How to Create a Custom Invoice Template in ConnectWise

Creating a custom invoice template in ConnectWise Manage involves two stages: building the report in Report Writer, then registering it as an invoice template in Setup Tables.

Before you start

ConnectWise does not support, troubleshoot, or write HTML for custom invoices. If you need HTML help, you’ll need to bring your own knowledge or engage ConnectWise Professional Services.

Start by reviewing the sample invoice reports that ship with ConnectWise:

• Go to System > Report Writer > Standard Forms > Finance to see all built-in invoice examples.
• Never edit a report in the Standard or Examples categories directly — always Save As into a new category you create.

Note: In the Filters tab of your custom invoice template, set the Filter Field drop-down to Invoice_Number and the Operator drop-down to Equals. Without this, the URL cannot pass the invoice to the template.

Step 1 — Build the report in Report Writer

1. Go to System > Report Writer > Standard Forms > Finance.
2. Hover over an invoice template and select Edit to open it in the designer.
3. Make your layout changes. Refer to Report Designer and Fields for field and layout details. If the detail sections (products, time, expenses) are missing, follow Embed Subreports in an Invoice Template.
4. To add your company logo, select the Fields tab, then select Design Form at the bottom of the page.
5. Select Source Code to open the HTML editor.
6. Find <img src=" in the code. Replace everything between the quotes with the publicly hosted URL to your logo. The result should look like: <img src="https://yourdomain.com/logo.png"/>.
7. Select Insert and Close.
8. Select Save to exit Design Form.
9. Select Save As.
10. In the Input report name field, enter a name for the report.
11. In the Category drop-down, choose a category that does not start with Standard or Examples — create a new one if needed.
12. Select OK.

Note: Use a publicly accessible image URL for your logo. A URL that requires authentication will not render on the invoice.

Step 2 — Copy the custom invoice URL

Before registering the template, you need the report’s URL from Report Writer.

1. Go to System > Report Writer.
2. Select the custom invoice report you just saved.
3. Select Send report. An email draft opens with the report URL in the body.
4. Copy the URL from the email body, then delete the draft.

Note: The URL is case sensitive. Copy it exactly.

Step 3 — Register the template in Setup Tables

1. Go to System > Setup Tables > Invoice Templates.
2. Select New Item > Custom.
3. In the Template Name field, enter a name for the template.
4. In the Custom URL Link field, paste the URL you copied from Report Writer.
5. Modify the URL:
   • Delete rs from the URL and replace it with ReportViewer.
   • Add the following to the end of the URL: &P1Value=[invoice_number]&output=PDF
6. Select Save And Close.

Note: Both edits to the URL are case sensitive. Double-check ReportViewer and [invoice_number] match exactly.

Apply the template to clients

Once the template is saved, you can assign it in several places:

• Individual invoices — from the Invoice Search Invoice tab
• Agreement Type Setup Table — applies to all agreements of that type
• Agreement record — overrides the agreement type default on the Agreement tab for a specific agreement
• Company Finance Summary tab — sets the default for all invoices to that company
• Billing Setup Table — sets the system-wide default

Add a partial payment display to a report

If you need the invoice to show a remaining balance after a partial payment:

1. Go to System > Report Writer > Standard Forms > Finance.
2. Select the report you want to modify.
3. Select Open in designer.
4. Select the Fields tab.
5. Set Invoice_Amount in the first row and Paid_Amount in the second and third rows.
6. Set the arithmetic box for the first Paid_Amount row to minus. Select the checkbox repeatedly to cycle through arithmetic symbols until you reach the minus sign.
7. Select Design Form to open the layout editor.
8. Right-select the location where you want to display the Paid_Amount field.
9. Select Row > Insert row after.
10. In the new row, enter Paid and [Paid_Amount] in the corresponding cells.
11. Select Save on the Design Form, then select Save again to save the report.

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ConnectWise’s built-in invoice templates are limited in how much you can control the layout, branding, and data displayed. Better Invoice gives MSPs pixel-level control over their ConnectWise invoice output — without touching Report Writer HTML.