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How To Create Packages (No Module) And Put Into Recurring Invoices


jjsararas

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Hi folks, very new to this and banging my head against the wall.

 

It started with attempting to create packages. The documentation (which I promise I've scoured) reads "By default Module Options does not appear, but may appear when a module is selected within the Basic section", except the Module option DOES appear, and is required, and so forces me to install a module. I installed the Blesta Universal Module, which led me down another path of having to create stuff FOR the module in order to create it, and by now I'm into package groups, optional add ons, services, and I'm totally lost. I'm trying to back my way out of my mess, but I can't delete the package because apparently a service is using it. And I can't uninstall the module because the package that I can't delete is requring IT. And I just want to start over and do it properly. 

 

What I'm attempting to do is create recurring invoices for monthly service products. (I may automate through a cPanel module at some point, but for now I just need packages, and to drop them into invoices). I'd like to create the products in the system (as opposed to new line items each time for each customer as per the recurring invoice tutorial.) I thought I could just create packages but I am having trouble wrapping my head around all the terms, as evidenced above. Can anyone walk me through the various elements/data types, their use, and how to best accomplish my goal? 

 

I'm really impressed with the community, and the software, I just gotta figure out how to use it!

 

Many thanks

 

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Hello mate, this might help you: https://licensecart.com/billing/plugin/support_manager/knowledgebase/view/279/how-can-i-sell-a-product-without-a-module/11/

 

If you are trying to add configurable options to products I can try and do a tutorial haha took me a while to get around it myself.

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We have some improvements planned to simplify creating packages, it can definitely be a little confusing your first time through.

 

You have probably done most of it right, and Mike's tutorial on the Universal Module is good.

Any packages you have that you don't want to use, just change them to inactive and create a new one. Here's the basic order for using the Universal Module and creating a package.

 

  • Create a Universal Module product. If the customer should be presented to fill out anything for the service, create 1 or more service fields. Settings > Company > Modules > Universal Module
  • Create a Package, select the Universal Module as the module, and the Product you created above.
  • Set your pricing and other options
  • Add this package to an existing Package Group, or create a new group from here.

 

If you are adding the services to clients manually, you can use the Add Service option on their profile page, select the package, and continue through the wizard to add the service. If you want customers to be able to order the package directly, create an order form under Packages > Order Forms and add the Package Group to the order form.

 

If you want a little help getting this initial one set up, you're welcome to give me a call at 714-398-8132 x100. We're in the USA.

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Hi Paul, I may take you up on the phone call yet, but I'm going to try and keep working through it. Can you tell me if I'm understanding Services, Invoices and Packages?

 
What's confusing me is the Description field on Create Invoice appears to just be a text field. There is no 'add service/package to invoice' which would connect the line item on the invoice, to an actual service (so that if a Package Name were to change, it wouldn't reflect on invoices. I'm assuming it would update in the Service widget, but it's looking like it would *not* update on the invoice line item, and that would have to be done manually correct?) So The client never sees the actual Service details (unless they log into their account of course), but only the Invoice line item Description. Correct?
 
Please tell me if I have this straight:
 
A service is added to an account, and runs as long as the service is active, regardless of what's happening on the invoice(s). 
The service may be connected to a module, and performing actions based on that module's setup, but may also be non-module. 
SO, my question: if a service is not performing any module actions, then - on the invoice line item - it's completely arbitrary whether I choose the name of the service, or put in other text, correct? I could have a service called 'monthly license' active/indefinetly, which includes a Package, and the line item on the invoice could read 'bread delivery', correct?
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What's confusing me is the Description field on Create Invoice appears to just be a text field. There is no 'add service/package to invoice' which would connect the line item on the invoice, to an actual service (so that if a Package Name were to change, it wouldn't reflect on invoices. I'm assuming it would update in the Service widget, but it's looking like it would *not* update on the invoice line item, and that would have to be done manually correct?) So The client never sees the actual Service details (unless they log into their account of course), but only the Invoice line item Description. Correct?

 

When adding a service /  product you get the option to create an invoice or add to an existing invoice.

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When adding a service /  product you get the option to create an invoice or add to an existing invoice.

 

Thanks, I can imagine this is probably second nature to you. Unfortunately your response doesn't help me. I was hoping someone could take a look at what I wrote and let me know if I'm understanding things correctly. Thanks in advance!

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Thanks, I can imagine this is probably second nature to you. Unfortunately your response doesn't help me. I was hoping someone could take a look at what I wrote and let me know if I'm understanding things correctly. Thanks in advance!

