Introduction
Creating repeating invoices in Xero allows you to automatically generate and send invoices at regular intervals, saving time and ensuring consistency in your billing process. This feature is ideal for businesses that provide subscription-based services, ongoing contracts, or regular deliveries to the same customers.
There are two ways to create a repeating (recurring) invoice in Xero:
Create a new repeating invoice from scratch – ideal when setting up regular billing for a new customer or service.
Create a repeating invoice from an existing invoice – useful if you already have an invoice and want to turn it into an ongoing schedule.
7 Steps on How to Create Repeating Invoice (Recurring Invoice) in Xero from Scratch?
Step 1: From the dashboard, go to Sales, choose Invoices.
Step 2: Click the New Repeating Invoice button.
Step 3: In the schedule section, enter how often the invoice should repeat (for example, every 1 month or every 2 weeks).
Step 4: Enter the Start Date (the date the first invoice will be created). You can also set an End Date if the schedule should stop after a certain period.
Step 5: Choose what happens each time an invoice is generated:
Step 6: Enter the invoice details, including:
To (Contact): Customer name (must exist in Xero).
Description: Details of products or services.
Quantity & Unit Price: Enter the number of items and price per unit.
Account Code: Choose the correct revenue account (e.g., 200 = Sales).
Tax Rate: Apply the correct tax rate.
Reference / Branding Theme: Optional fields for additional information.
Step 7: Click Save to activate the repeating invoice. Xero will automatically create invoices based on your chosen schedule and status.
How to Create a Repeating Invoice from an Existing Invoice
This method is useful if you’ve already issued an invoice and want to use it as the basis for an ongoing repeating invoice template.
Step 1: From the dashboard, go to Sales, choose Invoices.
Step 2: Open the existing invoice you want to repeat.
Step 3: Click the Invoice Options menu at the top right of the invoice screen. Select Repeat.
Step 4: Xero will open the repeating invoice setup page with the details from your existing invoice pre-filled.
Step 5: Adjust the repeating schedule, start and end dates, and any other required details.
Step 6: Click Save to activate the repeating invoice schedule.
Tips for Managing Repeating Invoices
Review your Repeating tab regularly to track active templates.
To make changes, open the template and click Edit — updates apply to future invoices only.
If you no longer need the schedule, select Delete Template to stop future invoices.
Combine this feature with automatic payment reminders for a fully automated billing cycle.
Conclusion
Repeating invoices in Xero simplify your ongoing billing process by automating invoice creation and distribution. Once configured, the system ensures your customers are invoiced on time, improving cash flow and reducing administrative effort.