CreateMyInvoice.com on HackerShow

Web and SaaS

invoicing

SHOW HN2012

My side project CreateMyInvoice.com creates PDF invoices from email

Shown by SingAlong on Nov 29, 2012. Click the card to turn it over.

118points

66comments

#174of 1,677 in 2012

Top 11%of 2012 by points

How HN took it

MixedNo clear lean

11 positive, 18 neutral or asking, 4 mixed, 7 critical, out of 40 comments about the project. Thread score +0.12.

Idea: 5 for, 3 againstDesign: 3 for, 2 againstPricing: 1 for, 2 against

Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.

positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker

Simple and useful
From 3 comments
- Straightforward and entirely useful. Why couldn't you have created this sooner? :)
  NIL8 on HN
- Cool stuff ... Simple and useful. Loved it :)
  BilalBudhani on HN
- Simple outstanding.
  pknerd on HN
Email as a human API idea
From 1 comment
- I like the general idea of making email a human api for web services. Email based invoice generation service, markdown renderers, tweet/blog from email, post to forum etc. seem…
  jasim on HN

Parser errors and mismatch with intent are scary
From 1 comment
- Helps developers who are shy about sending invoices. It's so common, even including its developer: > please let us know what amount you would like to pay every month.…
  6ren on HN
Not valid invoice in Sweden/EU without reference numbers and VAT details
From 1 comment
- This would not be a valid invoice in Sweden. Here, there needs to be a reference number, VAT registration number, information about interest rate if late payment, location of the…
  mongol on HN
Syntax is complicated; web interface easier
From 1 comment
- I love this idea and have also been thinking often of similar email-based solutions. Very cool, but here's some feedback anyways. The main problem is inevitably the syntax. It…
  hilko on HN

Payment information field (bank account, PayPal)
From 3 comments
- Looks handy. But I miss a field where I can specify payment information, such as bank account #s, paypal info, whatever. So it would probably be nice if I register as a…
  bflesch on HN
- Being able to enter payment information (bank account number to transfer to) would be helpful.
  troels on HN
- While you are at it, you could add a PayPal link on the email body for the customer to pay.
  rudasn on HN
Invoice ID or reference number
From 1 comment
- Looks awesome! Congratulations. Feature requests: 1) the ability to set some kind of reference/invoice ID 2) the ability to set (grey/faint) footer text for legal bumpf (company…
  blahpro on HN
Privacy policy
From 1 comment
- I highly recommend adding a privacy policy as soon as possible, so we know (among other things) exactly how you will use the information gathered. Will it be stored? Will you…
  binarymax on HN
Editable invoice output
From 1 comment
- Perhaps you could also have a text submit page (form), and then allow people to download the generated pdf? (Allows people to try out anonymously) Also, generating in some kind…
  rehack on HN
Notes or comments field for customer
From 1 comment
- Is there a "comments" possibility for a note to the customer?
  epaga on HN

What technologies were used to receive and parse email
From 1 comment
- Can you tell us a bit about the technologies you used? How do you programmatically receive email? How do you parse the email?
  tocomment on HN
Pre-filled email template for repeat invoices
From 1 comment
- My mother-in-law would love this. Is there a way, she could get a pre-filled email each time that she could just edit and then send off? She sends just a few invoices at the end…
  krmmalik on HN

PayPal online invoicing
From 1 comment
- https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/online-invoicing
  6ren on HN
Billings OSX billing app
From 1 comment
- I love this idea and have also been thinking often of similar email-based solutions. Very cool, but here's some feedback anyways. The main problem is inevitably the syntax. It…
  hilko on HN