Starting Up Invoices

Question

I have at least 3 types of client.  Each require different quantity of information.  Insurance invoice needs most, Business client varied amount of information and Private owners least amount.

I work full-time and the time difference means that I can only use chat 1 day a week to get instructional support.

Was going through how to use the available options for creating an invoice template in the chat facility.  I had created a custom category and tried a mock-up. 2 Error messages appear and as I cannot work out how to handle the information in the error messages I cannot even preview.

1st error - Category required

2nd error - Tax code required

As our business has not reached minimum income to register for GST,  N-t is (I think) applied to custom categories.  I am thinking that MYOB doesn't accept this and wants it anyway....

Any assistance between today and next Monday when I can hook up with chat.  :)

Emptyshed · Answer

Hi Princess

Thank you for attempting to reply to my query.  As I stated, I only have Mondays to chat to someone about issues or receive guidance with setting up our MYOB to cater to our business.  Unfortunately, as my husband cannot drive for 3 months, I am his driver for one of my 2 days off.  This meant I only had approximately 1hr to hook up to the chat line.

I did work out from the link Bernadette sent, that the probable reason for the error codes was that if you put something on a line it thinks that it is an inventory item or income producing entry, therefore requires a category and tax code. This is problematic in a lot of ways for our business.

For Description there is a lot that is happening for each service provided, and 1 line is not enough for even a basic invoice (basic meaning least info required).  For transport of a vehicle for a private customer, From and To would be appropriate, Reason - general movement or breakdown - Identification - either by vehicle description or registration plate.

For my attempt at incorporating similar information set out in my own invoice, (1st attempt was for our primary business client).

There are 3 types of service 2 are for their insurance jobs and 1 for their private clients.  Vehicles that are right offs, have 2 possible destinations. Their costs associated with each vehicle must be identified, therefore our invoice needs to reflect which vehicle, which claim, and where it went.  Initially invoices were created for each vehicle. As time passed, it was decided that 1 invoice would reflect all vehicles moved during a 7-day period on one invoice.

The reason the invoice came up with an error was, my first line was the destination of that vehicle. The second line had the identification of the bike (can be make, model, year - any or all identifications) and the Claim # associated with the vehicle.

On my invoice there is a column for each - Description, Rego, Claim #.  I have learnt, with the links provided by Bernadette, that the columns can be renamed.  This has almost solved my dilemmas, except for the destination line.

Right now, my head is starting to spin and each day or week that passes I am further behind in my goal to be up to date with the back-office requirements.  I need assistance to set this up.

Why is there only an Eastern State based chat line?  Besides a full-time job, with train commute of 1.5hrs, and 1 week-day to hook up with chat assistance (fortunately my week is Tuesday to Saturday .... If i was Monday to Friday ....well I would not be able to take advantage of my preferred interaction) a partner that wants to ensure the simple (!) process of invoicing clients is not overtaking my availabe time and dealing with a 61yo scatter brain, I have found "Chatting" to be quickest, easiest and non-intrusive method to assist in quite a few situations.

Right now, i am going to have a break from this, and have another go tomorrow.  Again, thank you for your assistance.

Regards

Kath

Princess_R · Answer

Hi @Emptyshed,

Welcome to the Community Forum!

You’re totally smashing it by customising your invoice templates for each client, all while handling a hectic full-time gig and not much backup, credit to you for that! Those errors usually show up when something like an account (or category) isn’t linked to an item or line in your invoice, or if you’ve missed adding a tax code for your item or category.

Since MYOB needs a tax code on every invoice and category, have a quick look at your category setup and make sure they all have a tax code in place. If you’re not registered for GST, the N-T (No Tax) code is your usual go-to, but just to be on the safe side, have a chat with your accountant to confirm the best tax code for your business.

Cheers,

Princess