What version of QB online do we need to have supplier invoices separate from payments? We currently have Simple start but know we need to upgrade, but not sure to what

Hello, hello-inspirexl-.

I'll chime in and help you decide on the version that lets you manage supplier invoices or bills. 

You need to have at least Essentials to record supplier bills or invoices.

Though, you might want to take a look at this product comparison article to help you decide which plan you want to upgrade to: Product feature comparison for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop.

When you're ready, we can go to the Account and settings page to upgrade your plan. Here's how to do it: 

1. Go to the Gear icon, then select Account and settings.
2. Click the Billing & Subscription tab.
3. Under QuickBooks, select Upgrade you plan.
4. Select either the Plus or Essentials option (depending on what you need). 
5. Follow the prompts to continue with the upgrade process.

You might also find this article helpful if you need more details with the upgrade process: Upgrade or downgrade your QuickBooks Online subscription.

In regards to the separate payments, can you elaborate more on what you're trying to do with the supplier invoices and their corresponding payments? I'd appreciate if you could provide more details about it so I can 

Just to give a bit of context, supplier bills will be linked to a payment entry when it is paid. Though, both entries will show as separate when you view the supplier's transaction list. 

After upgrading, we can create a bill by clicking on the + New button then selecting Bill. 

Take a look at this article if you need help recording your entries: Record commonly-used transactions.

There are preset reports you can use to view your financial data. If you have the time, you can review this article to help you familiarise with the details: Run reports in QuickBooks Online.

Need more help with managing your supplier transactions? Or do you have any other questions about the features in QuickBooks Online?

Let me know by replying below and I'll be there to help you out. I'll see you again in the Community space soon.