Step by step
Bill a fixed fee by milestones
Split a fixed fee into stages, each with its amount and the date it falls due. Each stage is ready to invoice once its date comes.
A fixed fee, such as an audit’s, is usually billed in stages: part when the work is accepted, part after fieldwork, the rest when the report is signed. In Kila each stage is a milestone with its amount and due date. Time logged on a fixed-fee project still shows what the work cost, against its budget.
Before you start
Link to this section: Before you start- The project is billed by Fixed fee (milestones): choose it under Billed by when you open it, or with Edit. See Open a project for a client.
Open the project's Milestones tab
Open the project and tap its Milestones tab. Until it has some, the tab says “A fixed fee is billed in stages. Add each stage with its amount; it is ready to invoice once its date comes.” Tap Add milestone.
Name the stage
Under Stage, say what the client is paying for at this point, such as “Fieldwork completed (40%)”.
Enter its amount
Type the Amount of the fee for this stage.
Choose when it falls due, then tap Add
Choose the Due date: the stage is ready to invoice from that day. Tap Add, then add the next stage the same way.
Steps 2 to 4 in one dialog. Check the stages
The tab lists each Stage, when it is Due, its Amount and its status: Pending until it is billed.
Invoice each stage when it falls due
A stage shows on the Unbilled tab with the client’s other work. Once its date has come it is ticked, so the next invoice takes it in; a stage due later stays unticked. Invoice it as in Invoice unbilled time and expenses.
Good to know
At an accounting firm, the month-end billing run picks up milestones that are due as well: see Run the month-end billing.
- Set a project’s budget and rates: the hours a fixed fee is expected to take.
- Record your time: “Left as it is, time on a fixed-fee engagement is not billable.”