how to customize your account.
How Multi-entity works
Multi-entity allows for more than one QuickBooks database to sync to the same Method company account.
However, data from each QuickBooks account will be filtered by entity.
When a Method account is first created, it syncs with a QuickBooks account. This forms one entity, which we'll call
EntityA.When a second entity is added,
EntityB, it will sync to a different QuickBooks account.If a third entity is added,
EntityC, it, too, will sync to a different QuickBooks account.
When a user signs into the entity they have been invited to, they will only see the QuickBooks (and CRM) data for that specific entity.
Even though the entities have different company account names, in reality they are all syncing to the same back-end Method account.
📌 NOTE: In order to manage and add new entities, a user needs Super Admin access.
Who is Multi-entity for?
Franchisors who have many franchisees, each with their own QuickBooks database. In this scenario,
Franchisor can design screens that are instantly and universally available to all of their franchisees, without the need to copy screens individually into each franchisees account.
Each franchisee syncs their QuickBooks database to Method and can only see their own work.
Franchisors can create screens to search, insert, and update records in multiple entity accounts, without the need to sign out and back in.
Franchisors are able to create consolidated reports.
Companies who have more than one QuickBooks database.
If you have multiple businesses, you can share data and screens across those businesses.
⚠️ NOTE: Multi-entity is permanent and entities cannot be separated from a multi-entity account. If you want split an entity into its own account, not part of a multi-entity account, this cannot be done.
How to Enable Multi-entity
Login as the Admin to your Mehtod account.
In the upper-right preferences icon, select Account Settings.
Click Multi-entity.
Check the checkbox that says:
I understand that enabling multi-entity management is permanent and includes additional multi-entity pricing with a dedicated support & customization plan (see pricing details).Click Enable multi-entity.
You will be asked to confirm your action. Click Enable feature.
You, the user signed in, will immediately become a Super Admin. A Super Admin is a user who has access to manage entities.
This will take you to the next step: Add an Entity.
Add an Entity
If not already in a multi-entity account, log in to the account with a user who has Super admin permissions.
Go to Account Settings ⇨ Multi-entity Management.
Click Add entity button.
In the Entity name field, type out of the name of the new entity and click Create Entity button. The name must consist of letters and numbers only, no spaces.
A popup will inform you the new entity has been created. To complete the account setup process, you must log into your new entity, complete the setup process, and connect your QuickBooks account. Click Complete setup to access that new account.
Follow the steps on the screen to connect the entity account with its corresponding QuickBooks account.
How do I assign a user to more than one entity?
In order to assign a user to other entities, you will need Super Admin permissions.
In the upper-right profile icon, select Account Settings.
Click Users and select a user from the list.
For multi-entity accounts, there is an additional section called Entity settings. Click that tab.
In the Entities dropdown, select all the entities the user can be part of.
Hit the Save all changes button when you've finished.
What is Super Admin permission?
A user with Super Admin permissions can manage a multi-entity Method account.
When a user has Super Admin permissions:
They can access and manage entities.
They can give other users Super Admin permissions from the Users section in Account Settings.
They will be subscribed to every package from every entity in the multi-entity account.
Multi-entity FAQ
Q: How does Pricing work?
Please see Multi-entity Pricing.
Q: How can I revert back to a normal Method Account?
Once multi-entity is enabled on an account you cannot revert back to a regular account.
Q: What happens if I cancel an entity?
If you cancel an entity, you will no longer be able to log into that entity, or have data sync to that entity.
However, the data recorded for that entity stays in the database, and can be viewed or modified. Unlike a non-multi-entity database, the data is not deleted.
Please view the article on Cancelling Your Method Account, noting the steps are the same, but the data isn't deleted.
⚠️ NOTE: You are will be unable to cancel the original account which was first enabled for multi-entity.
Q: Is Multi-entity available on Method:Classic?
Multi-entity is available on our older, classic version of Method. If you are still using this version, or wish to find out more information, please see our article "Multi-tenancy for Franchises".