How to apply discounts to invoices

Sometimes you want to give a client a little something off, maybe for loyalty, a promotion, or to nudge them to pay early. stub makes it simple to add discounts so both you and your customer see exactly what’s going on.

Why invoice discounts matter for both you and your customer

  • Customer clarity: They see the discount upfront, no awkward emails asking why the total is different.
  • Accurate books: Discounts reduce your reported income and the VAT owed, so your accounts stay correct.
  • Stronger relationships: A clear, professional discount builds goodwill without creating confusion.

An unclear or “off the record” discount can make your books messy and leave your customer wondering what they really owe.

How to add a discount in stub

  1. Create or open an invoice (or quote).
  2. On the left sidebar, tick Discount under Settings.
  3. Scroll down to the invoice total section.
  4. Enter your discount value as either:
    • a percentage (e.g. 10%), or
    • a fixed amount (e.g. R500).

5. stub automatically recalculates your totals and VAT for you.

💡 At the moment, you can only apply invoice-level discounts (to the whole invoice).

P.S. Line-item discounts are coming soon.

How VAT works on discounts

stub applies the discount before calculating VAT. This means your VAT is calculated on the reduced amount.

Example: Service = R1,000 Discount = 10% (R100) New subtotal = R900 VAT (15%) = R135 Total due = R1,035

Pro tips for using discounts wisely

  • Show the original price and discount: Customers like to see what they saved.
  • Be consistent: Always apply discounts through stub, not as “manual edits,” so your reports stay clean.
  • Use them strategically: Discounts can encourage quick payments (e.g. “2% off if paid within 7 days”).
  • Track the impact: Run reports to see how discounts affect your profit margins over time.

Bottom line: Discounts are a great way to reward clients or encourage faster payments, but only if they’re recorded properly. With stub, both your customer and your accounts get a clear, accurate view.