Packages are reusable groups of line items that save time when building invoices. Create a package template once, then drop it into any invoice, or add it to a proposal so clients can select the services they want.
Create a package template
Package templates live in their own area inside the Invoicing app, where you can build and manage the services and products you offer.
In the left sidebar, click Invoicing ➔ Packages.
Click the + icon at the top of the package list to create a new package. The package opens with the default name New Package.
Click the title in the package header and type a name for the package.
Click + Add item at the bottom of the line item table to add your first line item.
Fill in the line item fields:
Item name (required)
Qty.
Price
Tax
Item description
Income category
Click Apply to save the line item, or click Cancel to discard it.
Repeat to add more line items. Drag a line item by the handle on the left edge of the row to reorder it.
As you make changes, the status indicator below the package title shows Saving... while changes are in flight and All changes saved once they're stored.
Package templates auto-save as you make changes. There is no manual save button on the package itself.
Line item options
Each line item has its own editor with fields for pricing, tax, descriptions, and income tracking. Here's what each field does and the per-item actions available.
Item name and description
The Item name is required and appears as the line item's title on invoices and proposals. The Item description sits below the name and gives clients more context about what the line item covers.
To format the description as a bulleted list, click the list icon on the description field. The tooltip toggles between Add bullet points and Remove bullet points depending on the current format.
Quantity, price, and amount
Enter the Qty. (quantity) and Price for each line item. Dubsado multiplies them automatically and shows the result in the Amount column.
Tax
Click the tax field on a line item to open the tax popover. From there, you can:
Check one or more existing tax items to apply them to the line item.
Click New tax item to create a new tax item inline without leaving the package editor.
Tax items are reusable across invoices and packages. For more details, see the article on adding tax to an invoice.
Income category
Income categories let you track which line items contribute to which parts of your business income. Click the income category dropdown on a line item and either:
Select an existing category from the list.
Click New income category to create a new category inline.
Duplicate, delete, and reorder line items
Hover over a saved line item to reveal per-row actions:
Click the copy icon to duplicate the line item.
Click the trash icon to delete the line item.
Click and drag the handle on the left edge of the row to reorder line items.
Add a package note
A package note is an optional rich text block that travels with the package's line items.
Below the line item table, toggle on Package note. A rich text editor appears where you can type the note and use smart fields. When you add the package to an invoice, the note is included alongside the line items.
Add a package to an invoice
Once you've built a package, you can apply it to any invoice in just a few clicks.
Open an invoice in edit mode. For full invoice creation steps, see the article on creating an invoice.
Click Add a package in the line items toolbar.
Select a package from the dropdown.
The package's line items are copied into the invoice. You can edit them on the invoice without affecting the original template.
Editing a package's line items on the invoice does not change the original package template. To update the template, go to Invoicing ➔ Packages and edit it there.
Save invoice line items as a package
If you've already built out the line items on an invoice and want to reuse them later, you can save them as a new package template.
While editing an invoice, click Add a package in the line items toolbar.
Select Save as package at the bottom of the dropdown.
In the New package dialog, enter a name in the Package name field.
Click OK.
The new package template appears under Invoicing ➔ Packages, ready to apply to future invoices.
Use packages on proposals
Packages aren't just for invoices. You can add them to a proposal template in the form builder so clients can select the services they want when they review the proposal. For step-by-step instructions, see the article on building a proposal, and the article on requiring a package on a proposal.
For add-on packages, create a separate package template for each add-on. That way clients can pick and choose which add-ons they want. If you combine several services into one package, clients have to take all of them or none.
Manage package templates
The package header has actions for duplicating and deleting templates, plus a guard that protects packages already in use on proposals.
Duplicate a package
Click the copy icon in the package header (tooltip: Duplicate) to create a copy of the current template. The copy opens immediately so you can rename it and adjust the line items.
Delete a package
Click the trash icon in the package header (tooltip: Delete). A confirmation dialog titled Delete Package appears with the message "Are you sure you want to delete this package? This action cannot be undone." Click Delete to confirm.
Deleting a package template does not remove it from proposals that already use it. To stop offering a package on a proposal, also remove it from each proposal template in the form builder.
Update a package used on proposals
When a package is referenced by one or more proposal templates, a Used on N proposals indicator appears below the title and auto-save is suspended. A Save and update N templates button replaces the auto-save status. Click it to push your changes to every proposal template that uses this package.
Project copies of proposals are not affected by updates to packages -- only future uses of your package templates.
FAQ
If I edit a package template, does it update existing invoices?
No. When you add a package to an invoice, the line items are copied onto the invoice. Editing the template later won't change invoices that already have the package applied. To update an existing invoice, edit the invoice directly.
If I edit a package template, does it update proposals that use this package?
When a package is used on one or more proposals, auto-save pauses and a Save and update N templates button appears in the package header. Click it to update the package on every proposal template that references it in one step.
Project copies of proposals are not affected by updates to packages.
Can I add a discount directly to a package template?
No. Discounts can't be added to a package template itself. Instead, you can add the package to an invoice and apply a discount on the invoice, or set up a proposal that allows clients to apply a discount.
I deleted a package template but it still appears on my proposal. How do I remove it?
Deleting a package template doesn't remove it from proposals that already include it. Open each proposal template in the form builder and remove the package element, or swap it for a different package. Until you do, clients can still select that package from the proposal.
How do I save an invoice's line items as a new package?
While editing the invoice, click Add a package ➔ Save as package, then enter a name and click OK. This is the only way to create a package from invoice line items.