Table of Contents

  1. Introduction

  2. Why Customize Invoices in Dolibarr?

  3. Understanding Dolibarr’s PDF Invoice Templates

  4. Built-In Options for PDF Customization

  5. Changing the Default Invoice Model

  6. Modifying Invoice Header and Footer

  7. Adding a Company Logo

  8. Adjusting Colors and Fonts Without Code

  9. Using the ODT Template Feature

  10. Tips for Using LibreOffice or OpenOffice

  11. Uploading and Assigning Your ODT Invoice Template

  12. Best Practices for Non-Coders

  13. When to Consider Professional Help

  14. Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

  15. Conclusion: Control Your Brand with Zero Code

1. Introduction

Dolibarr is a powerful ERP and CRM tool tailored for small businesses, freelancers, and non-profits. One of its many strengths lies in its ability to generate PDF documents—like invoices, proposals, delivery notes—automatically. For businesses that rely on these documents daily, customizing the look and feel of invoices is not just a branding decision—it's essential.

Fortunately, Dolibarr allows significant customization of invoice templates without requiring any programming skills. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to make your PDF invoices reflect your brand without touching a single line of code.

2. Why Customize Invoices in Dolibarr?

Invoices are more than just payment requests—they’re part of your brand identity. A well-designed invoice:

  • Makes your business look more professional

  • Improves customer trust

  • Increases the chances of prompt payment

  • Ensures compliance with local tax or legal presentation requirements

Customization allows you to include logos, adjust layout, add specific fields, and control the tone of your business documents. All of this can be done in Dolibarr even without programming knowledge.

3. Understanding Dolibarr’s PDF Invoice Templates

Dolibarr uses predefined templates written in PHP and TCPDF to generate PDF invoices. While developers can modify these templates by editing the PHP code, Dolibarr also offers no-code solutions through configuration menus and ODT template support.

The standard templates provided include options like crabe, azur, einstein, and rouge. Each has different layouts, logos, and table formats. You can switch between them instantly.

4. Built-In Options for PDF Customization

Navigate to Home > Setup > Modules > Billing/Invoices > PDF Templates. Here you can:

  • Choose your default template

  • Define company logo

  • Adjust footer text

  • Select background and table colors (for some templates)

These settings allow quick tweaks and preview results instantly.

5. Changing the Default Invoice Model

Dolibarr comes with several predefined invoice models. To change the default one:

  1. Go to Setup > Modules > Billing/Invoices

  2. Click on PDF templates

  3. Click the star icon next to the template you prefer (e.g., azur, crabe, etc.)

Each template has a different layout. Try a few and preview them by downloading an invoice to see which one fits your style best.

6. Modifying Invoice Header and Footer

Headers and footers can include:

  • Your company name and address

  • Tax numbers

  • Legal disclaimers or notes

  • Bank account info

To edit these:

  • Go to Setup > Company/Organization

  • Fill in relevant fields like name, address, phone, registration info

Then, navigate to PDF Templates settings again and define custom footer texts or legal notes that appear at the bottom of each invoice.

7. Adding a Company Logo

Your logo reinforces your identity. To add it:

  1. Go to Setup > Company/Organization

  2. Scroll to the section labeled Logo

  3. Upload an image file (PNG or JPG recommended)

This logo will automatically appear on most templates that support logo display (e.g., azur, crabe).

8. Adjusting Colors and Fonts Without Code

Some templates (notably azur and rouge) allow color adjustments directly from the configuration panel. While font settings are limited without code, you can:

  • Choose light or dark themes

  • Adjust header and table highlight colors

Navigate to PDF Templates and look for editable fields that say Main Color, Secondary Color, or Table Color.

9. Using the ODT Template Feature

ODT templates allow full control over layout and content using LibreOffice or OpenOffice Writer. This is the most powerful way to customize invoices without coding.

To enable this:

  1. Go to Modules/Applications > Modules

  2. Activate the ODT Documents module

  3. Go to Setup > Modules > Billing/Invoices > Document Templates

  4. Upload a .odt file template

10. Tips for Using LibreOffice or OpenOffice

When creating your ODT template:

  • Use text fields like __INVOICE_REF__, __TOTAL__, __CLIENT_NAME__, etc.

  • These placeholders will be replaced with real data during PDF generation

  • Use tables to control layout

  • Save your file in ODT format (not DOCX)

You can find a list of available fields in the Dolibarr documentation or copy a sample ODT file and adapt it.

11. Uploading and Assigning Your ODT Invoice Template

Once your template is ready:

  1. Go to Setup > Modules > Billing/Invoices

  2. Click on the ODT section

  3. Upload your ODT file

  4. Assign it as the default template for invoice generation

Now when you generate invoices, Dolibarr will use your custom layout.

12. Best Practices for Non-Coders

  • Always back up your data before making changes

  • Preview invoices after each tweak

  • Use consistent font sizes and margins for clean layouts

  • Start by duplicating an existing ODT template to avoid missing fields

  • Keep your logo under 500KB to avoid PDF bloating

13. When to Consider Professional Help

If you need:

  • Multi-language invoices

  • Complex tax fields

  • QR code integration

  • e-Invoicing compliance (e.g., Factur-X, UBL)

…you might need help from a Dolibarr integrator. However, for 90% of basic customization needs, the steps in this guide are more than sufficient.

14. Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

  • Logo not showing? Check file type and size.

  • Fields missing? Ensure you’re using correct placeholders.

  • Broken layout in ODT? Use LibreOffice, not Word or Google Docs.

  • Wrong template applied? Verify the default selection in settings.

15. Conclusion: Control Your Brand with Zero Code

You don’t need to be a developer to create professional, branded invoices in Dolibarr. With built-in settings and ODT template support, customizing your documents is easier than ever in 2025. By mastering these tools, you ensure every invoice reflects the professionalism and identity of your business—without writing a single line of code.