> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sequencehq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Use-cases

> Handle discounts, credit notes, one-time invoices, and minimum fees

Revenue recognition handles complex billing scenarios automatically. This guide covers discounts, credit notes, one-time invoices, and minimum fees.

## Discounts

Discounts reduce the transaction price according to ASC 606/IFRS 15 guidelines. Sequence supports two types of discounts with different recognition treatments.

### Product-level discounts

Product-level discounts appear as negative line items within an existing line item group. They're netted against the product's price and recognized using the same method and service period.

**Example**: \$1,200 annual subscription with 10% discount

* Standard price: \$1,200
* Discount: -\$120 (within same line group)
* **Net recognition**: \$1,080 over 12 months using straight-line method

<Accordion title="Worked example: Annual subscription with product-level discount">
  **Scenario**

  * **Product**: Annual subscription service
  * **Standard price**: \$1,200
  * **Product-level discount**: 10% (-\$120)
  * **Net amount**: \$1,080
  * **Billing**: Annual in advance
  * **Service period**: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025 (365 days)
  * **Recognition method**: Straight-line

  **Revenue recognition pattern**:

  * **On invoice date** (July 1, 2024): Net amount deferred
    * Journal: Debit Billed Revenue (+\$1,080), Credit Deferred Revenue (+\$1,080)

  * **Daily recognition**: Revenue recognized based on actual days in each month
    * Base daily amount: \$2.96 per day (\$1,080 ÷ 365 days)
    * Most days: \$2.90 recognized daily
    * Month-end adjustments: \$3.00 on final day to ensure monthly total of \$90
    * Example for May 2025: 30 days × \$2.90 + 1 day × \$3.00 = \$90.00

  <Frame>
    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/sequence/kw8O-QAyxJLIUkK_/images/product/revrec/rev-rec-worked-example-use-cases-1.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=kw8O-QAyxJLIUkK_&q=85&s=c83f16e5c4f82501e824dff2b03b4d87" alt="Product-level discount worked example" width="2476" height="1808" data-path="images/product/revrec/rev-rec-worked-example-use-cases-1.png" />
  </Frame>

  <Info>Product-level discounts are netted against the product price and recognized using the same method and timing as the underlying product.</Info>
</Accordion>

### Invoice-level discounts

Invoice-level (global) discounts are separate line item groups with negative amounts. Sequence automatically allocates these discounts pro-rata across all invoice line items based on their standalone selling price.

**Example**: \$1,000 total invoice with \$100 global discount

* Line 1: \$800 subscription (gets \$80 discount allocation)
* Line 2: \$200 setup fee (gets \$20 discount allocation)
* **Recognition**: Each line recognizes its reduced amount using its own recognition method

<Info>Allocation is based on standalone selling price (SSP) - the transaction price of each line item - ensuring compliance with ASC 606/IFRS 15 standards.</Info>

This allocation happens automatically on the invoice date, so each line item's revenue schedule reflects the discounted amount.

## Credit notes

Credit notes reverse previously recognized revenue. The exact behaviour depends on the credit note variant (invoice-attached, direct, schedule-correction, or standalone) and on the account-level **revenue impact mode** (cancellation or adjustment). See [Credit notes](/revenue-recognition/credit-notes) for the full treatment with worked examples.

**Quick summary**:

* In **cancellation mode** (default), the credit note removes future obligations and reverses the deferred balance, before touching recognized revenue if needed.
* In **adjustment mode**, the original invoice continues recognizing as scheduled, and the credit note posts daily mirror entries that reallocate the reversal across the credit note's service period.

## One-time invoices

One-time invoices recognize revenue based on their service period and selected recognition method, with sensible defaults.

### Default behaviors

**Single-day service period**: Point-in-time recognition

* Full amount recognized immediately
* Common for ad-hoc charges, refunds, or adjustments

**Multi-day service period**: Straight-line recognition

* Revenue spread evenly over the service period
* Partial periods are prorated based on actual days over 365
* Common for project work or time-based services

### Customizing invoice line items

You can override any defaults when editing the invoice:

* Change recognition method per line item
* Adjust service periods independently
* Select different revenue classifications (arrears/advance)

## Minimum fees and true-ups

When usage falls short of committed minimums, Sequence automatically generates true-up line items to ensure the minimum spend is met.

### True-up creation

When actual usage falls short of the committed minimum, Sequence automatically calculates and adds a true-up line item to meet the shortfall.

<Accordion title="Worked example: Usage-based billing with minimum fee true-up">
  **Scenario**

  * **Products**: Two usage-based products (A and B)
  * **Monthly minimum**: A\$100.00
  * **Actual usage**: A\$20.00 (Product A only, Product B had no usage)
  * **True-up required**: A\$80.00
  * **Service period**: May 2025
  * **Billing**: Monthly in arrears (June invoice)

  **Revenue recognition pattern**:

  * **During May**: Usage tracked but not yet recognized
    * Product A usage: A\$20.00
    * Product B usage: A\$0.00

  * **End of May**: Usage and true-up recognized simultaneously
    * Usage recognition: Debit Unbilled Revenue (+A\$20.00), Credit Recognized Revenue (+A\$20.00)
    * True-up recognition: Debit Unbilled Revenue (+A\$80.00), Credit Recognized Revenue (+A\$80.00)
    * Total recognized: A\$100.00 (meeting minimum requirement)

  * **On invoice date** (June): All unbilled revenue becomes billed
    * Invoice total: A\$100.00 (A\$20.00 usage + A\$80.00 true-up)
    * Journal: Debit Billed Revenue (+A\$100.00), Credit Unbilled Revenue (-A\$100.00)

  <Info>True-up fees use point-in-time recognition because the service period has already been delivered, ensuring immediate recognition when the shortfall is identified.</Info>
</Accordion>

## Credit grants

Prepaid credit grants reduce recognized revenue as they're consumed against invoices, so the same revenue isn't recognized twice. See [Credit grants](/revenue-recognition/credit-grants) for the model, examples, and limitations.
