Set up and send progress invoices

Learn how to send invoices over time as you work off an estimate in QuickBooks.

Progress invoicing lets you split an estimate into as many invoices as you need. Instead of asking for full payment at the beginning of a project, you can invoice customers for partial payments. As you complete work, add items from the initial estimate to progress invoices. This keeps project payments organised and connected from start to finish.

Prerequisites

Before you can create a progress invoice:

• Turn on progress invoicing.
• Create an estimate.

Once progress invoicing is turned on, you can use the premade Airy style template, or create your own.

Step 1: Create progress invoices from an estimate

You can use an estimate to create a progress invoice that has been marked Accepted. This doesn't change the original estimate, which remains in your records. You can create multiple progress invoices from the same estimate.

1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product
2. Find the estimate you want to use to create a progress invoice.
3. From the Action column, select Convert to invoice.
   Note: Convert to invoice may be located in the dropdown ▼ under Action column depending on the status of your estimate.
4. Select an option from How much do you want to invoice?, then select Create invoice.
5. Fill out the rest of the invoice.
6. Select Review and send, Save and new, or Save and close.
   Note: If you're on the old invoice layout, select Save and send, Save and new, or Save and close.

Note: You can also create an invoice and assign it to a customer with an open estimate. Then find the estimate in the Add to Invoice or Suggested transactions sidebar and select Add.

Step 2: Keep track of your progress invoices

Progress invoices include an estimate summary with the total invoiced. There are also links to the original estimate and all relevant progress invoices.

To see the original estimate from the invoice:

1. Follow this link to complete the steps in product
2. Find the invoice and select View/Edit from the Action column.
3. Select Linked transactions.
   Note: If you're on the old invoice layout, select (number) linked Estimate.
4. Select the estimate you want to see.

After you’ve invoiced for the total estimate, the estimate status automatically changes to Closed. If you try to invoice for more than 100% of the total estimate, you’ll only be able to add what’s left of the remaining balance.

Related links

• Create and send estimates in QuickBooks Online
• Send an invoice to a customer in QuickBooks Online
• Create invoices in QuickBooks Online