Definition
Progress tracking monitors the actual work completed on-site, and billing is generated accordingly to reflect the project's actual progress.
Progressive Invoice
It is a bill for the portion of work completed in a project so far, after adjusting for advance payments and retention.
In FirstBit, a progressive invoice is built through a series of linked documents-
- Advance Invoice- Issued to request upfront payment before work begins.
- Payment Received- Records client payment and marks it for offsetting.
- Project Progress Report - captures the percentage of work completed on-site.
- Payment Application Issued - Drafts the billing claim based on reported progress.
- Payment Certificate Received - Approves and certifies the amount to be invoiced.
- Progressive Invoice - An invoice issued based on the certified amount, with any applicable advance deductions
- Credit Note - Used to adjust or correct previous invoices.
Retention
It is a percentage (e.g., 10%) of the invoiced amount that is temporarily withheld to ensure the contractor completes the project properly and resolves any defects that may arise. In FirstBit, retention can be applied per invoice or only at the project end, based on contract settings. The retained amount is not lost; it is posted separately to Retention Receivables and can be claimed later.
VAT on Retention can be treated in two ways:
Before Retention – VAT is calculated on the full invoice amount, including the retained portion. This means the client pays VAT upfront, even if part of the payment is held back.
After Retention – VAT is calculated on the net amount (after retention deduction). Later, when the retention is claimed, VAT is again calculated on the retained amount through a separate document. This method aligns VAT with actual payments.
Once the project is complete and the retention period (e.g., 12 months) ends, the retained amount is returned. The system automatically fetches the original retention and VAT details. A Tax Invoice can then be generated to finalize the release and ensure VAT compliance.
Advance Tracking
The system allows advances paid by the client to be tracked and offset automatically or manually against future progressive invoices. This ensures that only the remaining balance (net payable) is invoiced. The link between the advance invoice and the progressive invoice is maintained, and users can review how much of the advance has been used or is still available.