Last month's expense report took 35 minutes — collecting receipts, naming them, attaching them one by one to the expense form. You hated every minute of it.
Two minutes is the new standard. Here's how.
30 seconds: Gather receipts
If you've been disciplined and saved receipts to `/Receipts/<year>/<month>` throughout the month, this is just opening the folder. If not, you'll spend longer here — but make it the last time.
For stragglers (email confirmations, app receipts), screenshot or print-to-PDF directly to the folder. Don't worry about naming yet.
60 seconds: Merge and rename
Drag the whole folder into Flint merge. Order chronologically (filename order usually handles this). Merge. Rename: `2025-08_<your-name>_Expenses.pdf`.
One file. Twelve receipts. Ready to submit.
20 seconds: Compress
Receipt scans are usually oversized. Compress the merged pack. Reductions of 70%+ are normal — the 25 MB pack becomes a 7 MB pack, well under any expense system's attachment limit.
Most expense platforms have file size caps. Compress means you never hit them.
10 seconds: Submit
Upload the single compressed PDF to your expense system. Add the summary numbers in the form fields. Submit.
If your expense system wants individual receipts, split the pack first — but most systems are happy with one merged attachment plus an itemised line list.
FAQ
What if I lose a receipt?
Most policies accept a 'lost receipt' declaration for small amounts. For larger amounts, contact the merchant for a duplicate. Either way, file the resolution in your monthly folder so the audit trail is clean.
Should I redact card numbers on receipts?
If the receipts leave your company (sent to a third-party processor, or shared externally), redact full card numbers. Most internal expense systems don't require it.
What about mileage and per-diem with no receipts?
Document them in a one-page summary PDF and merge it into the pack. A consistent format means your finance team approves it without questions.
Can I do this on mobile?
Yes — receipt capture happens on mobile (camera or screenshot to PDF), merge and compress in Flint via mobile browser. Monthly submission from any device.
Expense reports should not be a half-hour task. Run this month's pack through Flint and clock it.