Overview
In Aspire, every estimate starts from an opportunity. An opportunity represents work you could bid on and perform for a customer. Before you can build an estimate, you need to create an opportunity from a property record. When you create an opportunity, you have to select an opportunity type, which determines whether the work will be ongoing or one-time, and an invoice type, which determines how and when you bill for the work.
This article explains the two opportunity types and the seven invoice types available to you.
Things to know
The invoice type you choose sets the billing structure for how and when your company sends invoices and receives payments.
There are two opportunity types: Contracts and Work Orders
There are seven Invoice types across the two opportunity types:
Contracts have three invoice types: Fixed Payment, Per Service, and T&M.
Work orders have four invoice types: Fixed Price on a Payment Schedule, T&M on Completion, Fixed Price on Completion, and Fixed Price Open Billing.
Aspire is property-centric, meaning that contacts, opportunities, estimates, and invoices are all tied to a property record. You'll create all opportunities from a property and all estimates from an opportunity.
Opportunity types
When you create a new opportunity, you’ll choose either a Contract type or a Work Order type.
Contract
Contracts are best for recurring work that you’ll complete at regular intervals like lawn maintenance, snow removal, and irrigation servicing. Contracts can be renewed every year.
Work order
Work Orders are for one-time jobs like tree installation or removal, irrigation installation, and construction work.
Contract invoice types
When you create a new contract opportunity, you select one of three invoice types that determine how and when you bill the customer for the work to be completed. The invoice type you select should fit the type of work to be done.
Fixed Payment
Best for regular maintenance or services on a set schedule, such as annual mowing contracts. The Invoicing Assistant allows invoicing based on the payment schedule you set when creating the Fixed Payment estimate.
Learn more in our article about creating Fixed Payment contracts.
Per Service
Best for billing that needs to prioritize a single event such as emergency snow removal or a last minute repair service. The Invoicing Assistant allows invoicing for Per Service contracts based on the date the work ticket is completed.
Learn more in our article about creating per service contracts.
T&M (Time and Materials)
Best for work that spans across seasons, requires extra materials or labor, or has undefined expenses. The Invoicing Assistant allows invoicing for T&M only when all work tickets on the job are completed and approved. Invoices are based on time and materials reported to the job.
Learn more in our article about creating T&M contracts.
Work order invoice types
When you create a new work order opportunity, you’ll select one of four invoice types that determine how and when you bill the customer for the work to be completed. The invoice type you select should fit the type of work to be done.
Fixed Price on a Payment Schedule
Best for large projects where the client pays in installments based on a schedule as work is completed. Your customer can pay a deposit upfront and make payments based on the schedule you set when creating the estimate.
Learn more in our article about creating Fixed Price on Payment Schedule work orders.
T&M on Completion
Best for work that spans across seasons, requires extra materials or labor, or has undefined expenses. The Invoicing Assistant allows invoicing for T&M on Completion only when all work tickets on the job are completed and approved. Invoices are based on actual time and materials reported to the job.
Learn more in our article about creating T&M on Completion work orders.
Fixed Price on Completion
Best when you want to send one invoice for the total agreed-upon price after the work is done. The Invoicing Assistant allows invoicing for Fixed Price on Completion once the final work ticket on the work order is marked as complete.
Learn more in our article about creating Fixed Price on Completion work orders.
Fixed Price Open Billing
Best for construction-related jobs. You can bill your customer some or all of the full amount of the opportunity at any time. There are no thresholds that must be met before invoicing, making this the most flexible work order invoice option.
Learn more in our article about creating Fixed Price Open Billing work orders. Und