Shipping revenue can be enhanced by implementing several invoicing best practices. It is essential to do so, since shipping charges can incorporate a substantial profit . Here are several options to consider:

• Prelisted charge . The shipping charge always appears in the default invoice template, so the accounting staff has to take action to turn it off. However, this may mean that the billing person automatically uses the pre-set shipping charge, when the actual amount may be higher. Proper training and the use of a readily-available shipping table makes it less likely that the billing clerk will use the default shipping charge.

• Automated charge . The shipping charge is automatically calculated by the accounting software, based on the recipient’s address. This is an ideal scenario, but lower-cost accounting systems generally do not include this feature.

• Full pricing . Include the cost of shipping in the retail price of the goods sold, and tell customers that shipping is free. Though foolproof from an accounting perspective, it makes the prices of the company's products less comparable to those of competitors.

• Reminder stamp . The shipping staff stamps shipping documents with a reminder message to charge freight; though this requires the shipping staff to remember to do so.

• Billing checklist . Post a checklist in the billing clerk's office that notes every step in the billing process. However, it is easy to ignore this list, especially when the billing clerk is a more experienced person who thinks that he or she has memorized all billing tasks.

• Auditing . Audit a selection of invoices and have follow-up training with those clerks who have forgotten to include the shipping charge.

These options make it more difficult to forget that the shipping charge should be added to every invoice.

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