How to use the Contract billing method

Easily create long term recurring payments for a Contract within FireMate by setting up Contract Invoicing.

Product: FireMate Desktop

Contents

  1. Understanding Contract Invoicing
    1. Billing Frequency and Billing Type
    2. Combining Contract billing with other billing methods
  2. How to set up Contract Invoicing
    1. Step 1: Complete the Contract details
    2. Step 2: Add the Contract rates

Understanding Contract invoicing

Contract invoicing is recommended when billing a fixed rate on a regular basis over a set period of time. This is where an agreement with the Customer requires a total amount to be paid over a set period of time in monthly, quarterly, six-monthly or yearly for the maintenance of the equipment on site.

Example of Contract billing

An example of this is that the charge is $12,000 per year, split into monthly payments for a period of 12 months. Using the Contract billing method in FireMate will automatically calculate the $12,000 annual charge into monthly payments of $1000.

Billing Frequency and Billing Type

The "Billing Frequency" and "Billing Type" options on a Contract provide complete control over how the Contract is to be invoiced.

Billing Type

The billing type contracts the period being billing for. Options include:

  • Advance
    • Bill this month, service next month
  • Current
    • Bill this month, service this month
  • Arrears
    • Bill next month, service this month
  • Do & Bill
    • do not select this when using the Contract billing method
Billing Frequency

The billing frequency controls how often FireMate readies an invoice to generate for the Contract. Options include:

  • monthly
  • quarterly
  • six-monthly
  • yearly

Combining Contract billing with other billing methods

In some cases, you may wish to bill all monthly Product Inspection Periods under the contract, and set all 5 yearly inspections as the Do & Bill billing method . Doing this results in a recurring invoice for a set amount for monthly inspections, and allows a FireMate Administrator to process the 5 yearly inspections at a different rate.

How to set up the Contract billing method

Step 1: Complete the Contract details

  1. On the Contract level, select the "Contract Details" tab
  2. Select " Billing Type " and choose from an option in the dropdown.
  3. Select " Billing Frequency " and choose from an option in the dropdown.
  4. Select [Save]
Search and open the Contract that requires updating. Learn how to search for a Contract here .

1313

Step 2: Add the Contract rates

  1. Select the Contract level
  2. Select the [Rates] tab
  3. On the "Contract Rates" sub-tab, click [Select S&E Types]
  4. On the pop up, view the Systems and Equipment Types that will be billed on this Contract. Double-click the items that require billing to add them to the "Contract Rates" list.
  5. Set the "Start Date" for the rates by clicking the date field for the S&E Type.
    This step is very important as this is how FireMate knows when to start billing.
  6. Repeat step 5 until dates and rates have been set for all S&E Types in the list.
  7. Select [Save]
Search and open the Contract that requires updating. Learn how to search for a Contract here .

Congratulations!
The Contract billing method is set up and ready to go.