How to Link Your American Business Card and Checking to QuickBooks Online? 

QuickBooks Online offers a powerful and time-saving feature called Online Banking (also known as Bank Feeds). By linking your accounts, QuickBooks can automatically download and categorize your bank and credit card transactions. Your task is simply to review and approve them. 

For a seamless experience, consider opening this guide in QuickBooks Online for a side-by-side view. 

Steps to connect your American express business account in quickBooks 

Important note for delegate users

If you’re a delegate user (not the account holder) authorized to link accounts in QuickBooks, ensure you select the American Express (Delegate) provider during setup. If you've previously linked your account under a different provider, disconnect it and reconnect using the American Express (Delegate) option to maintain proper bank feed services. 

Prerequisites before connecting accounts 

Before connecting your American Express Business account to QuickBooks, ensure the following: 

1. Active online banking: Your American Express account must have online banking enabled. 

2. QuickBooks subscription: Verify that your QuickBooks Online plan supports bank feeds (available in Essentials, Plus, and Advanced plans). 

3. Credentials: Ensure you have the correct American Express login information, including any multi-factor authentication setup. 

4. Account access: Confirm you have administrator or delegate access to the account you want to connect to. 

Step 1: Add an American express account in quickBooks 

1. Navigate to Settings (gear icon) and select Chart of Accounts. (Take me there) 

2. Click New to create a new account. 

3. From the dropdown menu, choose the appropriate Account Type (either Credit Card or Deposit Account). 

4. Assign a name to the account. 

5. Click Save and Close when finished. 

Step 2: Link your American express business card or checking account 

1. Navigate to the Transactions tab and click on Bank Transactions.  

• If this is your first time linking an account, click Connect on the landing page. 

• If you've previously connected accounts, click Link account instead. 

2. Use the search bar to find and select the appropriate American Express provider based on your user type: 

• Primary Account Holders: Search for American Express Business Credit Card & Checking (US). 

2. Delegate Users: Search for American Express (Delegate). 

3. Click Continue and sign in using your American Express user ID and password. Follow any additional security steps as prompted. 

4. Select the accounts you wish to connect to QuickBooks. 

5. Assign each account to the corresponding account you created in Step 1. 

6. Choose the transaction download date range. 

7. Click Connect to complete the process. 

Managing your linked American express accounts 

Once your accounts are connected, QuickBooks will automatically download your transactions. You can review, categorize, and match these transactions in the Transactions tab without manually entering data. 

Additional notes

• Each QuickBooks company can be linked to one American Express Business login, but multiple accounts under that login can be connected. 

• For users with both personal and business American Express accounts, link them individually by repeating the above steps. 

By following these steps, you can streamline your workflow and enjoy the efficiency of automated transaction management in QuickBooks Online. 

Benefits of connecting your American express account  

1. Save time: Automate transaction entry, reducing manual effort.  

2. Improve accuracy: Minimize errors and maintain precise financial records.  

3. Tax preparation made easy: Automatically track deductible expenses and generate reports for filing taxes.  

4. Gain insights: Use QuickBooks’ reporting features to analyze your financial data and make informed decisions.  

Regular maintenance for accuracy  

To keep your records up-to-date:  

• Reconcile accounts monthly to ensure accuracy.  

• Delete or merge duplicate transactions as needed.  

• Review uncategorized transactions periodically to avoid discrepancies.  

By following these steps and utilizing the advanced features, you can streamline your financial workflow, enhance accuracy, and focus on growing your business.  

Conclusion 

While connecting your American Express Business account to QuickBooks Online is a straightforward process that offers significant time-saving benefits, it's important to ensure that your accounting practices remain accurate and efficient over the long term. If you prefer a more hands-off approach, or if you find managing your finances and QuickBooks integration challenging, hiring a professional accountant could be the right choice for you. An experienced accountant can help you not only link your accounts seamlessly but also provide ongoing support with reconciliation, tax preparation, and financial insights to optimize your business's financial health. By outsourcing this task to an expert, you can focus on growing your business while ensuring your financial records are meticulously managed and up to date. 

FAQs 

1. Why should I connect my American Express account to QuickBooks Online?

Connecting your American Express account to QuickBooks Online allows for automatic transaction downloads, eliminating manual data entry. This ensures accurate financial records, simplifies expense tracking, and enhances your ability to reconcile transactions easily. 

2. Can I link multiple American Express accounts?

Yes, you can link multiple accounts under the same American Express login. For example, you can link both your American Express Business Credit Card and checking account. 

3. Do I need to be an administrator to link an account?

Yes, you must have administrator or delegate access to the American Express account to link it to QuickBooks Online. 

4. What are the benefits of connecting my American Express account to QuickBooks?

The connection offers several advantages including automatic transaction imports, simplified reconciliation, and better expense tracking. It also helps reduce errors and saves time