# How to Run a Balance Sheet Comparison in QuickBooks Online

A Balance Sheet Comparison puts your current position next to a prior year or period so you can see how much cash, receivables, debt, and equity have changed. Here's how to build one (and add the $ change and % change columns) in the modern view.

## Steps

### 1. Open the Balance Sheet report

Go to Reports and, under Business overview, open "Balance Sheet." (There is also a ready-made "Balance Sheet Comparison" report in the same list that opens with the prior-year column already added.)

### 2. Open the "Compare to" dropdown

Set your as-of date, then open the "Compare to" dropdown. Choose a comparison period (Previous year, Previous Period, or a Custom period), and QuickBooks adds a second column as of that earlier date.

### 3. Add change columns and review

With a comparison period selected, tick $ change and % change to see the dollar and percentage movement in every account. The report shows both dates side by side plus the change columns.

## FAQ

### How many periods can I compare on a Balance Sheet?

The modern view adds one comparison period at a time (previous year, previous period, or a custom date). To compare three or more dates side by side, pull the report into Google Sheets. See the linked guide.

### Why is the comparison column dated differently than my report period?

A Balance Sheet is an as-of snapshot, so the comparison column is dated as of the end of the prior period. For a Previous year comparison it's the same date one year earlier.