QBO Progress Invoicing - FAIL

FQ_Conrad · ‎October 30, 2020

Regrettably, the ‘Progress Invoicing’ feature, as implemented, does not live up to its promise.

The primary function of progress invoicing is to communicate the progress of a project or line item over time. At it most basic implementation, he minimum information required must include amounts previously and currently invoiced, as well as the amount invoiced to date. It can be expressed in amount and/or percentage of progress.

As currently implemented, the feature is merely a ‘fractional invoice’ based on a project estimate. Zero context of progress is presented to either the client or to the QBO user preparing the invoice. My clients continuously ask me for clarifications about the details of our invoicing. This is embarrassing for our business.

In the absence of a useful progress invoice, it would be helpful if there was at least a more detailed report that we could attach to an invoice. Unfortunately, the ‘Estimates & Progress Invoicing Summary by Customer’ report only offers top-line information, without the line item detail. Please consider and implement a report titled ‘Estimates & Progress Invoicing Detail by Customer’.

All progress invoicing is based on an estimate. The estimates contain most of the relevant information missing from either the progress invoice or a summary report. Unfortunately again, this information is unable to be even exported for manipulation elsewhere (i.e. CSV). Equally frustratingly, the print feature for estimates don’t include the most relevant columns (i.e. Invoiced, Remaining, etc.) … which might have substituted for the missing reporting detail. As an aside, the ‘Closed’ checkbox is non-functional and muddies the understanding of later invoices when line options are fully billed. There should be an option to hide/display ‘Closed’ items in an invoice.

Overall, the progress invoicing feature is fundamentally flawed. It should be re-engineered to at least a minimum level of utility. QuickBooks Online does not have far to look for inspiration … the feature is properly implemented on your QuickBooks Desktop platform. I look forward to a version with more feature parity in the very near future. Judging from the comments elsewhere on this message board, I am not alone in this request.

Rebecca R · ‎October 30, 2020

Hi there FQ_Conrad,

Thank you for being a member of our QuickBooks family and sharing your feedback on the Progress Invoicing feature in QuickBooks Online. I'm happy to hear that you've enjoyed using the Progress Invoicing feature in QuickBooks Desktop, but as you know, QuickBooks Online is different so features do not work in exactly the same way. Progress Invoicing in QBO can be a very helpful feature and I'd be happy to give you some more information on it's intended use.

In QuickBooks Online, Progress Invoicing provides you with a means to split an estimate into multiple invoices, rather than just one. It allows you to request partial payments from your customers at a time. You also have the option to Add project estimate summaries to a progress invoice which will give your customer an overview of how much they've been invoiced so far. For more information on what the Progress Invoicing feature is capable of in QuickBooks Online, the article below is great one to review:

Set up and send progress invoices in QuickBooks Online

Since I know you'd like more from progress invoices, I encourage you to submit the feedback that you've shared here with our product development team. They work hard to implement new features and upgrade existing features so that they best suit the needs of customers like you. You can share your thoughts with them by navigating to the Gear icon, then selecting Feedback. I'm going to pass the word along on my end as well, because I want to make sure that your voice is heard.

Enjoy the weekend!

FQ_Conrad · ‎October 30, 2020

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

However, what you are describing is partial or split invoicing as it bears no context of time. Progress invoicing requires the minimum details of previous and current. I can accept that the feature requested is currently unavailable, but I feel strongly that it is misleadingly misnamed.

The estimate summary feature is similarly underwhelming, since it is not applied at the line item level of detail.

Overall, I’ve found QBO to be a potent replacement to the Desktop version, but in this respect, it still needs work. I have previously filed feedback requests saying the same. With luck, additional QBO users will add their voices and votes towards implementation. As it stands currently, it is such a showstopper, that I am evaluating alternatives.

Rebecca R · ‎October 30, 2020

I hear what you're saying FQ_Conrad, and while I'd hate to see you go, it's important to me that you choose the best accounting software for your business. As you suggested, the more users that contribute their voice on this subject to our product development team, the better. I encourage other users to weigh in on this thread and to provide their advice as well.

firebusters · ‎January 04, 2021

New user coming to online from desktop.

Very disappointed in the functionality of this in online.

Certainly agree it fails to meet what I feel is minimum

LauraAB · ‎January 04, 2021

Hi firebusters,

Thanks for taking a moment to share your thoughts on this thread about how QuickBooks Online's Progress Invoicing feature works. I can appreciate how this is an important feature for you, and encourage you to make whatever decision you feel is best for your business. Whether you stick with QuickBooks Online or head back to QuickBooks Desktop, I'd love to have you remain a member of the QuickBooks family.

Submitting feedback is the best way to let our product development team know how the existing features are or aren't working for your business. That way, they can see the impact to business owners and bookkeepers and consider how to enhance the feature or make changes as needed. Even if you choose to go back to QuickBooks Desktop, I invite you to share your feedback through QuickBooks Online before you go.

Let me know if there's anything you need a hand with. Wishing you the best.

MoisesFLE · ‎August 05, 2022

What are the plans from Quickbooks to fix this? Clients are starting to ask for more information on the invoices.

Jen_D · ‎August 06, 2022

Thanks for reaching out to us about this progress invoicing concern in QuickBooks Online, @MoisesFLE.

We recognize the need to have the additional options and preferences for progress invoicing. However, I want you to know that the changes in the program is released based on certain several factors. We're unable to provide the turnaround time on when new features are released in QuickBooks, since these are handled by the Developers Team.

Please know that you can share your suggestion within the program through sending a product feedback while this is still unavailable. Follow the steps below in a web browser:

Click the Gear icon and choose Feedback.
Enter your suggestion for our engineers on the Feedback box.
Once done, press Next to send it.

All our program features and enhancements are launched and created with you in mind. To be updated with the recent and upcoming changes for QuickBooks products, visit these sites:

If you have any questions or need further help with QuickBooks, feel free to visit us anytime. You can also mention my name on your posts. I'll be right here to assist you.

MoisesFLE · ‎August 07, 2022

@Jen_D,

Is there a way to export an estimate? When i go to my project estimate, i can see how much i have invoiced per line item; however, i cannot export this information.

My client is asking for this information, and I don't want to have to do it manually. There are 20 line items.

Thanks,

Jen_D · ‎August 07, 2022

Thanks for coming back to this thread, @MoisesFLE.

At the moment, you can export estimates using the export icon on reports or on the Projects page as transactions. However, if you're referring to exporting the details and line items to see what's closed and what's pending, this is not yet available.

You can to print the details by pressing the CTRL + P option to include the status of the transaction. The sniping tool can also capture all the information. Printing or previewing the estimate will not include the Closed column.

Post here again if you need help with estimates. I'd be here to walk you through the steps you need in QuickBooks.

munyc · ‎September 24, 2022

I absolutely agree: Progress invoicing on QBO implementation is completely useless, unlike the one at QBD. It is inexplicable how Intuit can be so ignorant over so many years to one of the most popular invoicing methods used by professionals.

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QBO Progress Invoicing - FAIL