# How to set up invoice approval in Sage 300 CRE

In Sage 300 CRE, set up pending invoice posting: choose who can approve and their limits, then test it with a real invoice before you rely on it.

Bill approval means a bill is checked and signed off by the right person before it is paid. A setup says who approves what.

## The Sage 300 CRE way

Where to find it: Accounts Payable > File > Company Settings > AP Settings (Use the Approval System); Tasks > Enter Pending Invoices; Tasks > Approve Invoices

1. Switch on the approval system in AP Settings.
2. Enter invoices as pending (Tasks > Enter Pending Invoices). They do not reach GL or job cost until approved and posted.
3. Approve posted invoices in Tasks > Approve Invoices so they can be paid.

## Limits in Sage 300 CRE

- One approval step. Multi-person routing by amount or supplier needs an add-on.
- Users need the Allow Hold right in User Maintenance to hold invoices (TimberScan help).

## The Pulsify way

1. Connect Sage 300 CRE to Pulsify. We set up the connection for you where needed.
2. Open Approvals. Every company starts with a default rule: any Admin or Approver can approve.
3. Add steps for amounts, suppliers or accounts. Choose a person, a role or a team as approver at each step.
4. Add a review step if someone should check coding before approval.
5. Use Try an invoice to test the rule on a real bill.
6. Add auto-approve rules for small or trusted bills if you want.

Pulsify connects to Sage 300 CRE. We set up the connection for you.

What Pulsify does not do here:

- Pulsify does not reassign an approval to someone else.
- Pulsify does not send approval reminders.

## Common mistakes

- Entering invoices as normal when the approval system is on, instead of using Enter Pending Invoices.
- Not giving the clerk the Allow Hold right in User Maintenance, so they cannot hold an invoice.

## Common questions

### Does Sage 300 CRE have multi-step invoice approval?

Sources describe one approval step. Routing to several people by amount or supplier needs an add-on.

### Where do I switch approval on?

A TimberScan help page and a Sage article seen in search say the Use the Approval System setting sits in AP Settings. Secondary sources only, so confirm the path in your version.

### Do pending invoices hit job cost?

No. With the approval system on, pending invoices do not reach the GL or job cost until they are approved and posted.

### Does Pulsify support multi-step approvals?

Yes. You can set steps by amount, supplier or account. Approvers can be people, roles or teams. A review step is available.

## Sources

- https://communityhub.sage.com/us/sage_construction_and_real_estate/f/sage-300-construction-and-real-estate/67708/do-you-use-pending-invoices-in-ap
- https://www.rklesolutions.com/hubfs/Construction/Sage%20100%20Contractor/sage-paperless-construction.pdf
- http://helpfiles.timberscan.com/hold_invoices_in_sage_300_cre_accounts_payable_.htm
- https://redirect-kb.sage.com/?externalId=52476&dnr=1

Source: https://www.pulsify.tech/how-to/set-up-bill-approval-in-sage-300-cre/ (last checked 2026-10-19)