Some costs come back every month whether you remember them or not — hosting, software subscriptions, the retainers you pay out. A recurring expense puts those on a schedule so they post on their own.
When you’d use this
Put every subscription and standing cost on a schedule the first week you use Fee-Lion: hosting, software seats, insurance, a bookkeeper’s retainer, loan payments. These are the costs that quietly decide whether a month is profitable, and they are the easiest to forget because nothing prompts you to record them. Once scheduled, the forecast sees them coming and the profit-after-expenses report finally shows the whole picture rather than just the costs you remembered.
Set up a recurring expense
- Go to Expenses and start a recurring expense.
- Pick the vendor and a category and subcategory.
- Enter the amount that repeats.
- Set the schedule for how often it runs.
- Add a PO number or notes if it helps you track the cost.
Tip: Use recurring expenses for the costs you’d otherwise forget. The point is to stop re-typing the same vendor and amount every month.
Why it’s worth it
A scheduled cost shows up in your spending totals without you lifting a finger, which keeps your reports honest and your category breakdowns complete. Learn more on the expense tracking page.
FAQ
Does a recurring expense pay the vendor?
No. It records the cost on schedule; the payment itself happens however you normally pay. Mark the expense paid when it clears.
What if the amount varies month to month?
Set the typical amount and edit the individual expense when the real bill arrives. The schedule keeps generating at the usual amount.
Can I attribute a recurring expense to a project?
Yes, for costs that belong to one client’s work, such as a hosting plan you resell. Overhead is better left at the category level.
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