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Custom Fields — Capture the Data Standard Forms Miss

Every business tracks information that off-the-shelf accounting forms never include. Kantivo Custom Fields let you add exactly the data points you need — to invoices, customers, vendors, bills, estimates, and transactions — without workarounds or side spreadsheets.

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Stop Forcing Your Business Into a Generic Template

Generic accounting software assumes every company tracks the same data. A landscaping firm logging job sites, a law practice recording matter numbers, a wholesaler capturing PO references — these aren't edge cases. They're the everyday reality of running a business, and standard invoice and customer forms have no native room for them.

Kantivo Custom Fields close the gap. Decide what extra information belongs on your records, choose the input type that fits the data, and configure whether the field is required or optional. Those fields then appear directly inside the create and edit forms across six record types — no extra steps, no tab switching, and no losing data inside a notes box that nobody reads consistently.

1

Define Fields in Settings

Open Settings and go to Custom Fields. Name the field, pick a type from eight options, choose which record type it applies to, and decide whether it's required.

2

Fields Appear Automatically

Once saved, your new field shows up inside the relevant create and edit forms — invoices, customers, vendors, bills, estimates, or transactions — with no further setup.

3

Fill In Inline

Custom fields sit right next to the standard fields your team already uses. Fill them in as part of the normal data-entry flow, no separate screens required.

4

Read Back the Data

Custom field values are stored on each record and visible in detail views. The data stays attached to the record it belongs to — organized, searchable, and reliably there.

Eight Field Types for Any Kind of Data

Different data needs different inputs. Kantivo offers eight distinct field types so you can match the control to the information you're capturing — not the other way around.

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Text

Single-line free text for short entries like reference numbers or names

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Number

Numeric values only — quantities, codes, or measurement data

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Date

Calendar date picker for due dates, start dates, or deadlines

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Dropdown

Your own list of selectable options — consistent and typo-free

Checkbox

A simple yes/no toggle for binary flags and status indicators

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URL

Web addresses stored as clickable links — project portals, shared drives

Email

Validated email addresses for contacts, approvers, or secondary recipients

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Textarea

Multi-line text blocks for detailed notes, instructions, or descriptions

📋 Six Record Types Covered

Custom fields can be attached to any of six core record types, giving you coverage across the full span of accounting activity in Kantivo.

  • Invoices — project codes, delivery zones, PO references
  • Estimates — job specs or internal approval notes
  • Bills — vendor account numbers or cost center tags
  • Customers — tax exemption IDs, account tiers, sales territories
  • Vendors — contract numbers, payment terms, compliance flags
  • Transactions — job codes, department tags, memo references

🔒 Required-Field Enforcement

Mark a field required and Kantivo blocks form submission until it's filled. Required fields stop data gaps before a record is ever saved.

  • Set required status field by field at creation
  • Change a field's required setting any time from Settings
  • Clear visual indicator on every required field
  • Saves the team from inconsistent or incomplete records

📈 Dropdown Option Lists

Dropdown fields use a list of options you define yourself. When users fill the field, they pick from your list rather than typing free text — keeping values consistent across every record.

  • Add as many options as you need per dropdown
  • Edit the option list any time without touching existing records
  • Prevents spelling variations that break filters and reports
  • Ideal for categories, statuses, regions, or approval stages

🏢 Per-Company Configuration

Custom fields are managed independently for each company in Kantivo. Every business can have its own completely different set of fields — tailored to that company's industry, workflow, and reporting needs.

  • Fields defined in one company never appear in another
  • Manage all fields from each company's Settings menu
  • No cap on the number of fields per record type
  • Add, rename, or remove fields as the business changes

Real-World Examples That Illustrate the Difference

A general contractor uses a Job Site dropdown on invoices so every billing line is tied to the specific project it belongs to. An e-commerce seller attaches a Marketplace Source text field to every customer record, keeping sales-channel data inside Kantivo instead of a separate spreadsheet. A staffing agency adds a Contract Type dropdown to vendor records so the accounting team can filter by engagement category at a glance.

These are the data points that usually live in spreadsheets and sticky notes when accounting software doesn't accommodate them. Custom Fields bring that information into your accounting records, where it can be filtered, referenced, and reliably maintained over time.

Configured Per Company — No Bleed Between Entities

If you manage multiple companies in Kantivo, your custom fields stay fully isolated between them. Invoice fields built for your retail business have no effect on invoices in your consulting practice. Each company configures its own field set through its own Settings menu. There's no global template to manage and no risk of the wrong fields appearing in the wrong company.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create a custom field in Kantivo?

Open the Settings menu for your company and navigate to Custom Fields. Click Add Custom Field, enter the label, choose the field type from the eight available, select the record type it should appear on, and set whether the field is required. Save it and the field immediately appears on the relevant create and edit forms inside that company.

Can a custom field show on invoices but not on estimates?

Yes. Each custom field is scoped to a single record type when you create it. A field set to "Invoice" only appears on invoice forms. If you need a similar field on estimates, create a separate field scoped to that record type. This keeps forms clean and prevents unrelated fields from cluttering records they don't belong on.

What happens to existing records if I delete a custom field?

Removing a custom field stops it from appearing on new records and removes it from edit forms going forward. Any data that was previously entered in that field on older records remains stored and visible in the record's detail view, but the field is no longer editable. Review which records hold data in a field before removing it so you can export or note the values you want to preserve.

Can I add more options to a dropdown after it's been in use?

Yes. You can edit a dropdown field's option list any time from Custom Fields settings. Adding options is always safe — existing records that already have a value selected aren't affected. If you remove an option, records saved with that value retain their original selection but the option no longer shows up as a choice for new entries.

Are custom fields included on every Kantivo plan?

Custom Fields are included on plans with advanced data-management capabilities. Check the pricing page for a side-by-side comparison, or download Kantivo and explore every feature free during the 30-day trial — no credit card required.

Shape Kantivo to Your Business — Not the Other Way Around

Try Kantivo free for 30 days and start adding custom fields that capture the data your accounting records have always been missing.

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