If you are trying to send the customer an invoice/receipt for the Retainer amount received or to be received, that is also a request, which I have already logged on your behalf.
Sean M[/QUOTE]
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I posted this to an old thread, but didn't get any response...
I see that these requests were made over a year ago and then again a few months ago. Is there any new news on this front? I generally always bill my clients 50% up front. They all require an invoice to submit in order to pay me. I've read some of the "work-arounds" with faking slips, etc. Those all seem like a big headache to do something so simple. Is there anyway to adjust the amount you are invoicing on a slip. For example, if the slip amount is $1000 can you edit that number in the invoice and just invoice $500 and it would keep the other $500 as unpaid? Any update on the progress would be appreciated.

isnt that what estimates are for? then you can just mark the down payment as a retainer...

Ideally, yes. But, in Billings you have to create a slip to create an invoice and you cannot invoice part of a slip. Once you mark down a payment as a retainer, it will make the slip payment paid so it will look like you have an extra payment. There is no way to invoice part of a job that has not yet been completed without "faking" slips.

forgive me if i seemed rude. i'm still new to this and i'm still trying to figure out retainers vs. payments!

I also bill 50% upfront, so I am eager to find a solution as well. intuitively i would expect billings to handle it like this:

create an estimate using blueprint slips.
create an estimate invoice.
client pays $xxx, enter as a payment (not retainer).
since estimated slips are not working slips, the payment shows as a negative balance in the account, indicating a retainer.

too bad it's not (apparently) that simple!

It's only an issue if you like to send the client an invoice for the 50% deposit (or retainer). If they pay without an invoice, then you don't have a problem. You can just enter the payment the way you wrote. But, I have a lot of clients that require an invoice to submit to their accounting department. And, billings doesn't have a way to invoice part of a job. (at least not easily)

This seems to have been a topic that people have been asking for for quite a long time. I was hoping someone from Billings could give an update as to whether this issue will be resolved anytime soon.

Hi all,
I also charge 50% before beginning projects so I just send the client an estimate [the printout is titled as a Work Order at the top] that calculates what the 50% amount due is, based on the total value of the estimate. They pay the 50% which I apply as a retainer [btw this kind of prepayment is really a retainer not an invoice payment, since I haven't invoiced them anything yet as I haven't done anything yet]. Then when the work is finished and it's time to invoice I simply apply the retainer to the invoice and their balance due is the invoice total minus the retainer.

I believe this is how Billings is meant to work and it makes sense to me. I wonder if the problem is in the semantics of not liking the word 'retainer'? The definition of a retainer is a fee paid in advance to someone in order to secure their services. Whereas an invoice is for work performed or products delivered; it's typically used for after the fact.
Please let me know if I've misunderstood your question! :-)

Take care,
Cynthia

Is there a way you could show me a sample of your estimates? I also provide my clients an estimate. Then when they agree to begin the job, I provide them with an invoice for the 50% deposit. Most of my clients require an invoice to submit to their accounting departments. Some people bill in thirds which would really require the ability to invoice part of a job. The way I've gotten around it at this point is to create a Pro Forma invoice and title it "Deposit Invoice" because the pro forma invoices don't register as invoices so I can still enter a retainer without it messing up the balance. But, it does seem odd that users have to find work arounds for the software to do something that is standard practice for many people.

In past postings, Billings employees have said they've put this in a request for future updates. But, I just updated to the new version and there doesn't seem to be anything new on this front.

Hi Jenn,
You can see my estimate output here. I created a fake project and put myself as the client to create this pdf for you to see.
I made my own Estimate template based on one of the built in ones, modifying it for my needs. But I think the real disconnect here is that I don't get how it makes sense to invoice for work that hasn't been done; in my opinion that's a Estimate [or Work Order, whichever verbiage is preferred], with a retainer/deposit requirement. Invoicing is something that's done after the work is done.

Take care,
Cynthia

Thanks for sharing this. It is helpful to see. The reason there is a need for the invoicing of the deposit is that many of my clients have accounting departments that require an invoice in order to cut checks. So, if I want them to pay me the deposit, I need to give them an invoice for the amount I want. Based on the number of people writing about this issue, it seems like fairly common practice. The previous software I used allowed for invoicing deposits. I think most do.

Jenn I too have large companies that require an invoice to get any prepayment. No invoice no money upfront. I have to create a slip and charge a flat rate for the amount and name it "deposit for..."
Once they pay I delete the slip and add it to the retainer.
Does anyone have a better way to do this???? I need a solution that is quicker then this!

USE THE ESTIMATE SLIPS

Could we re open this subject as this is a ridiculous situation.

I need to invoice a prepayment/retainer, call it what you like. No, I do not put it on the estimate as the client wants an invoice and that is that! An 'invoice' not an estimate.

Can this please be fixed.

If I come across as rude, sorry but this is a major oversight. Thanks.

I second this as something that just shouldn't need to require a "workaround."

What can we do?

This request has been languishing 3 years. It'd be nice to see an official representation on it. Here's another thread this began in a while back.

http://forums.marketcircle.com...583/m/3931099964/p/2

edit.. damn I thought this was a recent thread, but on re-reading noted that it was not.

Ridiculous you can't send the receipt for the Retainer.
I also have not figured out how to send an Invoice with the PAID stamp on it. I thought this was resolved as well after 2.5 years. I guess not. I must be missing something.
My quick workaround is taking a screenshot of the receipt shown in Billings. LOL. I know.