QuickBooks will let you quickly and easily customize the templates you use in your business. Templates are the forms that display things like invoices and statements.
You can customize the look on screen, but you can do even more customizing of the printed form. This allows you to present the image you want to your customers.
For today’s post, let’s add a logo to our invoice. It will make our customer invoices less generic and give us the customized look we want to present to our customers or clients.
There are actually two ways to begin. One is by accessing the template list. Lists->Templates.
Most of the entries on this list are standard forms and come with QuickBooks. You can see the right-hand column tells us what kind of transaction a particular template creates.
Most of the templates that come with QuickBooks will require you to make a copy if you try to customize them. Duplicating a template is a simple process that QuickBooks usually handles itself. It ensures that you can always go back to the original template if you need to.
The template the arrow points to in the graphic is the custom template we will work on.
First, you should be aware of the other way to access the customize procedures in QuickBooks.
With an invoice form open, it is possible to choose the Format tab on the ribbon. Then click on the Customize Data Layout icon. Make sure you have the invoice template you want to customize as the template in use for the invoice.
Choosing to edit a template from the template list opens the Basic Customization window. Choosing Customize Data Layout from the invoice form opens the Additional Customization window.
The ability to add a logo is a function located on the Basic Customization window. If you started from the template list, you’re there. If from the invoice, simply click the Basic Customization button at the bottom.
When we select the Use Logo checkbox, the Select Logo button becomes active and is no longer grayed out. We will select, in a familiar navigation screen, the location of the graphic file of our company logo.
Once we do, QuickBooks immediately places it in the upper left-hand corner of the invoice template. We could move it if desired, but this is the most common location.
QuickBooks will immediately show the new look in the preview pane of the customization window like so:
If you print in color, you might consider using a color graphic file for you logo. It will help the image to really stand out.
Hector Garcia, CPA
Certified Advanced QuickBooks ProAdvisor
12401 Orange Drive #136
Davie, FL 33330
954-414-1524
hector@garciacpa.com
