> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://learn.withessential.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://learn.withessential.com/administration/settings/choose-and-customize-your-invoice-document-template.md). # Choose and customize your invoice document template Invoice templates live on the Invoice tab of Settings -> Quotes & Invoices -> Invoicing and control how your invoices look to customers, and work just like quote templates. Browse styles to pick one and select **Use**, with a live preview on sample data. Use the preview tabs to check the same template as an unpaid, partially paid, paid, or late-fee invoice. These tabs only change the example shown; they do not edit the template or its sample data and do not need to be saved. ## Keep one template or several Your business can keep a single invoice template or add several named ones. Each template has a name so you can tell them apart: * **New template** adds another template; give it a name and then pick its style or customize it. * Select a template in the list to edit it; **Rename** changes its name. * **Make default** marks the template used when nothing picks one explicitly — new invoices start on it, and invoices created from the mobile app or by AI generation use it. A subscription pins its own template when it's created (or edited); its recurring invoices keep using that one even after you change the default, unless the pinned template is deleted, in which case they fall back to the default. * **Delete** removes a template you no longer offer. The default template can't be deleted — make another template the default first. Existing invoices keep the design they were created with. With more than one template, the invoice form shows a **Template** dropdown so you choose the design per invoice (see [Create an invoice](/revenue/invoices/create-an-invoice.md)). With a single template, nothing changes — every invoice uses it automatically. If you can edit the template, **Edit template** above the preview (or **Customize** on a style card under **Browse styles**) opens the full-screen editor on the rendered document. Click any text to change it, use **Insert variable** to add details such as the customer's name, and switch the sample customer, property, and line items in **Sample data**. Switch to **Edit code** for layout, styling, and logic in the Liquid source. See [Edit a document template's design](/administration/settings/edit-a-document-templates-design-with-edit-code.md). A red notice means the template has an error and can't be saved until you fix it; a yellow one flags a variable that doesn't exist — see [Errors and warnings](/administration/settings/edit-a-document-templates-design-with-edit-code.md#errors-and-warnings). **Save template** applies your changes, or **Discard changes** reverts. Branding from your Business Profile flows into the preview. If you have additional offices or brands, use **Preview office and brand** above the document to switch among every configured combination and check its name, color, logo, address, and phone number. On a real invoice, Essential chooses the branding from the selected property's office. A property override wins; otherwise the invoice inherits the customer's office. The office provides the address and phone number, and its default brand provides the name, color, and logo. Main-office properties use the Business Profile values. While you use a built-in style as-is, it is eligible for automatic updates when Essential improves that style. Opening the editor does not change this tracking by itself. If you change the template - in Visual or Edit code - and save it, the template is treated as your custom version and stays as saved instead of receiving later built-in changes. Re-selecting a style from the library and saving puts you back on the auto-updating built-in. Built-in invoice styles show **Balance Due** directly below **Total** after a payment changes the amount still owed. A partially paid invoice shows the remaining amount, and a paid invoice shows **$0.00**. While the full original total is still owed, the Balance Due row stays hidden. A customized Liquid template remains exactly as saved and does not receive this row automatically. Built-in templates also print the PO number, the **Job #** and **Technicians** fields when they're turned on (see [Custom fields and PO numbers on quotes and invoices](/revenue/quotes/custom-fields-and-po-numbers-on-quotes-and-invoices.md)), and any custom fields marked **Show on customer document**. In a customized template, insert the **Custom fields (built-in block)** variable once to print them in the standard style — or use **Custom fields (custom layout)** to control the markup around each field yourself. Built-in styles don't print pricebook item codes. If you want a code (SKU) column on the document, add it in Edit code with the **Item code (when known)** variable - see [Edit a document template's design](/administration/settings/edit-a-document-templates-design-with-edit-code.md#show-item-codes-on-the-document). Essential's built-in styles keep sales tax compact. When one tax entry applies, taxable line items show a checkmark in the Tax column and the summary shows **Sales Tax** with its percentage. When several tax entries apply - including entries with the same percentage but different agencies or jurisdictions - the document names and totals each one separately. A customized template keeps its own tax layout. ![Invoice template preview in Settings](https://3838208579-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Flu1pgNH0CrkCPslG8suQ%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-83900c852b9de70b8daf6923a38ec9afb4641610%2Fsettings-invoicing.png?alt=media) > **Where to find it:** Settings -> Invoicing, the Invoice tab ## Related guides * [Choose and customize your quote document template](/administration/settings/choose-and-customize-your-quote-document-template.md) * [Edit a document template's design](/administration/settings/edit-a-document-templates-design-with-edit-code.md) * [Customize your invoice email and receipt templates](/administration/settings/customize-your-invoice-email-and-receipt-templates.md) * [Set up invoice prompt templates for AI drafting](/administration/settings/set-up-invoice-prompt-templates-for-ai-drafting.md) * [Add or edit a pricebook item](/administration/settings/add-or-edit-a-pricebook-item.md) * [Add the intake form to your website](/administration/settings/add-the-intake-form-to-your-website.md) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. 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