Purpose Statement

The Billing section of Inspection Types allows administrators to configure whether inspectors can issue invoices directly from inspections. This feature streamlines the billing process by enabling real-time invoice generation during inspections, improving cash flow and reducing administrative overhead for fire prevention and inspection departments.

Background Information

The Billing configuration is part of the comprehensive Inspection Type setup process in First Due. This feature is particularly valuable for departments that charge fees for various inspection services such as fire safety inspections, plan reviews, or re-inspections. When enabled, inspectors can generate and issue invoices on-site, eliminating delays between inspection completion and billing initiation. This capability is essential for departments seeking to maximize revenue collection efficiency and provide immediate billing documentation to property owners.

Required Permissions

To configure Billing settings for Inspection Types, users must have:

• Administrator permissions for the Inspections module
• Access to Inspection Type management functions
• Billing module permissions (if integrated billing features are enabled)

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Step-by-Step Guide

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1. Click on Inspections.

2. Click on Inspection Types.

3. Click on BILLING.

4. Click Yes to enable the Inspector to issue an Invoice from the Inspection. Leave No selected if you do not want the Inspector to issue an Invoice from the Inspection.

5. See the Inspection Type - Part 6: Community Connect Knowledge Base Article to continue your setup.

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Best Practices

• Enable billing only for inspection types that typically require payment (fee-based inspections, re-inspections, plan reviews)
• Ensure inspectors are properly trained on invoice generation procedures before enabling this feature
• Coordinate with your department's accounting/billing procedures to ensure seamless integration
• Consider enabling billing for inspection types with standard fee structures rather than variable pricing
• Test the billing workflow in a controlled environment before rolling out to all inspectors
• Document your department's billing policies and ensure they align with the software configuration

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: What happens if I enable billing but don't have proper billing permissions set up? A: Inspectors may see billing options but won't be able to generate invoices. Ensure proper billing module permissions are configured.

Q: Can I change the billing setting after inspections have been conducted? A: Yes, but this change will only affect future inspections. Previously completed inspections retain their original billing configuration.

Q: Will enabling billing require additional training for inspectors? A: Yes, inspectors should be trained on invoice generation procedures, fee structures, and any payment collection policies.

Q: Can different inspection types have different billing configurations? A: Yes, each inspection type can be configured independently for billing capabilities.

Related Articles

• Inspection Type - Part 1: Creating and Editing Inspection Type
• Inspection Type - Part 2: Creating and Editing an Inspection Checklist
• Inspection Type - Part 3: Forms
• Inspection Type - Part 4: Email
• Inspection Type - Part 6: Community Connect