# Supplier price checks in Business Central for manufacturers

Business Central covers part of supplier price checks on its own. Raw material prices move with metal, resin and energy markets, so the purchase order price is often out of date when the invoice lands.

## Why it matters for manufacturers

- A cost per unit that is wrong by a few cents changes margin on every product that uses the material.
- Surcharges for steel, fuel and currency are added late and may not be in the supplier agreement.

## For manufacturers in Business Central

- Open Subcontractor Prices (or choose the action from the vendor card or the Subcontracting Details FactBox on the PO). Required fields are Work Center No., Vendor No. and Item No. You can also scope a price by Standard Task Code and Variant Code.
- Set Starting Date and Ending Date for each price. Add Minimum Quantity for quantity breaks and Currency Code for overseas processors.
- Minimum Amount is a floor per process. If the calculated amount for the order quantity is lower, Business Central raises the unit cost to meet the floor. Check that before you query a small subcontract invoice.
- The prices are carried onto the subcontracting purchase order. The FactBox shows how many prices match the line.

## What Business Central does on its own

Business Central fills agreed purchase prices and line discounts onto the purchase line from price lists. It sets the price on entry and does not warn when a vendor invoice price differs, so the check is by eye before posting.

- No warning when the invoice price differs

The current pricing experience finds prices by Pay-to Vendor No. and the new one by Buy-from Vendor No.

What you need and the setup steps: https://www.pulsify.tech/supplier-price-checks-for-business-central/

## Example

Example Resin Supplies sends an invoice for 4,000 kg of polypropylene. The purchase order price is $2.10 a kg. The invoice charges $2.28 a kg.

- Polypropylene, 4,000 kg at $2.28: $9,120.00 (Order price was $2.10, so the line is $720 over)
- Fuel surcharge: $85.00 (Not on the order)
- Pallet fee: $40.00 (Not on the order)

The check flags the price rise of $0.18 a kg and both surcharges. Purchasing confirms the new rate or disputes it before the bill goes to approval.

## Common mistakes

- Letting the purchase order price be edited to match the invoice, which erases the evidence of a price rise.
- Accepting surcharges because the amount is small, then finding they add up over a year.

## Step-by-step guides for Business Central

- How to check purchase invoice lines against agreed vendor prices in Business Central: https://www.pulsify.tech/how-to/check-bills-against-agreed-supplier-prices-in-business-central/

## What Pulsify adds

Pulsify checks every line against the purchase order or a price list you upload for each vendor. Pulsify connects to Business Central. We set up the connection for you. More: https://www.pulsify.tech/po-matching/

## Common questions

### Where do I keep a subcontractor's agreed price in Business Central?

In Subcontractor Prices, which the Subcontracting extension adds. A price is set by work center, vendor and item and can have dates, minimum quantity and a minimum amount. The price transfers to the subcontracting purchase order you create from the production order.

### How do manufacturers handle material price rises?

Compare invoice price to the purchase order price on every line. If the supplier agreed a rise, update the standard cost and the price list. If not, dispute the invoice before approval.

### Can I hold prices that start and end on dates?

Yes. Price list lines carry starting and ending dates plus minimum quantity and unit of measure. Suggest Lines adds many items by filter, and Copy Lines copies from another price list.

## Sources

- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/subcontract-prices
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/business-central/production-how-to-subcontract-manufacturing
- https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/tax-invoices

Source: https://www.pulsify.tech/supplier-price-checks-in-business-central-for-manufacturers/ (last checked 2026-10-19)