Docket gives you two ways to bill your clients:
- In Advance using Invoices.
- In Arrear using Charges.
The method you choose depends on your billing process and also determines how Docket works when it comes to billing your clients.
Most businesses pick one method as their company-wide default and apply it to all clients. If certain clients or client types need different billing treatment, you can override the default for an individual client and/or client type.
Before You Start
Here are a few things to know before you continue:
- We recommend that only Account Owner(s) or main Admin(s) configure or change the billing method.
- You can use just Invoices, just Charges, or a combo of both across your clients, but each client can only have one billing method.
Bill In Advance with Invoices
If you collect payment from clients before or at the time of drop off, the invoices billing method is the right fit for your business.
This is also a good choice for businesses that prefer to generate and send a separate invoice for each individual task or accumulated cost.
When a task is saved, Docket immediately creates a new invoice populated with that task's details and matching pricing. This automation can be disabled in your account settings, but we don't recommend it.
The invoice appears in the Invoices section of your Docket account where you can review, adjust, and send it to your client. You'll also have the ability to auto-send invoices to your clients immediately after they're created and saved.
TIP: You don't have to send the invoice right away. Some businesses create the invoice at task creation and hold it until after the rental is complete. This lets them manually track accumulated costs and collect payment in arrears while using the invoices billing method.
Bill In Arrears with Charges
If you collect payment from clients at or after the time of pick up, the charges billing method lets Docket handle the cost tracking for you throughout the life of a rental so nothing slips through the cracks.
When a task is saved, Docket automatically logs the initial prices based on the task details and pricing.
As the rental continues, Docket tracks any additional charges, like bin exchanges and weight overages, until the task is marked Complete.
Think of it like an open bar tab: charges build up as services are completed and at the end you compile them all into a single invoice to send to your client.
Every unpaid charge appears in the Charges section of your Docket account. Once you add charges to an invoice, they leave the Charges section and are viewable under Invoices in the invoice they were added to.
TIP: If a voided invoice contained charges, those charges return to the Charges tab so you can add them to a new invoice and make sure you get paid.
Compare Billing Methods
Use this table to see which method supports the billing method your business uses when deciding which option to use.
| Method | Best For | Pros | Cons | How It Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invoices (In Advance) | Businesses that collect payment before or at drop-off | Each task has a linked invoice, making it straightforward to track what's been billed and paid | Clients with multiple active tasks receive a separate invoice for each one | An invoice is created as soon as a task is saved and clients pay the invoice directly |
| Charges (In Arrears) | Businesses that bill periodically throughout a rental | Docket automatically logs and tracks all charges throughout the rental, reducing the risk of missed fees | Requires an extra step | Docket tracks charges throughout the rental automatically and you compile them into an invoice when the rental is done |
Set Your Billing Method
Your billing method can be configured at three levels in Docket:
- Account-wide (required).
- Client Type-specific (optional).
- Client-specific (optional).
The account-wide setting is your default and applies to all clients unless overridden.
You can set a different default by client type or go even further and set it for a specific client when needed.
Set a Company-Wide Default
This is the billing method Docket uses for all clients unless you've set an override.
To set a company-wide default, just follow the instructions below:
- Click on “Account” in the bottom left corner.
- Click on “Settings” at the top.
- Click on “View” on the Dumpster Management card.
- Click to expand the Billing section.
- By default, Invoice will be selected (highlighted dark blue), but you can switch it to Charges or select both.
- You may also want to adjust what types of tasks are included in generating charges/invoices.
Click here to learn more about both Billing Options settings.
Set a Default for Client Types
If your business serves different types of clients with different billing needs, such as residential clients billed in advance and commercial clients billed in arrears, you can set a billing method for each client type to override your account-wide default.
Please Note: Client types must be set up in your account settings before you can select a default billing method for each one. Click here to learn how to create client types.
To change the default billing method for a specific client type, just follow the instructions below:
- Click on “Account” in the bottom left corner.
- Click on “Settings” at the top.
- Click on “View” on the Dumpster Management card.
- Click to expand the Billing section.
- All of your client types will appear in the Billing Options by Client Type list. Click on the one you want to change the default billing method for.
- Select the billing method and/or task types you want to use for this specific client type.
All of your changes auto-save, so once you're done setting up billing methods for client types, Docket will be ready to use it.
Set a Default for Specific Clients
For clients whose billing needs don't match your company or client type defaults, you can set a billing method directly in their profile.
To set a billing method for a specific client, just follow the instructions below:
- Click on "Clients" in the left-hand menu.
- Click on the client's profile to open it.
- Click on "Client Settings" in the top right corner.
- Click to expand the Dumpster Management section.
- Under Billing Options, select the billing method and/or task types you want to use for this particular client.
- Don't forget to click "Update" at the bottom!
Docket will now use the selected billing method for all of this client's selected task types.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Support team through the chat widget on the bottom of this page or by sending an email to support@yourdocket.com!