Using the Invoice Builder

Want more control over your invoices? Pick and choose each item with the Invoice Builder

Doug Schmierer avatar
Written by Doug Schmierer
Updated over a week ago

Note: Invoice Builder is a custom feature which is turned off by default. To activate it on your firm, contact LeanLaw support

By default, LeanLaw uses "step by step" invoicing combines all billable entries into relevant categories, such as time entries and expenses, giving you the option to exclude all items of any category from an invoice by deselecting their checkbox. This keeps things simple and quick. The Invoice Builder makes things a little more complicated in exchange for a lot more control over your billing. Here's what it looks like.

An image of the Invoice Builder interface with sample entries

Notice that your billable entries are still sorted by type for you, and all entries are automatically selected for invoice drafting. This means that you can still immediately click the Create Draft button to send all items forward, using the Invoice Builder the same way you would use our default invoicing workflow. However, the Invoice Builder also creates checkboxes beside each entry. This gives you the option to deselect individual items from an invoice, saving them for a different invoice or further review. Let's take a look at how to use a feature unique to the Invoice Builder.


How to make a single item invoice


The most powerful feature in the Invoice Builder is the ability to separate entries and create separate invoices. This guide will show you how to do it with a single item, but you can just as easily select more items in step 2 below.

1. Deselect all categories

The first thing to do to is to make sure all entries are deselected. Rather than deselect all entries individually, you can quickly do this by deselecting their categories instead. Deselecting a category will automatically deselect all entries within that category.

A screenshot of the invoice builder with the invoice categories' checkboxes indicated.

2. Select an entry for invoice drafting

Now that you have no items selected for invoicing, select the item you do want to invoice by clicking the checkbox next to it.

A screenshot of the Invoice Builder interface with all boxes unchecked and one entry being indicated

3. Click Create Draft

With the item selected for invoice, finalize the draft by clicking the green Create Draft button. This will create a draft invoice in the Drafts page.

An image of the Invoice Builder interface with the Create Draft button indicated

You now have an invoice of services and/or expenses!

The differences of the Invoice Builder end once the invoice is created. When an invoice is created through the invoice builder, you'll find it in the Drafts tab of your Billing page, just like any other invoice.


What's next?


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