What are the first steps to set up sales settings?

Start by choosing invoice fields, numbering rules, and default payment terms. Then add invoice templates and test a few sample invoices to confirm accuracy.

How should I handle tax settings for invoices?

Create separate tax rates per region, decide on inclusive or exclusive pricing, and test tax calculations with sample invoices.

Insights & Resources

Expert guides, product updates, and industry trends from HelloBooks. Browse articles on accounting, compliance, bookkeeping, and financial management for small businesses.

Accounting

Setting up sales settings in an online accounting system

HelloBooks Team

May 7, 2026

5 min read

Key takeaways

What this article covers, in order:

Overview of Sales Settings
Why Sales Settings Matter
Configuring Invoice Settings
Invoice Template Choices
Invoice Numbering and Terms
Managing Taxes and Prices

Configuring Sales Settings On Your Accounting Software

Overview of Sales Settings

Sales settings configuration assist you in smoothly running invoices and payment process. Streamlined sales settings area saves time and reduces mistakes while charging clients. The article goes through the invoice setup, taxes, payment methods and templates. It presents practical and actionable steps & checks that anyone can follow without any prior specialist knowledge.

Why Sales Settings Matter

Proper sales configurations ensure that your records are correct and minimize follow up tasks. They determine how invoices are presented to your customers and how those changes get reflected in your accounting records. Good settings also ensure that there are no tax or payment reconciliation embarrassments. With clear set up you will save both time and avoid risk of disputes.

Configuring Invoice Settings

Begin with the basic invoice fields that you will like to be shown on each bill. Choose which contact fields, invoice numbers and default terms should display. Choose numbering schemes that don't allow duplicates, and easy to track overtime. Default invoice language and currency with your customer base.

Invoice Template Choices

Pick a template layout that is professional and well balanced. Templates control where your logo, line items and totals are located on an invoice. You can configure item codes, discounts or internal note on printed documents. Simpler templates reduce the client questions and allow for faster payments.

Header no address you can put a company number/button in also customer contact section Display line items with quantity rate and subtotal Total Tax breakouts and payment instructions prominently

Invoice Numbering and Terms

Create a numeric sequential and unique invoice numbering system for audit purposes. Add prefix or date code if you require more accelerated sorting or reporting. Create Default Payment terms for invoices such as net 30 or net 15. You can also trigger reminders if an invoice is unpaid after the due date.

Managing Taxes and Prices

Tax settings have to be handled with care as they influence the revenue on your reports and how you compute your compliance. First write down all rates of tax that you need to charge on any level from local and regional taxes. Specify how taxes are treated included in item prices or added at checkout. Verify tax calculations on multiple example invoices before being assure.

Tax Rate Setup Steps

Build separate tax rates for each jurisdiction in which you have obligations. You can apply those tax rates to the products services or even whole invoices as necessary. Check rounding rules in tax calculations to avoid thousands of small errors which aggregate over time. Maintain a short list of the tax codes and a basic explanation of when to use each.

Implement regionalized tax rates Apply Tax to Items or Invoices based on your Customer Payment Method Review the rounding rule and validate with sample invoices

Inclusive versus Exclusive Pricing

Choose whether your prices will be tax inclusive or tax on the invoice. Inclusive prices provide one inclusive total visible to customers that simplifies the view on costs. Exclusive prices add item costs and tax to the invoice for internal margin tracking. Select the method that meets both customer expectations and reporting requirements.

Setting Payment Methods and Defaults

Configure the types of payments you wish to accept and what is the selected default option when creating invoices. Bank transfer card payments and direct debit are common payment methods. List down any fees if applicable how long it takes to process and if there is a need for reconciliation later. Provide clear information on how customers can pay ASAP write this on your invoices.

Payment Method Best Practices

According to a WorldPay study having at least two payment options increases flexibility and helps reduce delays with payments. Display preferred payment information on each invoice to help eliminate confusion. If you have fees for some of these methods mention them explicitly before you complete the sale. Automate payment reminders to collect overdue amounts without manually chasing them.

Provide many different payment choices to Customers Each invoice a straightforward payment guideAutomated reminders to accelerate collections

Custom Fields and Defaults

You can add custom fields whenever you require additional information on invoices. Sometimes you may have a field that represents purchase order numbers project codes or client references. Define sensible defaults for invoice currency language and delivery method. Defaults help avoid redundant work and maintain uniform records.

Templates and Branding

Your invoice template should also use clear fonts as well as segmented sections for the different charges. It is good to keep branding simple and uniform so customers will immediately identify your invoices. Do not overload the templates with information that does not facilitate payment. If all the terms and dates can be identified in plain language there will be fewer questions.

