Guide to Invoice Configuration & Branding

Overview

OpenSolar’s updated Invoice Page Builder moves away from legacy form-based settings to a dynamic, split-screen experience. This allows you to manage your billing logic on the left and see an instant visual representation of the document on the right.

Why Use OpenSolar Invoicing?

Managing your invoices directly within OpenSolar isn’t just about paperwork; it’s about creating a seamless bridge from the Sold Proposal to the Final Payment.

• Professionalism & Trust: Homeowners are more likely to pay on time when the invoice matches the high-quality proposal they originally signed.

• Eliminate Manual Entry: Data from your project—including components, pricing, and incentives—flows directly into the invoice, reducing costly human errors.

• Faster Turnaround: With real-time previews and automated branding, you can generate and send a "design-ready" invoice the moment a milestone is reached.

• Integrated Ecosystem: Your invoices work in harmony with our Accounting Connectors (like QuickBooks and Xero) and payment gateways, keeping your books clean without the double-entry.

1. Choosing Your Invoice Method

The Invoice Method determines how and when your customers are billed. You can switch between these modes using the dropdown at the top of the settings panel.

• Single Invoice: Generates one document for the total project amount. This is the most common selection for standard residential installs.

• Milestone Invoices: Breaks the total project cost into smaller payments (e.g., Deposit, Installation, Final Inspection). Each milestone generates its own invoice.

• No Invoice: Disables PDF generation entirely.

  • ⚠️ Important: "No Invoice" mode is not compatible with accounting integrations. If you sync payments to external software, ensure you select Single or Milestone invoices.

2. Customizing the Document Layout

The left-hand panel contains toggles that allow you to control exactly what information is visible to your customer. As you toggle these on or off, the Live Preview on the right will update instantly.

Visibility Toggles

• Due Date: Show or hide the payment deadline to create urgency.

• Business Details: Toggle your Business Name, Address, and Email to ensure you're compliant with local tax requirements.

• Notes & Footers: Add "Client Notes" for specific project instructions or a "Footer" for licensing and bank transfer details.

• Itemized Table: Choose to show a full breakdown of products (Quantity and Price) or a simplified total for a cleaner look.

3. Branding & Accent Colors

The Color Palette can be found in Cashflow > Settings > Automated invoices section, which allows you to apply your professional identity to the header band, table headers, and total rows.

• Company Color: Automatically pulls the primary brand color from your Org Settings.

• Presets: Quick-select buttons for Neutral (Greyscale) or OpenSolar Yellow.

• Custom Override: Enter a specific Hex Code (e.g., #1a73e8) to match your exact brand identity.

4. Understanding the Invoice Breakdown

The right-hand preview panel reflects your actual project data. This ensures "what you see is what they get."

• The Header Band: Displays the document title ("INVOICE"), Invoice Number, and key dates in a high-contrast block using your accent color.

• Bill To vs. Notes: The layout uses a clean, two-column grid. Customer details appear on the left; project-specific notes appear on the right.

• Totals & Taxes: The "Total" row is highlighted with your brand color to make the final amount the most prominent element on the page.

5. Saving Your Changes

Changes are not saved automatically. To persist your template:

1. Review your changes in the Live Preview.

2. Click the Save button at the bottom right of the preview pane.

3. Once saved, these settings will apply to all new invoices and any existing unpaid invoices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this update my existing invoices?

Yes. Because this updates the global template, any invoice that has not yet been paid will reflect the new branding when opened or downloaded.

How do I add my logo?

The builder pulls your logo from Control > Company > Settings. We recommend a high-resolution PNG with a transparent background.

Can I set different templates for different projects?

Currently, Invoice Templates are set at the Organization level to ensure brand consistency across your entire team.