Creating Service Items

Creating Service Items

Service Items refer to non-physical services provided by your business, such as consulting, labor, maintenance, or repairs. These items are not tracked in inventory but require proper accounting for billing and financial reporting.

Viewing the List of Items

To view the list of Items: Go to Lists > Items.



From the Items List View, you can:
  • Create a new service item or Copy an existing one.
  • Show or run an Item Quick Report, Price Matrix, or Audit Log for the selected service item.
  • Attach files to the selected Service Item.
  • Export the Items List to Excel, PDF, or other formats.
  • Manage Columns by adding, removing, or reordering them.
  • Refresh the Items list.
  • Create multiple custom views using filters, sorting, ordering, and conditional appearance settings.

Creating a New Service Item

To create a new Service Item:
  1. Go to Inventory > Items, or List > Items. 
  2. Click Create > New.
  3. Enter the Item Code. Assign a unique code or identifier for the service item.
  4. Enter the service name or Description. Provide a descriptive name or detailed description of the service item.
  5. Select 'Service' as the Item Type.
  6. Enter the Item Category to classify the service item.
  7. Set the Price of the service item. For a more complex pricing structure using Price Levels and/or Categories, use the Price Matrix.
  8. Enter the Cost.
  9. Go to the Setup Tab, and set the service item default Expense account, default Sales account, default Cost of Service Sold account, Universal Product Code (UPC), and the Decimal Precision (Price & Cost).
    1. Default Expense Account: Select the default account used for expenses related to this service item.
    2. Default Sales Account: Specify the account where sales revenue from this service item will be recorded.
    3. Default Cost of Service Sold Account: Choose the account where costs related to services sold will be recorded.
    4. Universal Product Code (UPC): Enter the UPC for the service item, if applicable.
    5. Decimal Precision (Price & Cost): Set the number of decimal places for price and cost calculations.
  10. Go to the Units of Measure (UoM) Tab and set the service item default Units of Measure Set (e.g., Hour, Minutes, Sessions) the default Sales Unit, and the default Purchase Unit.
  11. To save the service item, click the Save/Sales and Close button.



For a visual guide on creating a service item in CustomBooks™, watch the short video below or go to this video link.


Create a Copy of an Existing Service Item

If you are creating a service item similar to another existing service item, you may copy it to save time. You can copy an existing item from the Items List View and by opening the Item Card.

Copy a Service Item from the Items List View

  1. In the Items List View (Inventory > Items), right click the item > Create > Copy; Or highlight/select the service item > click the More Actions button in the top-right corner > Create > Copy.
  2. Change the service item information that is different from the existing original item (the Item Code must different and unique).
  3. Save/Save and Close.



Copy a Service Item from the Item Card

  1. Go to Inventory > Items > then open the service item that you would like to copy.
  2. On the Item Card, go to the More Actions button located in the top-left corner > select Copy.
  3. Change the service item information that is different from the existing original item (the Item Code must different and unique).
  4. Save/Save and Close.


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