Quote it, get it approved, invoice it

Build an estimate from the job, send it for approval, and turn the finished work into an invoice without typing anything twice. VAT is worked out for you.

How garage invoicing works in Pistonlog

Invoicing in Pistonlog starts on the jobcard. You build an estimate from the work, parts and labour already recorded, send it to the customer for approval, and once the job is done you turn it into an invoice in one click. VAT is calculated as you go, and the invoice always matches the work on the job because both come from the same record.

Compare plans and message credit costs
The bill matches the job
Parts and labour come off the jobcard, so nothing gets left off and nothing gets charged twice.
Approval in writing
Send the estimate, get a yes, and have a record of it if anyone questions the bill later.
VAT handled for you
Net, VAT and gross are worked out on every line so your figures add up at the end of the quarter.
Estimates & Invoicing in Pistonlog

Building an estimate, getting it approved and raising the invoice.

From estimate to paid invoice

One record from the first quote to the finished bill.

  1. Build the estimate from the job

    The work is already on the jobcard, so the estimate builds itself from it. Add parts, set your labour rate and the totals update as you type.

    A saved job template ready to drop onto a jobcard
  2. Send it and wait for a yes

    Email the estimate to the customer and let them read it properly. When they approve, the work moves into the job rather than sitting in a separate quote somewhere.

    The messages tab on a jobcard with a team conversation
  3. Turn the finished job into an invoice

    When the work is done, raise the invoice from the jobcard in one click. Your logo, address and VAT number are already on it.

    The invoices list showing what is paid and what is still owed
  4. See what is still owed

    Every invoice shows where it stands, so you know what is a draft, what has gone out and what is still outstanding without digging through a folder.

    A dashboard of the garage's monthly numbers

Get paid sooner, with less arguing

The job is done and the money is still sat out there somewhere. Here is what changes when the bill writes itself off the jobcard.

Paid Sooner
The invoice goes out same day
It builds itself from the work you already logged, so it goes out while the customer is still stood at the desk rather than on Sunday night.
No Surprises
They agreed the price already
The estimate they approved turns into the invoice. Nobody is reading a number they have not seen before, so nobody is arguing about it.
Every Hour
Nothing falls off the bill
Parts and labour go on as the job happens. The half hour you spent chasing a seized bolt is on there, because you put it on there at the time.

What you get with invoicing

The detail behind the feature, without the sales talk.

Invoice from the jobcard

Raise an invoice from finished work instead of retyping it into another system.

Pro forma invoices

Send a draft as a pro forma when the customer needs the figure before the work starts.

UK VAT worked out

Net, VAT and gross on every line, so the totals hold up when your accountant looks at them.

Email it straight out

Send the invoice to the customer from Pistonlog with your garage branding on it.

A record of who issued it

Every invoice records who raised it and when, so there is never a question about where a number came from.

Exports for the accountant

Pull your sales VAT figures out as a file rather than adding invoices up by hand.

Estimates & Invoicing questions

The things garage owners ask before they switch.

Can I invoice straight from a job card?
Yes. The invoice is built from the finished jobcard, so the parts, labour and totals carry across without being typed again. That keeps the bill and the work in agreement.
Does Pistonlog handle UK VAT?
Yes. Net, VAT and gross are calculated on every line of an estimate or invoice, and you can export your sales VAT figures for the quarter.
What is a pro forma invoice?
A pro forma invoice is a document that shows the customer what the job will cost before the work is done or before payment is taken. It is not a tax invoice. In Pistonlog you can send a draft as a pro forma and raise the real invoice later.
Can customers approve an estimate before work starts?
Yes. You send the estimate to the customer, they read it and approve it, and the approved work moves onto the jobcard so the technician is only doing work that has been agreed.

See it working in your own garage

Set up an account and try it on a real job. No long contract, and you can cancel whenever you like.