Hello @Jshoplist,
You'll need to create the item first to enter a transaction or enter an initial purchase of the item. Let me guide you how.
- Go to Lists, then Item List.
- Scroll down towards the Item drop-down, then New.
- Enter the item information, under Inventory Information section type in the opening or initial quantity (On Hand).
- Click OK.
After entering the quantity (On Hand), you'll no longer need to use the inventory adjustment. This also applies when you create the purchase transaction of the item manually. Please see this article for more information about adjusting your inventory quantity or value in QuickBooks Desktop.
In case you encounter negative inventory, please check this article for details: Fix negative inventory issues in QuickBooks Desktop.
Feel free to comment anytime if you have other questions or concerns. I'd be around to help. Thanks for jumping in and have a wonderful day.
