# Customer Category

<p class="doc-lead">Customer Category provides a higher-level classification above Customer Groups. Use categories for credit policies, pricing rules, and structured reporting across your customer base.</p>

<div class="doc-toc">
<p class="doc-toc-title">On this page</p>
<div class="doc-toc-section">
<div class="doc-toc-links">
<a href="#/sales/customer-categories?id=overview">Overview</a>
<a href="#/sales/customer-categories?id=fields">Fields</a>
<a href="#/sales/customer-categories?id=how-it-works">How It Works</a>
<a href="#/sales/customer-categories?id=actions">Actions</a>
<a href="#/sales/customer-categories?id=faq">FAQ</a>
<a href="#/sales/customer-categories?id=related">Related</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>

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<h2 id="overview">Overview &amp; List View</h2>

Go to <b>Sales → Settings → Customer Category</b> from the left menu.

<b>List columns</b>

| **Column** | **Description** |
|------------|-----------------|
| Id | Category record ID. |
| Name | Category name. |
| Status | Active or Suspended. |

<b>Quick filter tabs</b>

| **Tab** | **Shows** |
|---------|-----------|
| Active | Active categories (default). |
| Suspended | Suspended categories. |

<b>Advanced filters</b>

| **Filter** | **Description** |
|------------|-----------------|
| Name | Filter by category name. |
| Status | Active or Suspended. |
| Created Date | Date the category was created. |

<b>List row actions</b>

| **Action** | **Description** |
|------------|-----------------|
| View | Opens read-only details. |
| Edit | Opens the edit form. |
| Delete | Removes the category when not referenced. |

<b>New Customer Category</b>

<img src="sales/images/customer-category.webp" alt="Customer Category" loading="lazy">

<hr class="doc-section-divider">

<h2 id="fields">Fields</h2>

| **Field** | **Description** |
|-----------|-----------------|
| Name * | Category name shown on customer records and filters. Must be unique. |

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<h2 id="how-it-works">How It Works</h2>

Each customer can belong to one customer category in addition to a customer group. Category is used when more specific customer or group rules do not apply:

<ul>
<li><b>Pricing Rule</b> — category-targeted rules apply after customer and group rules are checked. Precedence: customer → group → category → generic. See <a href="#/sales/custom-pricing">Pricing Rule</a>.</li>
<li><b>Credit Limit Setting</b> — category-level limits apply when no customer or group limit matches. Precedence: Customer → Group → Category → generic. See <a href="#/sales/credit-limit-setting">Credit Limit Setting</a>.</li>
<li><b>Customer mandatory fields</b> — category can be required on every customer when enabled in <a href="#/sales/sale-settings-config">Sale Settings</a>.</li>
</ul>

<p><b>Connected reports:</b> Use category filters on <a href="#/sales/reports/customer-reports">Customer Reports</a>, <a href="#/sales/reports/new-customer-report">New Customer Report</a>, <a href="#/sales/reports/sale-return-report">Sale Return Report</a>, <a href="#/sales/reports/sale-return-report-adv">Sale Return Report (Adv)</a>, and other advanced sale reports where category is available.</p>

<hr class="doc-section-divider">

<h2 id="actions">Actions</h2>

<b>List header:</b> <b>New</b>

| **Action** | **Description** |
|------------|-----------------|
| Edit | Opens the edit form |
| Delete | Removes the category when not referenced |
| Suspend / Activate | Disables or re-enables the category |

<b>Form buttons:</b> <b>Save</b> / <b>Update</b>, <b>Reset</b>, <b>Cancel</b>

<hr class="doc-section-divider">

<h2 id="faq">FAQ</h2>

<b>What is the difference between Customer Group and Customer Category?</b><br>
Customer Group is the primary grouping for pricing and credit. Customer Category is a higher-level label used when group-level rules do not apply — useful for regional or channel-based policies.

<b>Can a customer have both a group and a category?</b><br>
Yes. Both can be assigned independently on the customer master.

<b>Where is category used in pricing?</b><br>
<a href="#/sales/custom-pricing">Pricing Rule</a> can target customer category when no customer- or group-specific rule matches.

<b>Where is category used in credit control?</b><br>
<a href="#/sales/credit-limit-setting">Credit Limit Setting</a> can set limits by category. Resolution order is customer → group → category → generic.

<b>Should I use category or group for reporting?</b><br>
Use <a href="#/sales/customer-groups">Customer Groups</a> for day-to-day pricing and credit tiers. Category suits broader channel or regional policies above group level.

<b>Can I change a customer's category after transactions exist?</b><br>
Yes. Category change affects new pricing and credit resolution going forward — not historical bills.

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<h2 id="related">Related Topics</h2>

<ul>
<li><a href="#/sales/customers">Customers</a></li>
<li><a href="#/sales/customer-groups">Customer Groups</a></li>
<li><a href="#/sales/credit-limit-setting">Credit Limit Setting</a></li>
<li><a href="#/sales/sale-settings">Sale Settings hub</a></li>
</ul>