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When you add clients to BILL AP, there are a myriad of ways that you can manage the bill pay workflow with your client, depending on how involved your client wants to be.
There are three primary workflow management models that we recommend as best practice. The model you choose will be based on your firm and your clients’ individual needs. In fact, you may have different workflows for each client. You may also find that some clients move from one model to another as they become more self sufficient in the product.
The firm ownership model
A fully outsourced model and creates much more lift for the firm. Typically, this is a more expensive option for the client, but it allows them to stay out of the AP process and let the firm handle everything—document collection, bill creation, approvals, payment, and more.
The joint ownership model
A fully collaborative workflow where members of the firm and the business both play a role in the bill pay process. This is the model we see used most often. Employees and vendors submit invoices/documents, the firm enters and routes the bill for approval, the client approves, and the firm handles the rest.
The client ownership model
Keeps the ownership and responsibility in the hands of the client, while the firm oversees the process to make sure it is being managed properly. In this model, the firm only needs access for tax and audit purposes, or access to reporting. The client manages all aspects of vendor and document management, approval routing, and payment.
