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GSS45
December 19, 2022
Question

The template that I view while creating a new invoice / estimate.

  • December 19, 2022
  • 7 replies
  • 31 views

Hello all.  Been using QuickBooks for many years offline. 

 

Upgraded to online 2 months ago, love it.

 

For some reason, my estimate lost the line where I can enter the value for a 50% deposit, which was located just after the total cost.  

 

Long story short, I took a system that I enjoyed using and screwed everything up trying to fix it.  I made some changes, not knowing what I was doing and somehow changed my whole QB experience.  All of my invoices and estimates changed visually.  I had a template that we used during initial setup and all invoices and estimates looked the way we set up our template.  Now when I open any preexisting estimate or invoice, it looks like a "standard" default template. 

 

QB asked me if I was sure that I wanted to make changes and I said yes, but did not know what was about to happen.

 

Even if I change the estimate template, and select it as default, when I go to create an estimate for a customer, I see the Standard form.  How do I change the invoice / estimate to look like "MY" invoice / estimate while creating an invoice / estimate.

 

I am at my wits end.  I am about to delete the entire company name and start over.

 

I am using the basic version and do not have a way to restore back to before I screwed everything up.

 

I am a week behind on invoicing and estimates.  I am about to freak. My wife is printing off all of my invoices and estimates so we at least have a paper backup before we delete everything.

 

I have searched for days and nothing coming close to how to change what my invoices / estimates look like when I open an invoice / estimate.  Everything that I have seen, they open the "standard" invoice, create it, go down to the bottom, select "customize"  select the invoice template they want to use, select print preview to see what it will look like.  I want my Invoice / estimate template to look and work like the template I created when I originally set up QB Online?  

 

Any help sure would be appreciated.

7 replies

Maybelle_SQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
December 19, 2022

Thanks for reaching out here and providing detailed information about your concern, @GSS45.

 

The option to enter a deposit for an estimate in QuickBooks Online (QBO) is unavailable since the Estimate is a non-posting entry. To process a payment, you have to convert it into an invoice.

 

Let's also ensure you create the estimates and invoices using the correct template.

 

Here's how:

 

  1. Go to the Sales menu and select Invoices. 
  2. Open the invoice and click the Customize tab on the lower part. 
  3. Check the default template. 
  4. Click the Print or Preview button to verify the template.

 

Additionally, check out this video tutorial below to learn how to personalize sales forms, receive customer payments, record payments, deposit funds, and many more: 

 

 

I'm only a post away if I can be of additional assistance. I'm always here to keep helping with your invoice template. Have a good one.

GSS45Author
December 19, 2022

Maybelle_S, Thank you for your reply.

 

I think I have the Basic version.  Very few instructions that I find match what I attempt.

 

Like with your response, I do not have a "Sales" in my menu. So, I am lost before the first step?

 

When my wife and I purchased QB Online for our small business, we created a template in a matter of minutes.  That exact template is what I saw every time I began to make an invoice or estimate.  That same template is what wound print out.

 

I have access to an accounting company that does the books once a month for a larger business that we own.  It is currently running Peachtree but we will be updating to QB on Jan 1. They have offered to help me but I am stubborn and feel that this should be a no brainer. 

 

I do not like the look, feel, or operation of this "standard" template that I am stuck with.  My wife worked on a new template, trying to duplicate the one we first set up.  I did notice that after I created a new invoice and saved it, when I went to create the next invoice, the template changed to look more like the new one she created.  Still way off but getting closer.  Its like no changes that we tried to make took effect until we created a new invoice, saved it and went to create the second, if that makes sense.

 

Below is a pic of the bottom of one of my "Estimates" showing the line where I can put a deposit amount. Just for those that say is it not an option.  It does not calculate the amount for me, just gives me an option to show the customer that I require a deposit, which is always 50% of the total for the way we opperate. 

 

I sure wish I could get to my original setup.  I had been fighting for a long time with a dated QB program on a very dated slow pc.  This new QB Online was smoking fast and a joy to use.    

LeizylMQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
December 20, 2022

Thank you for providing additional information about your concern ,GSS45. 

 

In QuickBooks Online, there are two ways to display your account, the business and accountant view. Your default view is based on what you tell us when you first set up QuickBooks. 

 

It's possible that you're in Switch Business view. This is why, you're not able to view the Sales menu. I've added screenshots for your reference. 

 

 

Please know that you can request a deposit from your customer that they can pay directly from the estimate if you have both QuickBooks Payments and the newest version of Estimates in QuickBooks Online (QBO).

 

Also, you may be using the new experience. You can opt-out of that directly from the invoice creation screen by clicking the “Old layout” button. Doing so, you will lose the new functionalities. 

 

 

Additionally, I've attached relevant articles you can utilize to help manage your invoices in QuickBooks:

 


Fill me in should you have any other questions about processing invoices or estimates. I'm here to help you at any time. Have a great day.

GSS45Author
December 26, 2022

LeizyIM, I think we may be on to something! 

 

Looking at your example, this is what I was looking at before.  My email address and such was placed in the center of the page as in your example.  And, I could toggle between flat rate, unit, like it your example. 

 

Can you please walk me through reverting back to the old style if this is what I was using? Please!

 

Again, I am using the base option, "QuickBooks Simple Start" because I am only running a sole proprietorship business.  In a few days, we will be changing over from Sage to QB.

 

Thank you so much for your time and assistance.

GSS45Author
December 26, 2022

Also, I tried to switch to the old layout, I do not have that option.  

 

When I go to "new"

Under "customers" select "Invoice"

Upper right corner, select "old layout" button, I do not have this?

 

Has this option been omitted?  Or what am I missing?

 

Can you verify if this is still a viable option?

 

Thank you.

 

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