Can we do recurring ach for a recurring invoice

It's great to see you again, @deblina.

Yes, you can select ACH as your payment method for a recurring invoice if you're using Merchant Services. With QuickBooks Payments account you can set-up a recurring bank transfer payment. You can learn more about through this link: QuickBooks Payments.

When creating the recurring transaction, just choose whether your customer can pay you online by selecting/deselecting the checkboxes for Credit Card and Bank Transfer under the Online Payment section.

Here's how:

1. Select the Gear icon on the Toolbar.
2. Under Lists, select Recurring Transactions.
3. Click New.
4. Select the type of transaction to create, and then select OK.
5. Enter a Template name.
6. Choose a Type — Scheduled, unscheduled or reminder.
7. Select whether your customer can pay you online by selecting/deselecting the checkboxes for Credit Card and Bank Transfer under the Online Payment section.
8. Fill out the rest of the transaction. 
9. Select the Save template when done.

For additional information, you can refer to this link: Create templates for recurring transactions.

Please post again in the Community if you need anything else. I’m always here and ready to help. Wishing you a prosperous New Year!

The response doesn't answer the question.  The OP asked if we could do RECURRING ach for a recurring invoice.  The response basically says that you can allow your client to pay the recurring invoice MANUALLY each transaction period via ach.

Is it possible to create an AUTOMATIC RECURRING ach for a recurring transaction?  Thanks.

Hi, @uec.

I appreciate you checking in with us. I'm here to make sure your concern about ACH gets answered today. 

 You can now process recurring payments from your customers depending on the schedule you set using a Sales Receipt. Let me walk you through in doing so.

1. At the top right, go to the Gear icon and click Recurring transactions.
2. Select the New button.
3. Click Sales Receipt under Transaction Type and hit OK.
4. Enter the template name and choose Scheduled as the recurring type.
5. Choose customer.
6. Input all the information needed for the schedule.
7. On the Payment method drop-down, choose Check. Select the Authorization hyperlink to provide your customer with the Bank Transfer Authorization Form. 
8. Check the box to ensure the payment will process each time a form is created using this recurring transaction.
9. Hit the Save template button.

I’ve added some helpful articles for your reference: 

• Process ACH bank transfers right in QuickBooks.
• Set up recurring sales receipt in QuickBooks Online.
• Deposits FAQ.

If you have further questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. I'll be around to help. Have a good one. 

GraceC,

Thanks!  That looks like part of what I was looking for.  Quick clarification:  What is the functional difference between the Invoice and the Sales Receipt in this case?

Also, what does the scheduling look like for this?  I usually create my recurring invoices between 6 and 15 days before the 1st of the month.  So, if I were to create this Sales Receipt and set it to create 15 days in advance and automatically email the client, would it charge the client on the 16th of the previous month, or on the 1st of the month the Sales Receipt is for?

Thanks.

Thanks for getting back to us, @uec.

I’m more than happy to share with you the difference between invoice and sales receipts. An invoice is used when your customer agrees to pay you later. While a sales receipt is used when your customer pays you on the spot for service and goods. 

To learn more about the uses of invoice and sales receipts, check out these articles for reference: 

• Difference between an invoice and a sales receipt
• Should I use an invoice or a sales receipt?

Additionally, if you create a sales receipt on the 1st day of the month that recurs on the 16th day of the month, the charge will process on the 1st day. 

That being said, you’ll want to schedule the recurring sales receipts the day it will recur. I’ve got you these articles that tackles about creating and setting up recurring sales receipt in your QuickBooks Online (QBO) account:

• Set up a recurring sales receipt
• Create recurring transactions in QuickBooks Online

You also have the option to customize your template. This way, you can control what information your customer see in their invoice and sales receipts.

Let me know if you have other concerns in setting up your recurring transactions. I’ll be around to help you. Wishing you a more successful business

JasroV,

Ok, one last question, as I don't like to test things live where my clients might be surprised. 😃

So the charge happens on the day the sales receipt is created.  When does the automatic email go out?

If it goes out on the same day as the charge, then why allow the sales receipt to be created "early"?  What happens on the actual scheduled recurring date?

Hi uec. 

The time in which your customers receive the automatic email varies. When setting up the recurring invoices select the option for Notify the customer that I setup this recurring payment. That way they know to when to expect it. I also have a very helpful tool that we use all the time, that I believe you'll find very beneficial yourself. It's called the QBO test drive. What it does is creates a fake account within the QuickBooks product and allows you to play around and make changes without worrying about screwing up your actual account. As you mentioned you dont like to test things that could upset your clients, this tool would be really beneficial to you and your business!

• QBO test drive. 

If there's anything else I can help with feel free to post below at any time. Thank you and have a nice evening. 

Nick_M,

Ok, I can test drive it, but you didn't answer my question.

When does the automatic email go out?

Thanks for getting back to us, @uec,

When you tick the "Automatically send emails" box, the transaction is also sent to the customer immediately after the transaction is created. Please note that recurring transactions are created on the day scheduled typically between 12:00 am and 5:00 am depending on your time zone. From time to time, depending on volume, it may be created a little later.

Anything scheduled prior to or on the day the transaction is created won't occur until the next appropriate date based on the schedule. Example: If you created the template to start on the first of each month, and today is the first, the template will start on the first of the following month.

Also, make sure electronic invoices is enabled before creating the recurring template. Here are the steps to do that:

1. Click the Gear icon and choose Accounts and Settings.
2. Go to Sales then Online Delivery.
3. Choose "Online invoice" under Additional email options for invoices.
4. Press Save and Done after.

To learn more about this, check out our guide for creating recurring transactions in QBO: QuickBooks can do WHAT? Recurring transactions?

Feel free to get in touch with us again if there's anything else I can help you. Have a good one!