Splitting a bill across jobs or cost centres means giving each line of one supplier invoice its own job, department or project so costs land where they belong. In SAP B1 you do it with distribution rule, dimension and project.
Before you start
- Authorisation for distribution rules
- Cost centres (dimensions) set up
The SAP B1 way
Where to find it: Main Menu > Financials > Cost Accounting > Distribution Rules
- Create a distribution rule that spreads an expense over cost centres, by percentage or by fixed amounts.
- Link the rule to the expense G/L account, or pick the rule on the document row.
- You can also build a rule by hand for one transaction, which does not change the master rule.
Limits in SAP B1
- Create the cost centres (dimensions) and the distribution rules before you code a bill.
- A rule can mix fixed amounts with a remainder going to one cost centre or to the zero cost centre.
Words SAP B1 uses
- Distribution rule. A rule that splits a cost across dimensions by percentage.
The Pulsify way
- Forward the supplier's invoice to your Pulsify address. Pulsify reads every row as its own line.
- Review each line and set its account. Line-item coding learns from how that vendor was coded before.
- Approve. The A/P invoice is created in SAP B1 with one line per row.
Pulsify connects to SAP B1. We set up the connection for you.
What Pulsify does not do here
- Pulsify does not split a line by percentage. A shared cost needs separate lines with set amounts.
- Tagging a line to distribution rule, dimension and project is done in SAP B1 unless the line already carries it.
Example in SAP B1
Example Timber Supplies sends one A/P invoice for $4,400 including $400 GST. The lines below are ex GST and add to $4,000. The $400 delivery goes on a distribution rule with Site A and Site B at 50% each.
| Line | Amount | Tagged to |
|---|---|---|
| Framing timber, Site A | $2,200.00 | Cost centre: Site A |
| Framing timber, Site B | $1,400.00 | Cost centre: Site B |
| Delivery $400 | $400.00 | Distribution rule: Site A 50%, Site B 50% |
The delivery posts as $200 to each cost centre. Site A carries $2,400 and Site B $1,600 before GST.
Common mistakes
- Using a distribution rule before the cost centres (dimensions) are set up.
- Letting the remainder fall to the zero cost centre when it should go to a real one.
More help
- How to split a purchase invoice across dimensions in Business Central
- How to split a bill across subaccounts and projects in MYOB Acumatica
- How to split a purchase invoice across analysis codes and cost centres in Sage 200
- How to job cost A/P invoice records in SAP B1
- How to code one A/P invoice to several G/L account codes in SAP B1
- How to code an A/P invoice with mixed GST lines in SAP B1
- All SAP B1 how-to guides
- Pulsify setup guides
Sources
Last checked 2026-10-19. Confidence: confirmed.
Common questions
Can SAP Business One split a bill by percentage?
Yes. A distribution rule spreads an expense over cost centres by percentage or by fixed amounts. Link the rule to the expense G/L account or pick it on the document row.
Does a manual split change the master rule?
No. SAP says you can build a rule by hand for one transaction and the master distribution rule stays as it was.
What happens to the part of a rule not covered by fixed amounts?
A rule can mix fixed amounts with a remainder. The remainder goes to one cost centre or to the zero cost centre, so decide where it should land before you save the rule.
Pulsify setup guides
Want this done for you?
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