Float uses Approval Policies to make sure bills are reviewed by the right people before any payments are made. This keeps your AP process secure and compliant.
Guide Overview
How to Approve or Decline a Bill Request
What is an Approval Policy?
When a bill is submitted for approval, Float routes it to the approvers defined in the selected approval policy. Each policy can have multiple levels of approval, triggered based on the bill amount.
You can:
- Apply one default approval policy to all bills.
- Choose a specific policy per bill.
- Create separate policies for different teams or spend types (Professional & Enterprise plans only).
For more details, see: Configuring and Editing Bill Pay Approval Policies.
Bill Approval Stages in Float
The bill approval process in Float is designed to ensure that all expenses are reviewed and approved by the appropriate team members before payment. Here’s an overview of how the process works:
-
Draft:
- A bill is uploaded to Float and saved in the "Drafts" tab.
- The bill details can be reviewed, and the necessary details added.
- The bill can be submitted for approval from here.
-
Approvals:
- Once a bill is submitted for approval, the bill is moved to the "Approvals" tab.
- The approver will be notified and will be able to approve or deny the request.
-
Unpaid:
- Once a bill has been approved, it will move to the "Unpaid" tab.
- It can now either be marked as paid or be scheduled for payment.
How to Approve or Decline a Bill Request
Approving or declining a bill request in Float is straightforward. Follow these steps to manage your bill approvals effectively:
- Log in to Float and navigate to Bill Pay > Select the "Approvals" header
- Select a bill that requires your approval > Review the bill's details if needed
- Select the "Approve" or "Decline" button
If approved, the bill moves to the "Unpaid" tab and is ready to be scheduled for payment.
If declined, the bill returns to "Drafts", and the requester will receive a notification.
For more details, see: How to Approve or Decline a Bill Payment Request.
How are Approvers Notified?
Float sends real-time notifications via email or Slack when a bill needs approval. Here’s how the notification system works:
-
Email Notifications:
- When a bill is submitted for approval, approvers will receive an email notification.
- The email will contain a link that directs the approver to the specific Bill on the Bill Pay page.
-
Slack Notifications:
- If your organization uses Slack integration with Float, approvers will receive notifications via Slack.
- The notification will contain a link that directs the approver to the specific Bill on the Bill Pay page.
-
Real-Time Updates:
- Notifications are sent in real-time, ensuring that approvers are promptly informed of pending bills, helping to expedite the approval process.
For more details, see: Configuring Bill Pay Approval Notifications.