From be2b3318e4826638e38ca62fc4883a929e529245 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Martin Trigaux Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2015 16:31:26 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] [ADD] accounting: overview of the invoice process --- .../customer_invoices/overview.rst | 138 ++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 138 insertions(+) diff --git a/accounting/receivables/customer_invoices/overview.rst b/accounting/receivables/customer_invoices/overview.rst index eabb8dc7c..5f851e4c0 100644 --- a/accounting/receivables/customer_invoices/overview.rst +++ b/accounting/receivables/customer_invoices/overview.rst @@ -1,3 +1,141 @@ ================================= Overview of the invoicing process ================================= + +Depending on your business and the application you use, there are +different ways to automate the customer invoice creation in Odoo. +Usually, draft invoices are created by the system (with information +coming from other documents like sales order or contracts) and +accountant just have to validate draft invoices and send the invoices in +batch (by regular mail or email). + +Depending on your business, you may opt for one of the following way to +create draft invoices: + +Sales +===== + +Sales Order ‣ Invoice +--------------------- + +In most companies, salespeople create quotations that become sales order +once they are validated. Then, draft invoices are created based on the +sales order. You have different options like: + +- Invoice manually: use a button on the sale order to trigger the draft + invoice + +- Invoice before delivery: invoice the full order before triggering the + delivery order + +- Invoice based on delivery order: see next section + +Invoice before delivery is usually used by the eCommerce application +when the customer pays at the order and we deliver afterwards. +(pre-paid) + +For most other use cases, it's recommended to invoice manually. It +allows the salesperson to trigger the invoice on demand with options: +invoice the whole order, invoice a percentage (advance), invoice some +lines, invoice a fixed advance. + +This process is good for both services and physical products. + +.. todo:: Read more: *Invoice based on sales orders.* + +Sales Order ‣ Delivery Order ‣ Invoice +-------------------------------------- + +Retailers and eCommerce usually invoice based on delivery orders, +instead of sales order. This approach is suitable for businesses where +the quantities you deliver may differs from the ordered quantities: +foods (invoice based on actual Kg). + +This way, if you deliver a partial order, you only invoice for what you +really delivered. If you do back orders (deliver partially and the rest +later), the customer will receive two invoices, one for each delivery +order. + +.. todo:: Read more: *Invoice based on delivery orders.* + +eCommerce Order ‣ Invoice +------------------------- + +An eCommerce order will also trigger the creation of the order when it +is fully paid. If you allow paying orders by check or wire transfer, +Odoo only creates an order and the invoice will be triggered once the +payment is received. + +Contracts +========= + +Regular Contracts ‣ Invoices +---------------------------- + +If you use contracts, you can trigger invoice based on time and material +spent, expenses or fixed lines of services/products. Every month, the +salesperson will trigger invoice based on activities on the contract. + +Activities can be: + +- fixed products/services, coming from a sale order linked to this contract + +- materials purchased (that you will re-invoiced) + +- time and material based on timesheets or purchases (subcontracting) + +- expenses like travel and accommodation that you re-invoice to the customer + +You can invoice at the end of the contract or trigger intermediate +invoices. This approach is used by services companies that invoice +mostly based on time and material. For services companies that invoice +on fix price, they use a regular sales order. + +.. todo:: Read more: + - *How to invoice based on time and material?* + - *How to manage contracts and invoicing plans?* + +Recurring Contracts ‣ Invoices +------------------------------ + +For subscriptions, an invoice is triggered periodically, automatically. +The frequency of the invoicing and the services/products invoiced are +defined on the contract. + +.. todo:: Read more: *Subscription based invoicing.* + +Others +====== + +Creating an invoice manually +---------------------------- + +Users can also create invoices manually without using contracts or a +sales order. It's a recommended approach if you do not need to manage +the sales process (quotations), or the delivery of the products or +services. + +Even if you generate the invoice from a sales order, you may need to +create invoices manually in exceptional use cases: + +- if you need to create a refund + +- If you need to give a discount + +- if you need to change an invoice created from a sales order + +- if you need to invoice something not related to your core business + +Specific modules +---------------- + +Some specific modules are also able to generate draft invoices: + +- **membership**: invoice your members every year + +- **repairs**: invoice your after-sale services + +.. rst-class:: text-muted + +| Written by Fabien Pinckaers (Odoo) +| Proofread by Johan Bosma (Onestein)