 

 

See my video: http://screencast.com/t/JUeIKo33jx

 

When adding a service you get a option if an invoice is made:

 

Invoice Method

Create Invoice      Append to Invoice [invoice ID]      Do Not Invoice

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It sounds like you're confused about how to create services and how they work in Blesta. I'll start by clarifying what you were asking about earlier:

 

Please tell me if I have this straight:

 
A service is added to an account, and runs as long as the service is active, regardless of what's happening on the invoice(s). 

If an invoice is generated for a service, the service will only be made active when the invoice is paid. Once paid, the service will remain active. If the service renews on a recurring basis, an invoice will be created before the service renews. If that new invoice is not paid, the service will eventually be suspended for lack of payment.

 

 

The service may be connected to a module, and performing actions based on that module's setup, but may also be non-module. 

All services are connected to a module. The module essentially determines the "type" of service. e.g. the cPanel module is used to create cPanel services

 

SO, my question: if a service is not performing any module actions, then - on the invoice line item - it's completely arbitrary whether I choose the name of the service, or put in other text, correct? I could have a service called 'monthly license' active/indefinetly, which includes a Package, and the line item on the invoice could read 'bread delivery', correct?

An invoice line item for a service usually follows the format: Package Name - Service Key (from date - to date). This is set automatically when the invoice is created.

 

 

If you were just starting out with Blesta and wanted to test creating a service for a client, you might do the following:

  1. Determine the type of service you want to create. This would be based on a module, e.g. cPanel, SolusVM, etc.
  2. Activate the module and setup credentials for it from [settings] -> [Modules] -> (Manage the module).
  3. Create a Package based on the module, which will define any settings for the product and allow you to set pricing. Create a package under [Packages] -> (Create Package). There can be a lot of settings, depending on the module you're using, but at minimum, set a Package Name, select the Module you previously defined, define at least one row of pricing (term, period, price), and assign this package to a Package Group. You can create a package group for the package to be assigned if you do not already have one.
  4. Create a client under [Clients] -> (Add Client) to which you will assign a service.
  5. Once the client is created, you can view their profile from the [Clients] listing by clicking on the link from their Client ID.
  6. Once viewing the client's profile, you can manually create a service for them based on the package you created. In the left sidebar, find "Add Service" under Account Actions. Choose the package you created and continue. You will then be asked for more specific options to set for the service (if the module allows for it), as well as basic options about the Term (and pricing) you want to set for the service. You can also choose whether to allow an invoice to be created, or instead create this service for free. Continue to review the details of the service. Then you can create it.
  7. Once the service has been created, it will appear in the Services table of the client's profile page. An invoice may also have been created, if you chose to invoice for the service, in the Invoices table.

 

I know there is a bit of a learning curve with how to go about managing services and how they work, but if the documentation is not enough, feel free to ask more questions.

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AH ok, I now understand Mike's first response too: generate a recurring invoice first, and then add services to it. Is there a method to invoice for a one-off fee (a project completion cost), and include a recurring fee (monthly maintenance) on that invoice, and have it that next month they will get an invoice with only the recurring monthly fee? Or would I need to create one invoice for the one-off, and a recurring invoice for the monthly fee?

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AH ok, I now understand Mike's first response too: generate a recurring invoice first, and then add services to it. Is there a method to invoice for a one-off fee (a project completion cost), and include a recurring fee (monthly maintenance) on that invoice, and have it that next month they will get an invoice with only the recurring monthly fee? Or would I need to create one invoice for the one-off, and a recurring invoice for the monthly fee?

 

You could do a package so you don't need to make a recurring invoice and just select create invoice. You would however need to do the following:

 

1. Make a Universal Package.

2. Make a package with your price(s) and use the Universal Module, and select the package you made on the module.

3. Make a Package Group

4. Make a Order form with the package group.

 

All done. When an order is made it will make a invoice, after it's paid it will be set to active or pending if you select manual provision.

We do that for licenses we don't have a module for.

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You could do a package so you don't need to make a recurring invoice and just select create invoice. You would however need to do the following:

 

1. Make a Universal Package.

2. Make a package with your price(s) and use the Universal Module, and select the package you made on the module.

3. Make a Package Group

4. Make a Order form with the package group.

 

All done. When an order is made it will make a invoice, after it's paid it will be set to active or pending if you select manual provision.

We do that for licenses we don't have a module for.

 

Ok, none of it is customer-facing so do you mean create an order form and fill it out myself? Then at that time I select manual provision? I'm not clear how to separate the single occurrence item from the monthly recurring item.

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I already have a Package, which I created a Service for, and then when adding that Service to a client I chose 'append to invoice' (as you suggested above). I have the package set as Active, with Term 1, Period Monthly. Are you saying that since it's set as Active, that's it is already set to automatically create an invoice each month? Ie me setting a recurring invoice on an active monthly package is redundant? 

