Currently, ProAdvisor’s must take actions to allow clients to be directly billed. Soon, clients will be able to self-migrate away from wholesale billing.
I caution that clients might be unaware that they will lose any discounts passed on by the accounting firm if they take over wholesale billing. At this point, I am unaware if a client switches to direct billing if they can opt back into wholesale billing. As a firm that passes on wholesale discounts, we proactively reach out to clients and make them aware of the lost discount.
There are some cases this option would be the correct choice, such as leaving an accounting firm to opt into services elsewhere. However, it can be difficult for clients to leave some accounting firm that holds hostage a data file making it difficult to pass the role of bookkeeper, accountant, or advisor to another firm.
Starting soon, small business owners will be able to self-migrate directly inside QuickBooks Online.
Those firms who find it challenging to stay on top of client billing might be relieved on the flip-side clients who self-migrate may be unaware of the consequences. Since this is a new feature, I am unsure if there will be a notification email to the firm wholesaling the billing.
Self-migration is set to be a live feature available to all customers by the end of July 2021.
Knowing our clients are active in QuickBooks, we can be helping them by sending out notifications to hopefully eliminate confusion and additional fees. Now is the time for you to be reaching out to your clients before they 'opt-out'.