# Purchasing

The buying section is where you manage everything you purchase — materials from supply houses, subcontractor services, equipment rentals, and anything else you spend money on for your jobs. It keeps your purchasing organized and connected to your accounting.

## Why This Matters

Knowing what you've ordered, from whom, and for which job is critical for staying on budget. The buying module ties your purchases back to your projects and accounting so you can see exactly where your money is going.

## The Flow

1. You need materials or a subcontractor → Find or create a [Supplier](/erpnext-basics/erpnext-basics/buying/suppliers.md) record
2. You place an order → Create a [Purchase Order](/erpnext-basics/erpnext-basics/buying/purchase-orders.md)
3. The goods arrive or the work is done → The supplier sends you a bill
4. You record the bill → Create a [Purchase Invoice](/erpnext-basics/erpnext-basics/accounts/purchase-invoices.md)
5. You pay the bill → Record a [Payment](/erpnext-basics/erpnext-basics/accounts/payments.md)

## Key Concepts

* **Supplier** — A person or company you buy from (material suppliers, subcontractors, rental companies)
* **Purchase Order** — A formal order you send to a supplier for materials or services

***

**In this section:**

* [Suppliers](/erpnext-basics/erpnext-basics/buying/suppliers.md)
* [Purchase Orders](/erpnext-basics/erpnext-basics/buying/purchase-orders.md)


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