Steps
- Open the Business Settings page. In the back office sidebar, open Settings and click Setting. This is the Business Settings page at /business/settings, with its tabs down the left and a search box at the top.
- Click the Prefixes tab. Prefixes is the eleventh tab in the list on the left.
- Set purchase and return prefixes. Fill in Purchase Order, Purchase Return and Sell Return. The Purchase Order box sets the prefix used on purchases.
- Set stock and expense prefixes. Fill in Stock Transfer, Stock Adjustment and Expenses.
- Set payment prefixes. Fill in Purchase Payment, Sell Payment and Expense Payment, used on payment reference numbers.
- Set the remaining prefixes. Fill in Contacts, Business Location, Username, Subscription No. and Draft as you need.
- Click Update Settings. Click Update Settings at the bottom of the page. Every tab on this page saves together, so finish any other tab you changed before you click.
Tips
Short prefixes of two to four letters keep reference numbers easy to read aloud and search. If you run several businesses, a different prefix for each makes paperwork easy to tell apart.
Sale invoice numbers aren't set here. They come from invoice schemes under Settings › Invoice Settings, which also control the starting number and digit count.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I change the invoice number prefix?
Sales invoice numbers use invoice schemes, not this tab. Open Settings › Invoice Settings, edit the scheme on the Invoice Schemes tab and change its Prefix. The Prefixes tab covers purchases, returns, stock, expenses, payments and contacts.
Will changing a prefix renumber old records?
No. Existing purchases, returns and payments keep the reference numbers they were saved with. Only records created after you click Update Settings use the new prefix.