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Ok, none of it is customer-facing so do you mean create an order form and fill it out myself? Then at that time I select manual provision? I'm not clear how to separate the single occurrence item from the monthly recurring item.

 

If it's not customer facing for ordering don't make the order form :) just make the others and then click New service on their client page. You don't make a single invoice the module makes it.... Just click Create a Invoice, mark it as Pending. Save.

 

Customer pays the invoice, cron runs and the service is active.

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I have the package set as Active, with Term 1, Period Monthly. Are you saying that since it's set as Active, that's it is already set to automatically create an invoice each month? Ie me setting a recurring invoice on an active monthly package is redundant? 

 

Yes, it is redundant and will result in duplicate invoices (1 created from the service renewing automatically each month, and 1 created from the recurring invoice). You can remove the recurring invoice and just allow the cron to handle invoicing based on each service's renew date automatically.

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AH ok, I now understand Mike's first response too: generate a recurring invoice first, and then add services to it.

 

I think you do not want to create a recurring invoice, and instead just create a recurring service, which will automatically generate invoices as it recurs (based on your billing settings).

 

 

Is there a method to invoice for a one-off fee (a project completion cost), and include a recurring fee (monthly maintenance) on that invoice, and have it that next month they will get an invoice with only the recurring monthly fee? Or would I need to create one invoice for the one-off, and a recurring invoice for the monthly fee?

 

If I understand your scenario correctly, I think you would need to create a one-off invoice for the one-time fee for the project completion cost. Then, use a recurring invoice (or create a service) that renews monthly to bill the recurring fee.

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If I understand your scenario correctly, I think you would need to create a one-off invoice for the one-time fee for the project completion cost. Then, use a recurring invoice (or create a service) that renews monthly to bill the recurring fee.

 

 

Thanks Tyson, that makes sense.. Now I have to wrap my head around creating and setting up the packages from within the Universal Module as per Mike's instruction above. I had previously just set them up under Packages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks Tyson, that makes sense.. Now I have to wrap my head around creating and setting up the packages from within the Universal Module as per Mike's instruction above. I had previously just set them up under Packages.

 

It should be very similar. You will still create a package, however, when you select the module, you will choose the Universal Module and then select the product you created in the Universal Module.

 

e.g.

  1. Go to [settings] -> [Modules] -> [universal Module] (Manage).
  2. Click "Add Product"
  3. Enter a Name for the product, e.g. "Recurring Fee"
  4. Save the product by clicking "Add Product" at the bottom. You can ignore all of the other package/service fields if you do not need to specify any custom information.
  5. Go to the [Packages] tab.
  6. Click "Create Package"
  7. For the "Module" field, select the Universal Module.
  8. An option will appear to then select a Universal Module product. Select the one you just created (e.g. "Recurring Fee").
  9. Fill in the remaining package fields (I assume you already know how--I described an example in a previous post)
  10. Create a Service for a client, and choose this package you just created. An invoice will be created based on the pricing you have configured. It will then continue to be invoiced on a recurring basis based on that pricing
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Ok thanks Tyson, here's what I did:

 

I created a Product in Module - 'Maintained Hosting Product - Tier 1' 

I used that for the Package - 'Maintained Hosting - Tier 1' and changed the period to Day - assuming it would then send every (1) (Day). Just did this so I wouldn't have to wait a month to test it.

I went to the Client, created a Service, choosing that package.

 

But no invoices were created or sent.

 

Here's a vid of my settings. http://screencast.com/t/beHFoM7tNmy9 Is it because the renew date is April 12? Do I need to change that to today/tomorrow? 
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Ok thanks Tyson, here's what I did:
 
I created a Product in Module - 'Maintained Hosting Product - Tier 1' 
I used that for the Package - 'Maintained Hosting - Tier 1' and changed the period to Day - assuming it would then send every (1) (Day). Just did this so I wouldn't have to wait a month to test it.
I went to the Client, created a Service, choosing that package.
 
But no invoices were created or sent.
 
Here's a vid of my settings. http://screencast.com/t/beHFoM7tNmy9 Is it because the renew date is April 12? Do I need to change that to today/tomorrow? 

 

 

Can you make a new service for it or place an order via the order form because that looks like it was already active.

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I got it working. I think the problem is, I didn't uncheck the 'send confirmation email', and I had that email disabled in the email template configuration, and so that throws an error and gums up the invoice process. Devs might want to tidy that up for newbs like me.

 

Ah I would have thought that would be invalid tags in the welcome email so haha.

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