---
id: billing-schedules
title: Invoicing & Billing Schedules
sidebar_label: Invoicing & Billing Schedules
description: Configure complex recurring billing cadences, advance vs arrears invoicing, custom payment milestones, prorations, and credit memos in GAAPx.
keywords:
  - invoicing schedules SaaS
  - billing schedule engine
  - advance vs arrears billing
  - payment milestone invoices
  - credit memo rev rec
author: GAAPx Engineering Team
last_updated: 2026-10-02
---

# Invoicing & Billing Schedules

> **Quick Summary:** In GAAPx, billing schedules operate concurrently with revenue recognition schedules while remaining mathematically decoupled. This separation guarantees that cash collection cadences (annual upfront, quarterly in advance, monthly in arrears, or custom milestone triggers) accurately populate Accounts Receivable and Unbilled AR without distorting ASC 606 revenue amortization waterfalls.

---

## The Billing vs. Revenue Recognition Decoupling

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    Contract["Signed $120,000 1-Year Contract"]
    
    subgraph Billing ["Billing Schedule (Cash & Invoicing)"]
        B1["Invoice 1: $60,000 (Month 1 Upfront)"]
        B2["Invoice 2: $60,000 (Month 7 Mid-Term)"]
    end

    subgraph Revenue ["Revenue Schedule (ASC 606 Ratable)"]
        R1["$10,000 / Month Recognized Over 12 Months"]
    end

    subgraph BalanceSheet ["Balance Sheet Accounts"]
        D1["Deferred Revenue / Contract Liability"]
        D2["Unbilled Receivable / Contract Asset"]
    end

    Contract --> Billing
    Contract --> Revenue
    Billing & Revenue --> BalanceSheet
```

---

## Supported Billing Cadences

GAAPx supports all standard and custom enterprise billing patterns:

| Billing Cadence | When Invoices are Generated | Impact on Balance Sheet |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Annual in Advance** | 100% on Day 1 of contract term. | Credits Deferred Revenue ($120k); amortizes down monthly. |
| **Quarterly in Advance** | 25% every 90 days. | Balances cycle between Deferred Revenue and Unbilled AR. |
| **Monthly in Arrears** | End of every billing cycle. | Invoiced directly to AR as service has already been delivered. |
| **Custom Milestones** | Triggered by certified delivery events. | Creates Unbilled Contract Asset until milestone invoice is issued. |
| **Ramp Deals** | Variable amounts (e.g. $20k Y1, $40k Y2, $60k Y3). | ASC 606 straight-lines revenue ($40k/yr) against ramping invoices. |

---

## Credit Memos & Refund Reconciliations

When issuing customer concessions, SLA penalty credits, or billing adjustments:

1. **Credit Against Unpaid Invoices**: Applies directly against Accounts Receivable, reducing outstanding DSO.
2. **Refunds on Paid Invoices**: Generates a cash refund entry and rebalances the deferred revenue subledger.
3. **ASC 606 Variable Consideration Adjustment**: Evaluates whether the concession represents a reduction of historical transaction price or a prospective discount on future periods.