Creating Invoices
Fiskl offers a range of invoicing options, from basic to sophisticated. This guide will walk you through creating a basic invoice and then explore each component in detail for more advanced features.
Before You Startβ
While you can set up everything as you create your first invoice, it's helpful to have the following in place:
- Complete your
Company Settings, ensuring your address is correct - Create a client
- Set up a payment method (either an integrated payment gateway like Stripe or a manual payment method)
Creating a Basic Invoiceβ
Try our interactive demo to create a basic invoice
Invoice Components in Detailβ
Let's examine each part of the invoice for a comprehensive understanding:
Company Informationβ
The invoice pulls the following details from your Company Settings:
- Company name
- Company address
- Company ID or Registration number
You can customize your address layout in Company Settings to change how it appears on invoices and quotes.
Client Detailsβ
A client is required for invoice creation. You can add a client in advance or while creating the invoice. The invoice uses:
- Client name
- Client address
- Client email (including cc and bcc)
- Tax/VAT Registration number
- Defaults (currency and time rate)
The client's Tax/VAT Registration number is shown if set in the client profile.
Invoice Numberβ
The initial format is INV-0001, incrementing with each new invoice.
Learn more about customizing your invoice number
You can customize this format, however there are limitations:
- Auto-increment is only possible if the number ends with a digit
- Date-based formats (e.g., 2024-01-0001) require manual updates at each period change
To change the format, simply edit the invoice number when creating a new invoice. Subsequent invoices will follow this new pattern.
Invoice Datesβ
Invoices include three dates:
- Invoice date: Creation date
- Due date: Payment deadline
- Sales date: (Optional)
The standard due date is set to 7 days after the invoice date. You can adjust this in Invoice & quote settings.
Invoice Statusβ
Invoices follow this status flow:
Invoice Statusβ
Invoices follow this status flow:
Status changes occur automatically based on the due date and payments received.
Stylingβ
Customize invoice appearance using themes, colors, and fonts in your template settings.
Changes to templates affect all invoices using that template.
Line Itemsβ
TODO - FIX LINK
Create line items directly on the invoice or in advance. Types include:
Products and Services are templates, while Expenses, Time & Mileage become billable when added to an invoice.
Tax & VATβ
TODO - FIX LINK
Toggle between tax-inclusive and tax-exclusive pricing using the tax +/- button.
Display Your Tax Number on the Invoiceβ
Your TAX/VAT number will be automatically added to the invoice if you include a line item with tax. However, there are several reasons why your tax number may not be displaying:
- The checkbox for displaying the tax number on your
Tax Numbersettings is not checked. - In your
Templates & Brands, the checkbox to hide the tax number has been checked.
Discounts and Depositsβ
Add invoice-level discounts or request deposits as either fixed amounts or percentages.
See examples for fixed and percentage discounts
To make the amount entered a percentage just add a percentage sign at the end of the value. (e.g., 20%)
- $100 discount = 100
- 15% discount = 15%
Currencyβ
Change the invoice currency by selecting the currency name next to the total. The initial currency is set to your company currency unless the client has a different currency specified.
You can adjust exchange rates for line items in different currencies.
Languageβ
Choose from over 60 languages for invoices & quotes. This affects the invoice, standard emails, and customer-facing screens.
TODO - FIX LINK //: # (You can customize your languages in [Invoice and quote](../../Settings-Configurations/invoice-and-quote-settings.md) settings.)
Additional Informationβ
Add extra details like PO Numbers to your invoice.
Notesβ
Include custom notes on each invoice or set default notes in Invoice & quote settings.
Payment Termsβ
Set standard payment terms in Invoice & quote settings. The due date is calculated based on these terms.
Payment Schedulesβ
Create payment plans for single invoices with 2 to 12 instalments, using either flat amounts or percentages.
Use payment schedules for short-term instalments. For long-term recurring payments, consider using recurring invoices.
Remember: Fiskl's invoicing features are designed to be flexible and accommodate a wide range of business needs. Experiment with different options to find the setup that works best for your business.