Invoice and estimate numbering

Sliptree lets you customise your own numbering system for invoices and estimates. It is set up in a way that allows you to essentially 'set it and forget it'. This is possible thanks to our dynamic placeholders.

Setting up invoice or estimate numbering

The invoice and estimate numbers can be modified under Business Settings.

Use placeholders on invoice or estimate numbers by inserting each one within their own set of curly brackets - {} . A list of available placeholders is available below.


Sequential number and a simple example

A simple, common way of numbering invoices is to use the current year and month with a sequential number, with a dash between each. For example, let's take an invoice issued in June 2024, which has a sequence number of 5.

Given these settings:

  • Invoice number format: {Y}-{m}-{x}
  • Next invoice number: 5
  • Number padding: 0

The invoice number would be 2024-06-5


Using text

Invoice numbers don't have to only include numbers, however. It is also possible to utilise textual representations of months with placeholders or just plain text, for example:

  • Invoice number format: Sliptree-{Y}-{M}-{x}
  • Next invoice number: 5
  • Number padding: 0

The resulting number will be: Sliptree-2024-Jun-5


Number padding

Number padding can ensure the invoice number length stays the same length even when the sequential number itself doesn't. The amount entered here will be the total length of the sequential number. Here's an example:

  • Invoice number format: {Y}-{m}-{x}
  • Next invoice number: 29
  • Number padding: 4

The invoice number would be 2024-06-0029


List of available invoice/estimate number placeholders

Placeholder Description Example
{x} or {X} Sequential number - this is incremented by one for each new completed invoice. 1
{d} Day of the month, 2 digits with leading zeros 01  to 31
{j} Day of the month without leading zeros 1  to 31
{W} ISO 8601 week number of year, weeks starting on Monday 42  (the 42nd week in the year)
{F} A full textual representation of a month, such as January or March January  through December
{m} Numeric representation of a month, with leading zeros 01  through 12
{M} A short textual representation of a month, three letters Jan  through Dec
{n} Numeric representation of a month, without leading zeros 1  through 12
{Y} A full numeric representation of a year, at least 4 digits, with -  for years BCE Examples: -005507871999200310191
{y} A two digit representation of a year Examples: 99  or 03

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