The updated style of estimate and invoicing does not support progress invoicing. QBO does not recognize that I sent a partial invoice for an estimate. How to fix?

Hello there, @Trufence. It's our pleasure to share further information about creating progress invoicing for the new estimate and invoice layout in QuickBooks Online (QBO).

We understand the importance of managing progress invoicing for the new layout in the program without issues. That way, you can 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. However, the option is unavailable yet for the new estimate and invoice layout.

As a workaround, you may want to switch to the old layout to continue managing your progress invoicing. Although, please be aware that it's possible that once you switch to the old preference, you're unable to switch to the new one. To learn more about the new experience, consider checking out this article: See what’s new with estimates and invoices in QuickBooks Online.

Additionally, you can refer to this article for more details about managing progress invoices and other sales forms in QuickBooks:

•  Set up and send progress invoices in QuickBooks Online
• Record invoice payments in QuickBooks Online
• Customize invoices, estimates, and sales receipts in QuickBooks Online

Keep us posted if you still have questions or concerns about managing your QBO account. We will be right back to answer them. Stay safe, Trufence!

I see no option to switch back to the old layout. How do I do that?

There is no option now to switch back.  The "new" invoicing was forced on us.. and WAY before it was ready for prime time.  There are so many issues with it, it's like a 5 year old programmed it not understand business at all.

Other issues you will run across.. like description not showing up in the item selection, unable to edit Bill To and Ship To addresses on an invoice level, no subtotals...  SO frustrating. 

Hello there, @Trufence and @bvstone.

I understand that you're currently experiencing an issue with progress invoicing in the new style of estimate and invoice. I want to assure you that we are aware of this matter and have initiated an investigation to address it. Our dedicated team of engineers is actively working to resolve this issue and find a solution for you. I recommend contacting our phone or chat support. They can assist you further by adding your account to the list of affected users. Rest assured that by providing the investigation number INV-92094, you will receive timely email notifications regarding the progress of the investigation. 

Here's how to contact us:

1. Go to the Help menu and select the Search tab.
2. Then, click Contact Us.
3. Then, enter a brief description of your concern and select Continue.
4. Lastly, choose either Start a Chat or Get a Callback to start connecting with them.

You can also check this article on how to add estimates to your progressive invoices: Add project estimate summaries to a progress invoice in QuickBooks Online.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any additional inquiries. I am here to assist you at any time.

I completely 1000% agree!

I invoice a broker, and the bill to address is the brokers address, but I use the ship to address for where the load as delivered too, and I cannot change that! its boggling how they forced this update down our throats. way before it was remotely useable.

Does not work even if we switch back to the old layout. This is totally unacceptable. It's keeping me from collecting progress payments. This needs to be remedied immediately. You all are screwing around with your beta programming and it's affecting people's lives in real time. Please fix it now.

Thank you for joining the conversation, @Qwertyqwerty.

I understand the importance of having these functions in QuickBooks, especially when it comes to collecting customer payments. Let me share with you some steps to address the issue and complete your task in the program.

Before we start, can you tell us if you get any specific error messages while doing progress invoicing in the old layout? This way, I could check if there are any similar concerns posted in our forum and provide you with the appropriate fix. 

In the meantime, let's perform some troubleshooting steps to address the issue. To start, open your account in a private window. Doing this will help us check if the problem is related to a cache issue and resolve it. Simply press the following shortcut keys to open this mode:
 

• Ctrl + Shift + N (Google Chrome).
• Ctrl + Shift + P (Firefox ).
• Control + Option + P (Safari).

If it works, let's clear your browser's cache to delete temporarily stored files and free some space on your browser. You can also use other supported, up-to-date browsers to be thorough.

With regard to your concern about the new updates with invoices and estimates, I'd suggest sending feedback to our developers. This will allow them to review your suggestions and potentially include them in future updates.

You can also track feature requests through the QuickBooks Online Feature Requests website.

I'm also adding this article to help track all the open and progress invoices that are due on a particular date range: Report of invoices that are due on a specific day.

If you have any further questions about the Progress Invoicing feature, please don't hesitate to leave a comment below. I'll be available to assist you.

I am so frustrated! After trying over and over again I started doing research and found that others are having this problem. I agree with the other comments--this issue resulting in me being unable to invoice customers. And I can switch back to the old layout once I am in an invoice but when I do, it still does not give me the option of progressive invoicing. 

I really feel that we should be reimbursed monthly payments until this problem is solved as quickbooks can no longer do what we are paying for. OR better yet, go back to the old invoicing style until the new one is ACTUALLY READY. 

Also, all of the replies that have been submitted on this forum so far are incredibly unhelpful. We know how quickbooks works, this is an issue on YOUR end and the least you can do is own up to it. 

I lost the ability to do progressive invoicing too and found that it turned off when they did the update. When I turn it back on, it works, but when choosing to invoice a percentage, the partial invoice that is created is blank with all zeros. Here are the instructions to turn progressive invoicing on, but it's still not working correctly. Does anyone know how to fix this issue?  It does say you have to use their template (which is bogus) so I may try to switch to it, but shouldn't have to... I like my custom invoice and my customers expect it! Do better QB!

Here are the instructions on how to turn it on... 
1. Go to Account and settings.
2. On the Sales tab, go to Progress invoicing, then Edit .
3. Turn on Create multiple partial invoices from a single estimate.
4. Save.

I appreciate you for taking the time to share your concern here in the Community, lp_mi. Let's perform troubleshooting steps to address the invoicing issue you're experiencing.

A cache-related problem could be causing the partial invoice to be generated blank with all zeroes. To rectify this, I suggest accessing your QuickBooks Online account in a private window.

Here are some keyboard shortcuts that you can use:

• Google Chrome: press Ctrl + Shift + N 
• Mozilla Firefox: press Ctrl + Shift + P
• Safari: press Command + Shift + N

Once in the private window, create a partial invoice from an estimate. If everything works smoothly and the partial invoice shows the correct amounts, I suggest returning to your regular browser to clear its cache and remove outdated files. Alternatively, you can use other supported browsers.

For more info on progress invoicing in QuickBooks, please refer to this article: Set up and send progress invoices.

You might also want to personalize your sales forms in QuickBooks. Here's a guide: Customize invoices, estimates, and sales receipts.

Come back to this post if you have other invoicing concerns in QuickBooks, lp_mi. I've got your back; just reply in the comment section below. Keep safe!

I hate to respond like this, but your "clear the cache" reply is a generic fix used too often and not usually helpful. Do you actually use Quickbooks? Has this ever happened to you?

The correct answer is and should be:

1. First, make sure progressive invoicing is turned (back) on in settings/sales.
2. Check to see if the Estimate was already converted to an Invoice - In my case it was.
3. Delete or void the invoice then convert the Estimate again and the progressive options will appear.
4. Choose whether to invoice the whole amount, a % or a partial amount.

The only problem is that it invoices using the Quickbooks template instead of mine. 

Is there a way to do progressive invoicing using my custom templates?