How do I invoice now for a subscription that starts in the future in Zoho Billing?

A future-dated subscription in Zoho Billing normally raises its first invoice on the start date, not on the day you create it. To bill the customer now, start the subscription today with the billing date you want, raise a separate one-time invoice for the first period, or use the advance billing setting where your edition supports it. Pick the option that keeps revenue dates correct.

When you set a start date in the future, the subscription waits in a future status. Nothing is charged until that date. This protects you from billing for service you have not started, but it does not suit customers who must pay upfront, such as annual contracts signed weeks before go-live.

The cleanest workaround depends on how you report revenue. If the service period can start today, create the subscription with today's date. If it must start later, raise a one-time invoice now for the first term and set the subscription so its first recurring charge falls after that term. Some editions also offer advance billing, which creates renewal invoices a set number of days early. Check the current Zoho Billing help page for what your plan supports.

Whatever you choose, confirm with your accountant how the upfront payment should be recorded. Payments received before service starts are often treated as deferred revenue. Test the setup with a dummy customer so you can see exactly which invoices are created and when.

Written by Flowpeak, a Zoho implementation partner. Zoho pricing and features change, so confirm current details on the official Zoho site. Free checklists | Ask us a question