Hello there, lizfoster99.
In QuickBooks Desktop, there are various ways to record customer transactions, and the key difference lies in when you record the payment. I can share some information on the different ways you can track customer transactions in QuickBooks Desktop.
When you create an invoice, you're essentially sending a bill to your customer for the products or services you've provided, with payment due at a later date. A sales receipt, on the other hand, can be generated if you receive immediate payment from a customer for goods or services, resulting in a single transaction that captures both the sale and the payment.
That said, if you really need to take and process a credit card payment without an invoice you can create a sales receipt to properly track your income. Here's an article you can check for the complete list of customer transaction workflows: Get started with customer transaction workflows in QuickBooks Desktop.
Additionally, if you plan to use progress invoicing in the future, you can find more information in this article: Set up and send progress invoices in QuickBooks Desktop.
Should you have any further questions about invoices and payments, please feel free to ask in the comments section below. I'm here to assist you.
