Nothing hurts like losing an almost‑finished invoice. Browser crash, coffee spill, dead battery—Invoice Master’s auto‑save and draft recovery features make sure you never retype work or delay a payment again.
How auto‑save protects your documents
- Local browser save: Every few seconds your work is written to your browser’s storage—no action needed.
- Crash protection: Close the tab or refresh; when you return, the form reopens exactly as you left it.
- Manual control: Use the reset option in the form menu to discard the locally saved draft and start fresh.
Want belt‑and‑suspenders protection? Pair auto‑save with One‑Click Export & Encrypted Backups.
Recover a lost invoice in 10 seconds
- Reopen the invoice, quote, or bill screen.
- The form loads with the fields exactly as you left them—no clicks required.
- Review the details, then Save or Send to your client. Done.
Keep drafts tidy
- Reset stale drafts: Use the “Reset Draft” option in the form menu to clear the locally stored version once an invoice is sent.
- Duplicate instead of overwriting: Need a variation? Duplicate the draft (or invoice) so each version has its own history.
- Download checkpoints: For big proposals, generate a PDF before you clear a draft so you always have a reference.
Collaboration without collisions
- One editor at a time: Drafts live in your browser, so coordinate with anyone else working in the same account before editing.
- Hand-off tip: Drop notes in the invoice comments and duplicate drafts when someone else needs to pick up the work.
- Audit trail: Finalized invoices keep timestamps and change history once they’re sent.
Security & compliance
- Local-first drafts: Unsaved work lives in your browser until you send or reset it.
- Encrypted once sent: Final invoices, quotes, and bills are stored with TLS + encrypted storage on the server.
- Retention: Drafts persist until you delete them; make cleanup part of your monthly routine.
- Portability: Use the PDF preview to keep copies of key drafts; full account export lives under Settings → Export.
See also: Own Your Data.
Auto‑save vs. manual saving
| Feature | Manual Saving | Invoice Master Auto‑Save | |---|---|---| | Save frequency | When you remember | Every few seconds (automatic) | | Crash protection | None | Form reopens with the previous data already in place | | Version control | Copy/paste backups | Latest draft only (stored locally) | | Offline editing | Risky | Continues while the tab stays open | | Multi‑user safety | Overwrites likely | Coordinate—draft lives on one device |
FAQ
How long are drafts stored?
Indefinitely on the device where you created them, until you submit the document or hit Reset Draft.
Are drafts encrypted?
Drafts live in your browser’s storage. Protect access to your device; once you send the document it’s encrypted on our servers.
Can I export a draft as PDF?
Yes—open the preview option to generate a PDF before sending.
Do drafts count toward my document limits?
No—only sent invoices/quotes count.
Can I disable auto-save?
Auto-save is built in and always on so nothing gets lost (and the data stays only in your browser until you send it).
What happens if two users edit the same draft?
Coordinate first—drafts sync to one browser, so whoever saves last overwrites the local copy.
Where are offline edits stored?
In your browser’s local storage; there’s no cloud copy until you send the document.
Does recovery work for quotes and bills too?
Yes—invoices, quotes, and bills all support auto‑save and recovery.
5‑minute safety checklist
- Start a draft invoice, type a few lines, and confirm the “draft saved” indicator appears.
- Close the tab, reopen the draft, and watch the form repopulate automatically.
- Reset any drafts you no longer need so your device only stores current work.
- Add a monthly reminder to review and clear old drafts.
- Download a PDF of your most important draft for off-site backup.
Drafts save hours—and sometimes save the deal. Switch them on and forget the fear of losing work.
Next up: tighten your ops with Automating Recurring Invoices and watch admin time vanish.
