> ## 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.

# Customers

> Manage customer information and history.

Every invoice needs a customer. Instead of typing their info each time, save it once and reuse it forever.

Customer records also give you history — every invoice you've sent them, every payment they've made, their current balance. Useful when someone asks "how much have we billed Acme Corp this year?"

## Adding a customer

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to Customers">
    Navigate to **Invoicing → Customers** or click **Add Customer**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter their details">
    * Company name (or individual name)
    * Contact person
    * Email (where invoices go)
    * Phone
    * Billing address
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set defaults">
    * Payment terms (Net 30, etc.)
    * Tax status (taxable or exempt)
    * Currency (if different from your default)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Customer is ready for invoicing.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Customer information

| Field            | What it's for                    |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------- |
| Company name     | Primary identifier               |
| Display name     | How they appear on invoices      |
| Contact name     | Who to address communications to |
| Email            | Where invoices get sent          |
| Phone            | Contact number                   |
| Billing address  | Appears on invoices              |
| Shipping address | If different from billing        |

## Customer defaults

Set defaults that apply every time you invoice this customer:

| Setting          | What it does                                 |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Payment terms    | Net 15, Net 30, Due on receipt, etc.         |
| Tax status       | Taxable or exempt                            |
| Tax exemption ID | For exempt customers (resellers, nonprofits) |
| Currency         | Their preferred currency                     |
| Payment method   | How they usually pay                         |

Saves you from setting these on every invoice.

## The customer profile

Everything about a customer in one place:

### Overview

* Contact information
* Account balance (what they owe)
* Total invoiced (all time)
* Total paid (all time)

### Invoices tab

All invoices for this customer:

* Drafts you haven't sent
* Outstanding (sent, not paid)
* Paid invoices
* Overdue invoices

### Payments tab

Payment history:

* Every payment they've made
* Payment methods used
* Dates received

### Activity tab

Timeline of everything:

* Invoices sent
* Payments received
* Emails delivered
* Notes you've added

## Account balance

Track what each customer owes:

| Metric           | What it shows                    |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------- |
| Current balance  | Total outstanding right now      |
| Overdue          | Amount that's past due           |
| Available credit | Credits or overpayments to apply |

## Customer statements

Generate a statement showing all account activity:

1. Open customer profile
2. Click **Generate Statement**
3. Select date range
4. Generate PDF
5. Send to customer

Statements show:

* Opening balance
* Invoices issued
* Payments received
* Ending balance

Good for customers who want a summary of their account.

## Credits

Apply a credit to a customer's account (refund, goodwill adjustment, correction):

1. Go to customer profile
2. Click **Add Credit**
3. Enter amount and reason
4. Credit applies to their next invoice automatically

Or manually apply it to a specific invoice.

## Importing customers

Moving from another system?

1. Go to **Customers → Import**
2. Upload CSV file
3. Map columns to fields
4. Review and import

### CSV format example

```csv theme={null}
Company Name,Contact Name,Email,Phone,Address
Acme Corp,John Smith,john@acme.com,555-1234,"123 Main St"
```

## Merging duplicates

If you accidentally created the same customer twice:

1. Go to **Customers**
2. Click **Merge**
3. Select the duplicates
4. Choose which record to keep as primary
5. Merge

All invoices and payments consolidate under one customer.

## Archiving customers

For customers you no longer work with:

1. Open customer profile
2. Click **Archive**
3. Customer hides from active lists but history is preserved

Archived customers don't clutter your dropdowns when creating new invoices. You can unarchive them anytime.

## Customer portal

Give customers self-service access:

1. Go to customer profile
2. Click **Send Portal Access**
3. Customer receives login link

In the portal, they can:

* View all their invoices
* Make payments
* Download receipts
* Update their contact information

Less "can you resend that invoice?" emails for you.

<Card title="Payment reminders" icon="bell" href="/features/invoicing/reminders">
  Send automatic payment reminders.
</Card>