Testing and Quality Checks

Prior to live production generate example invoices to check each setting you modified. Validate invoice numbers taxes payment links and layout of the template on screen and print. Forward a sample bill to either a coworker or perhaps an experimental accounts ensuring it may be learn easily. You can use this opportunity to review how your sales entries flow into your account ledgers. This is important in order to catch any mapping issue as early as possible.

Ongoing Maintenance and Policies

Sales settings should be reviewed at intervals to allow for updates related to tax legislation or pricing. Maintain a brief internal reference guide on when invoice configuration or templates should be changed. Train everyone who generates invoices to use the same procedures and reduce errors. Frequent checks prevent tiny mistakes from developing into major compliance issues.

Closing Thoughts

While getting sales settings up takes time it pays steadily through clarity and cash flow. Simple invoice configuration correct tax settings and a simple payment option. Test every change and log your decisions so that the team plays by the same rules. With ease of setup and simple controls you will accelerate the billing process and decrease disputes.

Got questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

About the author

HelloBooks Team

Published May 7, 2026 on the HelloBooks blog

HelloBooks Team writes for the HelloBooks blog on AI bookkeeping, accounting automation, and small-business finance.

Posts are reviewed for accuracy against current accounting and tax rules in the US, UK, India, Australia, and UAE before publishing.

About HelloBooks →

Accounting

May 7, 20265 min read

Introduction to AI in accounting and how to evaluate solutions

HelloBooks.AI

Accounting

May 5, 20265 min read

Adding and managing users in an online accounting system

HelloBooks.AI

Accounting

May 2, 20266 min read

Customer deposit handling in accounting software

HelloBooks.AI

Accounting

Setting up sales settings in an online accounting system

HelloBooks Team

May 7, 2026

5 min read

Key takeaways

What this article covers, in order:

Overview of Sales Settings
Why Sales Settings Matter
Configuring Invoice Settings
Invoice Template Choices
Invoice Numbering and Terms
Managing Taxes and Prices

Configuring Sales Settings On Your Accounting Software

Overview of Sales Settings

Why Sales Settings Matter

Configuring Invoice Settings

Invoice Template Choices

Header no address you can put a company number/button in also customer contact section Display line items with quantity rate and subtotal Total Tax breakouts and payment instructions prominently

Invoice Numbering and Terms

Managing Taxes and Prices

Tax Rate Setup Steps

Implement regionalized tax rates Apply Tax to Items or Invoices based on your Customer Payment Method Review the rounding rule and validate with sample invoices

Inclusive versus Exclusive Pricing

Setting Payment Methods and Defaults

Payment Method Best Practices

Provide many different payment choices to Customers Each invoice a straightforward payment guideAutomated reminders to accelerate collections

Custom Fields and Defaults

Templates and Branding

Testing and Quality Checks

Ongoing Maintenance and Policies

Closing Thoughts

Got questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

About the author

HelloBooks Team

Published May 7, 2026 on the HelloBooks blog

HelloBooks Team writes for the HelloBooks blog on AI bookkeeping, accounting automation, and small-business finance.

Posts are reviewed for accuracy against current accounting and tax rules in the US, UK, India, Australia, and UAE before publishing.

About HelloBooks →

Accounting

May 7, 20265 min read

Introduction to AI in accounting and how to evaluate solutions

HelloBooks.AI

Accounting

May 5, 20265 min read

Adding and managing users in an online accounting system

HelloBooks.AI

Accounting

May 2, 20266 min read

Customer deposit handling in accounting software

HelloBooks.AI

Invoicing & Billing

Accounting & Compliance

Reports & Insights

AI & Automation

Platform & Integrations

Insights & Resources

Setting up sales settings in an online accounting system

Frequently Asked Questions

HelloBooks Team

Related Posts

Introduction to AI in accounting and how to evaluate solutions

Adding and managing users in an online accounting system

Customer deposit handling in accounting software

Setting up sales settings in an online accounting system

Frequently Asked Questions

HelloBooks Team

Related Posts

Introduction to AI in accounting and how to evaluate solutions

Adding and managing users in an online accounting system

Customer deposit handling in accounting software

Insights & Resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Setting up sales settings in an online accounting system

Frequently Asked Questions

HelloBooks Team

Related Posts

Introduction to AI in accounting and how to evaluate solutions

Adding and managing users in an online accounting system

Customer deposit handling in accounting software

Setting up sales settings in an online accounting system

Frequently Asked Questions

HelloBooks Team

Related Posts

Introduction to AI in accounting and how to evaluate solutions

Adding and managing users in an online accounting system

Customer deposit handling in accounting software