> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pluvel.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating Invoices

> Create and send professional invoices to your customers.

You finished the work. Now you need to get paid.

The invoice is how that happens — a formal request for payment that tells your customer exactly what they owe and how to pay. A good invoice gets paid faster. A confusing one sits in someone's inbox for weeks.

## Creating an invoice

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Invoicing">
    Navigate to **Invoicing → Invoices** or click **New Invoice** from the dashboard.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select customer">
    Choose an existing customer or create a new one. Their billing info auto-fills.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add line items">
    Add what you're billing for:

    * Description
    * Quantity
    * Rate
    * Amount (calculated automatically)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review totals">
    Check subtotal, tax (if applicable), and total. Make sure it matches what you agreed on.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Send or save">
    Send immediately or save as draft if you're not ready.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Invoice fields

| Field          | What it's for                                        |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| Invoice number | Auto-generated (you can customize the format)        |
| Invoice date   | Date you're issuing the invoice                      |
| Due date       | When payment is expected                             |
| Customer       | Who's paying                                         |
| Line items     | What they're paying for                              |
| Notes          | Message to customer ("Thank you for your business!") |
| Terms          | Payment terms and conditions                         |

## Line items

For each thing you're billing:

| Field       | Required | Description          |
| ----------- | -------- | -------------------- |
| Description | Yes      | What you did or sold |
| Quantity    | Yes      | How many             |
| Rate        | Yes      | Price per unit       |
| Amount      | Auto     | Quantity × Rate      |
| Tax         | Optional | Whether it's taxable |

### Using your product catalog

If you bill for the same things regularly, add them to your product catalog:

1. Click **Add Item**
2. Search or browse your products
3. Select — description and rate auto-fill
4. Adjust quantity if needed

Saves time and keeps pricing consistent.

### One-off items

For things you won't bill again:

1. Click **Add Item**
2. Select **Custom Item**
3. Enter description, quantity, rate

No need to clutter your catalog with one-time items.

## Discounts

### Line item discount

Reduce the price of a specific item (10% off this service).

### Subtotal discount

Take a percentage or fixed amount off the whole invoice.

To add a discount:

1. Click **Add Discount** below line items
2. Choose percentage or fixed amount
3. Enter value
4. Discount shows on the invoice

## Sales tax

If you collect sales tax:

1. Enable tax in invoice settings
2. Set customer's tax status (taxable or exempt)
3. Tax calculates automatically based on their location

See [Sales Tax](/features/tax/sales-tax) for setup.

## Attachments

Need to include supporting documents? Contracts, work samples, detailed breakdowns?

1. Click **Attach Files**
2. Upload PDFs, images, or documents
3. Customer sees them when viewing the invoice

## Notes and terms

### Customer notes

A message that appears on the invoice. Keep it brief:

* "Thank you for your business!"
* "Payment due upon receipt"
* "Questions? Contact [accounting@yourcompany.com](mailto:accounting@yourcompany.com)"

### Terms and conditions

Payment terms, late fee policies, etc. Set defaults in invoice settings so you don't retype them every time.

## Sending invoices

### By email (most common)

1. Review the invoice
2. Click **Send**
3. Customize the email message (optional)
4. Send

Your customer receives:

* Email with invoice summary
* PDF attachment
* "Pay Now" button (if you've enabled online payments)

### Other options

* **Download PDF** — Print and mail, or attach to your own email
* **Copy link** — Share the payment link directly
* **Mark as sent** — Record that you delivered it another way

## Invoice status

| Status  | What it means                                |
| ------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Draft   | Not sent yet                                 |
| Sent    | Delivered to customer                        |
| Viewed  | Customer opened it (you'll know they saw it) |
| Partial | They paid some, not all                      |
| Paid    | Full payment received                        |
| Overdue | Past due date, still unpaid                  |
| Void    | Cancelled                                    |

## After sending

Track what happens:

* **Views** — See when customer opens the invoice
* **Reminders** — Send payment reminders if they're slow to pay
* **Payments** — Record payments as they come in
* **Edit** — Make changes if needed (creates a new version)

<Card title="Invoice templates" icon="palette" href="/features/invoicing/templates">
  Customize your invoice appearance.
</Card>