April 16, 2010 at 9:24 am
Hello,
I am wondering what the best way to handle invoicing is as previously invoicing was not something we had to deal with based on a prior contract but now it is? Is it best to create invoices from a detail table based on a parameter or two (IE fileDone = -1 AND dateCompleted >=dateadd(day,datediff(day,0,GetDate())- 7,0) or some other way involving an "invoice table" if I use an invoice table what would its function actually be?
Essentially what will happen is an invoice will be sent weekly or biweekly via reporting services but am not entirely sure the best method.
Thanks,
George
April 16, 2010 at 9:40 am
To begin with, this is really a business decision first. Once you have the requirements for doing the invoicing, then it should become easier to determine what needs to be done to meet the requirements.
April 16, 2010 at 9:49 am
Lynn Pettis (4/16/2010)
To begin with, this is really a business decision first. Once you have the requirements for doing the invoicing, then it should become easier to determine what needs to be done to meet the requirements.
Sure the requirements are pretty simple every week or two weeks an invoice goes out based on what was done within that time frame. Each client gets their own report so the business decision part is easy as I already know what that query / report will look like but I am not sure if just emailing them to the client and BCCing them to our business account is fine of it is more proper to do something else? I just want to get it right the first time around. I really have the freedom to do what I want but I believe it is best to do it in a standard way that will function just as well if / when our 3 person company grows =).
April 16, 2010 at 10:02 am
george.greiner (4/16/2010)
Lynn Pettis (4/16/2010)
To begin with, this is really a business decision first. Once you have the requirements for doing the invoicing, then it should become easier to determine what needs to be done to meet the requirements.Sure the requirements are pretty simple every week or two weeks an invoice goes out based on what was done within that time frame. Each client gets their own report so the business decision part is easy as I already know what that query / report will look like but I am not sure if just emailing them to the client and BCCing them to our business account is fine of it is more proper to do something else? I just want to get it right the first time around. I really have the freedom to do what I want but I believe it is best to do it in a standard way that will function just as well if / when our 3 person company grows =).
What you are asking here is still more in the realm of a business requirement. What does the business need. What is done in one company may or may not need to be done in another.
April 16, 2010 at 1:08 pm
george.greiner (4/16/2010)
I really have the freedom to do what I want but I believe it is best to do it in a standard way that will function just as well if / when our 3 person company grows.
There are as many standards as companies in the world.
I'm pretty sure one of the three of you is the "money" guy - ask him/her.
_____________________________________
Pablo (Paul) Berzukov
Author of Understanding Database Administration available at Amazon and other bookstores.
Disclaimer: Advice is provided to the best of my knowledge but no implicit or explicit warranties are provided. Since the advisor explicitly encourages testing any and all suggestions on a test non-production environment advisor should not held liable or responsible for any actions taken based on the given advice.April 16, 2010 at 2:26 pm
george.greiner (4/16/2010)
... Each client gets their own report so the business decision part is easy as I already know what that query / report will look like but I am not sure if just emailing them to the client and BCCing them to our business account is fine of it is more proper to do something else? ...
That's not really a SQL related question... If you already know how the query and the report is supposed to look like then the major part is done. What you might want to cosider is how to deal with "lost invoices", e.g. a badly configured spam filter at the client side. So you'd need to make sure you're able to reprint/resend the invoice and that this resending process clearly identifies that this is resending an already submitted invoice. Basically, you need to make sure to always be able to show what the invoice looked like. Finally: always be compliant to the law/regulations that will apply to this business case.
April 29, 2010 at 5:19 am
How are you recording the data on which you will generate the invoice. For example, an inventory invoice will definitely be based upon the Order and Order detail table. What is your structure?
April 30, 2010 at 5:34 am
george.greiner (4/16/2010)
Hello,I am wondering what the best way to handle invoicing is as previously invoicing was not something we had to deal with based on a prior contract but now it is? Is it best to create invoices from a detail table based on a parameter or two (IE fileDone = -1 AND dateCompleted >=dateadd(day,datediff(day,0,GetDate())- 7,0) or some other way involving an "invoice table" if I use an invoice table what would its function actually be?
Essentially what will happen is an invoice will be sent weekly or biweekly via reporting services but am not entirely sure the best method.
Thanks,
George
George,
Your detail table should have columns added for "date billed" and "billing rate". When you create an invoice you plug in those two columns. That way, you can ensure that each line item is billed only once, and retains the correct rate if your prices change over time. Then, you create a record in an invoice table with customer, date billed, total amount, and also has columns for the "date paid" and "invoice terms". Email the invoice as a PDF. This approach worked well for me when I was doing consulting work. HTH
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