How to Order Samples for Your Client (Sample Order)

Learn the best practices for processing sample orders inside of commonsku. These best practices apply to ordering blank samples and pre-production samples.

On this page:

Option 1 - Combine the sample order with the sales order

Option 2 - Create a standalone sample order

Option 1 - Combine the sample order with the sales order

Combining a sample order with the sales order keeps everything in one project. For reporting, sample costs are subtracted from the project's billed margin, so you're left with the overall profit.

To create the sample order:

1. Create a sales order, add and edit products
2. If you are not charging the client for samples, change the retail prices to $0 (optional)
3. Select the box beside "This is a sample order" to add the project to your Sample Report (this also automatically adds a note beside the PO # on your supplier's PO)
4. Generate POs

To create the sales order:

1. In the sample order, click to Copy any items your client would like to order

1. Edit the copies to reflect the actual order
2. Deselect the box beside "This is a sample order" to remove the project from your Sample Report and add it to the client portal
3. Generate new POs
4. Create the invoice
5. Enter supplier bills

Option 2 - Create a standalone sample order

Creating a standalone sample order keeps sample costs separate from your project's billed margin. For reporting, sample costs are tracked separately.

To create the sample order:

1. Create a sales order, add and edit products
2. If you are not charging the client for samples, change the retail prices to $0 (optional)
3. Select the box beside "This is a sample order" to add the project to your Sample Report (this also automatically adds a note beside the PO # on your supplier's PO)

1. Generate new POs
2. Create the invoice so that you can track the sample order in your reports (optional)
3. Enter supplier bills

To create the sales order:

1. In the sample order, click Actions > Copy Sales Order
2. Give the new project a name
3. Click the box next to "All Products" if you would like to copy the entire sales order, or uncheck the box to select specific products to copy over
4. Click Copy