> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.blinksale.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Preferences

> Configure default values, formatting options, and payment settings for your entire organization

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            <span className="text-zinc-800 dark:text-zinc-200 font-medium">Preferences</span>
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## Introduction

The Preferences Settings in Blinksale serve as the central control panel for configuring how your invoices, estimates, and other documents look and function. These settings establish organization-wide defaults that ensure consistency across all your financial documents while saving you time during document creation. By carefully configuring your preferences, you can create a streamlined workflow that matches your business needs.

## Accessing Preferences Settings

To access your preferences settings:

1. Click on the **Settings** icon in the main sidebar
2. Select **Preferences** from the settings menu
3. You'll be taken to the preferences settings page where you can configure various options

<img className="rounded-lg border border-zinc-200 dark:border-zinc-700" src="https://mintcdn.com/theavenuesllc-ac00f1e1/taDVwTdoP56tNlP4/images/preferences-settings-access.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=taDVwTdoP56tNlP4&q=85&s=9fcd3878574a30e8fdfdcf9d0ad8287d" alt="Accessing preferences settings through the settings menu" width="5634" height="3480" data-path="images/preferences-settings-access.png" />

## Preferences Overview

The preferences settings page is organized into three main tabs:

* **Formatting**: Options that control how dates, numbers, and currencies appear
* **Defaults**: Default values for currency, units, taxes, and discounts
* **Payment**: Settings for payment terms, late fees, and payment methods

Each tab contains related settings that work together to create a consistent experience across your Blinksale account.

## Formatting Settings

The Formatting tab allows you to configure how dates, numbers, and currencies appear on your documents.

<img className="rounded-lg border border-zinc-200 dark:border-zinc-700" src="https://mintcdn.com/theavenuesllc-ac00f1e1/hWDCAHwKDX9fe_FZ/images/preferences-formatting-tab.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=hWDCAHwKDX9fe_FZ&q=85&s=5581c2a8fa0d244067cbf1032ed0e2a8" alt="Formatting tab showing date, number, and currency formatting options" width="4608" height="1596" data-path="images/preferences-formatting-tab.png" />

### Currency Format

Choose how currency values appear on your documents:

* **Symbol Before Value**: \$1,234.56 (e.g., USD, CAD)
* **Symbol After Value**: 1,234.56€ (e.g., EUR)
* **Code Before Value**: USD 1,234.56
* **Code After Value**: 1,234.56 USD

### Date Format

Select your preferred date format:

* **MM/DD/YYYY**: 05/15/2025 (US style)
* **DD/MM/YYYY**: 15/05/2025 (European style)
* **YYYY-MM-DD**: 2025-05-15 (ISO format)
* **DD.MM.YYYY**: 15.05.2025
* **DD-MM-YYYY**: 15-05-2025

### Time Format

Choose between:

* **12-hour format**: 3:45 PM
* **24-hour format**: 15:45

### Timezone

Select your business timezone to ensure that all dates and times are correctly displayed according to your location.

### Number Formatting

Configure how numbers appear throughout your documents:

* **Amount Decimals**: The number of decimal places for monetary values (0, 1, or 2)
* **Quantity Decimals**: The number of decimal places for quantities (0, 1, or 2)
* **Decimal Separator**: Choose between period (.) or comma (,)
* **Thousands Separator**: Choose between comma (,), period (.), space, or none

<Tip>
  Match your number formatting to your region's conventions for better client recognition. For example, many European countries use a comma as the decimal separator and a period or space for thousands.
</Tip>

### PDF Attachment

Toggle whether to automatically attach PDF versions of invoices and estimates to emails sent to clients.

## Default Values

The Defaults tab allows you to set standard values that will be automatically applied to new invoices and estimates, saving you time during document creation.

<img className="rounded-lg border border-zinc-200 dark:border-zinc-700" src="https://mintcdn.com/theavenuesllc-ac00f1e1/hWDCAHwKDX9fe_FZ/images/preferences-defaults-tab.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=hWDCAHwKDX9fe_FZ&q=85&s=479180368214a2de23501e37978a6f8d" alt="Defaults tab showing currency, unit, and tax default settings" width="4632" height="1960" data-path="images/preferences-defaults-tab.png" />

### Currency Settings

* **Default Currency**: The primary currency you use for transactions (USD, EUR, GBP, etc.)

### Default Line Item Values

* **Default Unit Price**: The standard price that will pre-populate for new line items
* **Default Unit of Measurement**: The standard unit (hour, piece, etc.) that will be applied to new line items
* **Default Shipping**: The standard shipping amount to apply to documents

### Tax Settings

* **Tax Distribution**:
  * **No Tax**: Don't apply taxes to any items
  * **Per Item**: Apply tax to each line item individually
  * **Per Document**: Apply tax to the document total

* **Default Tax**: Select a pre-configured tax rate to apply automatically to new documents

<Note>
  Your default tax selection will only appear if you have configured taxes in the Tax Settings section, and if you've selected a tax distribution method other than "No Tax".
</Note>

### Discount Settings

* **Discount Distribution**:
  * **No Discount**: Don't apply discounts to any items
  * **Per Item**: Apply discount to each line item individually
  * **Per Document**: Apply discount to the document total

* **Default Discount Type**:
  * **Fixed Amount**: A specific monetary value (e.g., \$50 off)
  * **Percentage**: A percentage of the item or document value (e.g., 10% off)

* **Default Discount Value**: The standard discount amount (either a monetary value or percentage)

<img className="rounded-lg border border-zinc-200 dark:border-zinc-700" src="https://mintcdn.com/theavenuesllc-ac00f1e1/hWDCAHwKDX9fe_FZ/images/preferences-discount-settings.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=hWDCAHwKDX9fe_FZ&q=85&s=32da77143c907a7da608f4682bd47fb1" alt="Discount settings showing distribution, type, and value options" width="4502" height="514" data-path="images/preferences-discount-settings.png" />

## Payment Settings

The Payment tab allows you to configure payment terms, late fees, and payment methods for your invoices.

