---
key: add-a-supplier
title: Add a supplier
audience: staff
section: sales-billing
routes: ["/suppliers", "/suppliers/new"]
permissions: ["commerce.vendors.read", "bookkeeping.vendors.read"]
features: ["commerce.suppliers"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: Keep one record for each company you buy from, so purchase orders, expenses, bills and receipts can all be tied to it, and deactivate one you no longer use.
keywords: [vendor, vendor list, wholesaler, parts supplier, distributor, supply house, who we pay, payee, deactivate supplier, preferred supplier, payment terms]
related: [create-a-supplier-purchase-order, send-a-purchase-order-and-receive-items, record-an-expense, upload-a-receipt]
---

In the sidebar, open **Sales & Billing**, then **Purchasing**, then **Suppliers**. The page address is `/suppliers`.

A supplier is any company you buy from or pay: a supply house, a wholesaler, the fuel company, your landlord. There is one list for everyone. Purchase orders use it, and so do expenses, bills and receipts in bookkeeping, so a supplier you add here is ready everywhere.

## Before you start

- Your role needs permission to add suppliers. Purchasing staff and bookkeepers each have their own permission for this. If you do not see **New supplier**, ask your admin.
- Your organization needs its currency set. If **New supplier** is greyed out, hover it to read why.

## Steps

1. Press **New supplier**. A panel opens on the right.
2. Type the company name in **Name**. This is the only required field.
3. Leave **Vendor code** blank to let Nova number the supplier, or type your own short code.
4. Fill in **Contact name**, **Email** and **Phone** for the person you deal with.
5. Add **Tax ID**, **Payment terms** (for example, Net 30) and **Website** if you have them. **Default currency** starts as your organization's currency.
6. Tick **Preferred vendor** if this is the supplier you reach for first. Preferred suppliers show a star in the list.
7. Press **Create supplier**. The panel closes and the supplier appears in the list.

## What you see

- The list shows each supplier's name, code, contact, email, terms and **Status**.
- Open the **Filters** panel to show only one **Status**, or press **Reset filters** to clear it.
- Press a row to edit it, then press **Save changes**.
- Each row's actions menu offers **Edit** and **Deactivate**. Deactivating hides a supplier from new purchase orders and expenses. Past orders, expenses and bills keep their link, and the same menu offers **Reactivate** later.

## If something looks different

- The page says no suppliers exist yet: add one here before you raise a purchase order or record an expense against it.
- **Deactivate** asks for a reason: your organization requires a short written explanation for this change. Type it and press **Deactivate** again.
- **New supplier** is missing: your role can view suppliers but not add them.
- You use bookkeeping but not purchase orders: **Suppliers** still appears under **Sales & Billing**, and the **Purchasing** group shows only this page.

[[route:/suppliers|Open Suppliers]]