Invoice Settings
Invoice numbering is configured per business, so every invoice you create follows a consistent, predictable sequence.Invoice numbering lives at Settings → Business → Invoice Design → Numbering. The same screen also has Logo and Footer tabs for visual branding — see Invoice Templates.
Numbering Format
1
Set your invoice number format
Enter a format string using placeholders:
{NUMBER}— the sequential number{YEAR}— the current year{MONTH}— the current month
INV-{YEAR}{MONTH}-{NUMBER} produces numbers like INV-202607-0001.2
Set the next invoice number
This is the sequential number your next invoice will use.
3
Set the number padding
Choose how many digits the sequential number is padded to with leading zeros (1–10). A padding of 4 turns
1 into 0001.4
Check the live preview
The settings page shows exactly how your next invoice number will look, based on your current format, next number, and padding.
How the Sequence Resets
Your numbering scope is determined automatically by which placeholders you use in the format:
When generating the next number, PayRequest checks your existing invoices matching the current period’s prefix and uses whichever is higher: your stored “next number” setting, or one past the highest number already used. This avoids duplicate invoice numbers even if you’ve manually edited a number before.
Credit notes draw from the same numbering sequence as regular invoices — creating a credit note also advances your next invoice number.
Related Invoice Defaults
A few other settings affect how new invoices behave, though they live on separate settings screens:FAQ
Can I use letters or symbols other than the placeholders in my format?
Can I use letters or symbols other than the placeholders in my format?
Yes, anything outside of
{NUMBER}, {YEAR}, and {MONTH} is treated as literal text — useful for prefixes like INV- or separators.What happens if I lower the 'next invoice number' below invoices I already have?
What happens if I lower the 'next invoice number' below invoices I already have?
PayRequest always uses the higher of your stored next number and one past the highest existing invoice number in the current numbering scope, so you won’t get a collision with an existing invoice number.
Does changing the format retroactively change past invoice numbers?
Does changing the format retroactively change past invoice numbers?
No. Existing invoices keep the number they were created with. Only invoices created after the change use the new format.
Next Steps
Invoice Templates
Customize your invoice’s logo and footer
Creating Invoices
Learn the invoice creation flow
Payment Reminders
Configure your automatic reminder schedule
Tax & VAT Guide
Set your default tax rate and VAT registration