<img className="rounded-lg border border-zinc-200 dark:border-zinc-700" src="https://mintcdn.com/theavenuesllc-ac00f1e1/hWDCAHwKDX9fe_FZ/images/preferences-payment-tab.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=hWDCAHwKDX9fe_FZ&q=85&s=5459e185b5ecf27b5b3d72e0e1851da5" alt="Payment tab showing terms, late fees, and payment method options" width="4620" height="2062" data-path="images/preferences-payment-tab.png" />

### Payment Terms

Select the default payment terms for your invoices:

* **Due on Receipt**: Payment is due immediately
* **Net 7**: Payment is due within 7 days
* **Net 14**: Payment is due within 14 days
* **Net 30**: Payment is due within 30 days
* **Net 60**: Payment is due within 60 days
* **Net 90**: Payment is due within 90 days
* **Custom**: Specify your own payment terms

### Late Fees

Configure automatic late fee calculations for overdue invoices:

1. **Enable Late Fees**: Toggle whether late fees should be applied to overdue invoices

2. **Late Fee Value**: The amount to charge (either a fixed amount or percentage)

3. **Fee Type**:
   * **Fixed Amount**: A specific monetary value (e.g., \$25)
   * **Percentage**: A percentage of the invoice total (e.g., 2%)

4. **Fee Interval**:
   * **One-time**: Apply the fee once when the invoice becomes overdue
   * **Daily**: Apply the fee for each day the invoice is overdue
   * **Weekly**: Apply the fee for each week the invoice is overdue
   * **Monthly**: Apply the fee for each month the invoice is overdue

<Warning>
  Be sure to check local regulations regarding late fees. Some jurisdictions limit the amount and frequency of late fees that can be charged on overdue invoices.
</Warning>

### Payment Methods

Enable or disable different payment methods for your invoices:

* **BlinkSalePay**: Blinksale's integrated payment solution
* **Stripe**: Accept credit card payments through Stripe
* **PayPal**: Accept payments through PayPal
* **Coinbase**: Accept cryptocurrency payments through Coinbase Commerce

<Note>
  Payment methods must be connected and configured in the Payment Gateways settings before they can be enabled here. If a payment gateway shows as disabled, click on the info icon for more details.
</Note>

## Related Settings

At the bottom of the Preferences page, you'll find quick links to related settings that complement your preferences:

* **Manage Taxes**: Create and configure tax rates for different regions or types of products
* **Manage Units**: Set up different units of measurement for your products or services

## Saving Your Preferences

After making changes to your preferences:

1. Review your changes in each tab
2. Click the **Save Changes** button at the bottom of the page
3. You'll see a confirmation message when your changes are successfully saved

<Note>
  Preferences changes apply to new documents created after the changes are saved. Existing documents will maintain their original formatting and settings.
</Note>

## How Preferences Affect Your Workflow

Understanding how your preference settings impact your workflow can help you configure them optimally:

### Document Creation

* When you create new invoices or estimates, all default values (currency, units, taxes, discounts) will be pre-filled according to your preferences
* This saves time by reducing the amount of information you need to enter for each document
* You can still override these defaults on a per-document basis when needed

### Document Appearance

* Formatting preferences ensure consistent number, date, and currency display across all documents
* This creates a professional appearance and reduces confusion for your clients
* Regional formatting options help ensure your documents meet local expectations

### Payment Processing

* Payment preferences streamline the collection process by establishing clear terms
* Enabled payment methods appear as options for clients when they view invoices
* Late fee settings help encourage timely payment and automate fee calculations

## Best Practices

### Formatting Best Practices

* Choose date and number formats that match your clients' expectations in their region
* Ensure decimal and thousands separators are consistent with your currency conventions
* Use clear time formats that match your business communications style

### Defaults Best Practices

* Set defaults that reflect your most common transaction types
* Review and update defaults periodically as your business pricing or practices change
* Consider creating client-specific defaults for major clients with unique requirements

### Payment Best Practices

* Set payment terms that balance your cash flow needs with client expectations
* Configure late fees that are substantial enough to encourage timely payment without being punitive
* Enable multiple payment methods to make it as easy as possible for clients to pay you

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues

**Changes not applying to new documents:**

* Ensure you clicked "Save Changes" after making modifications
* Check if client-specific settings are overriding your global preferences
* Try refreshing your browser if changes aren't appearing

**Payment methods not appearing:**

* Verify payment gateways are properly connected in Payment Gateway settings
* Ensure the payment methods are toggled on in the Payment tab
* Check that your account subscription includes the payment methods you're trying to enable

**Number formatting issues:**

* Make sure decimal and thousands separators are different symbols
* Check that your amount and quantity decimals are appropriate for your business type
* Verify your currency format matches the actual currency you've selected

By carefully configuring your preferences settings, you can create a streamlined, professional invoicing experience that saves time and reflects your business brand consistently across all client communications.