---
title: "Buying Settings"
space: "ERPNext"
url: "https://www.prilk.com/docs/erpnext/buying-settings"
updated: "2026-05-15"
---

## Buying Settings

Buying Settings holds the rules ERPNext applies to every Purchase Order, Purchase Invoice and Material Request — defaults, validations, behaviour.

### Where to find it

**Buying Settings** in the Awesome Bar. Single-record settings page.

### Key fields

| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Default Supplier Group** | Group new suppliers fall into if none picked |
| **Default Buying Price List** | Price List used for PO and Material Request if none set on supplier |
| **Supplier Naming By** | Use the Supplier's Name field, or auto-generate a code |
| **Purchase Order Required for Purchase Invoice** | If Yes, you cannot create a Purchase Invoice without a preceding PO — strict procurement |
| **Purchase Receipt Required for Purchase Invoice** | If Yes, you cannot bill until goods received |
| **Maintain Same Rate Throughout Purchase Cycle** | If Yes, rates can't change between PO → Receipt → Invoice — three-way match |
| **Allow Item to be Added Multiple Times** | If No, the same item can only appear once per document |
| **Subcontract** | Subcontracting flow on/off |
| **Backflush Raw Materials** | For subcontracting — auto-consume raw materials when finished goods are received |

### When to change these

| Situation | Setting |
|---|---|
| Strict 3-way match required (audit / compliance) | **PO Required for PI = Yes** + **Maintain Same Rate = Yes** |
| Supplier invoices may differ from PO (you accept the difference) | Both above = No |
| Always receive before paying | **Purchase Receipt Required for PI = Yes** |
| Subcontracted manufacturing | **Subcontract = Yes**, configure Subcontracting Settings |

### Authorization rules

If you want managers to approve POs above a threshold instead of locking the rate:

**Authorization Rule → New**:
- Document Type: Purchase Order
- Based On: Grand Total
- Above Value: 10,000
- To Approve: System Manager (or your approval role)

The PO can't be submitted until someone with the role approves.

### Effect on existing data

Settings apply to **new** documents. Existing POs, Invoices, Material Requests keep their original rules.

### Related

- [Supplier Groups](/docs/erpnext/supplier-groups) — for grouping suppliers
- [Item-Supplier Mapping](/docs/erpnext/item-supplier-mapping) — multi-supplier sourcing for the same item