Client Numbering

Client numbers identify clients in Vision. Using client numbers is optional. Using client numbers is common for firms that do repeat work for a client or for firms that have several jobs for a given client.

Before you begin to use Vision, you should decide whether or not you want to establish a pool of information about your clients. Client data includes the client's name and address, your contact at the client office, and an unlimited number of internal notes about the client. If you choose to store client data, you must establish a client numbering system.

Reasons to Use Client Numbers

If you choose to enter client information, you can associate clients with particular projects and tasks in the Project Info Center. Then you can do the following:

• Sort reports by client, meaning that you see the client name and, below that, all the projects and tasks associated with the client.
• Generate reports for selected clients, subtotal reports by client, and display the client name on project reports.
• Generate one invoice that includes all of the projects for a particular client.

If you use Vision Billing, client numbers make it easier to enter project billing terms. Instead of entering client name and address information for each project, you can enter the client number. Vision looks up the client’s name and address, adds this information to the project’s billing terms, and prints the name and address on the project’s invoices.

Consider using this feature if you frequently:

• Do repeat work for your clients.
• Do several jobs at one time for your clients.

Numbering Format

A client number can be up to 20 characters, including one user-defined delimiter, such as a period. Most companies use the client's name as the client number, abbreviated if necessary. For example, CITYOFBOS.