How do I create and send an invoice to a client?

Send a client an invoice they pay by card through a pay link. Visualist emails the invoice with a PDF, sends reminders, and records each payment.

Before you start

You can draft an invoice at any time. To send it, connect Stripe first. See How do I connect Stripe to take client payments?

Create and send an invoice

1. Start an invoice. Open Business Center from the rail, select Invoices, then select New invoice.
2. Choose the client. Under Bill to, search People and choose the client, or enter a Name, Email, and Company for someone new.
3. Add what you’re billing for. Under Items, enter a description, quantity, and price. Select Add item for each extra line.
4. Set the due date and payment plan. Select the due date to choose Due in or On a date. Under How it's paid, keep All at once or choose a payment plan.
5. Check the settings. In Invoice settings beside the invoice, check Currency, Tax, Client pays by, Reminders, and Hub.
6. Review. Select Review and send. Check the Before sending list and add a Message.
7. Send it. Choose Email it and select Send to the client, or choose Copy pay link to share the link yourself.

Visualist saves the draft as you go. Turn on Client view to see the invoice as your client will. A new client you enter under Bill to is added to your People.

You can also start an invoice from a client’s page in People, or from a Hub’s Invoices tab. The invoice starts with that client or Hub chosen.

To split the total into a deposit and later payments, see How do I split a fee into a payment plan?

What happens when you send it

Your client gets an email from your business name “via Visualist”, with the invoice PDF and a link to pay. Reminder emails go out on your schedule until each payment is paid. You can turn reminders off for this invoice in Review and send. The invoice moves from Needs review to Sent, then Viewed, Partially paid, Overdue, or Paid.

If something goes wrong

• Review and send is greyed out. The hint beside it says what’s missing.
• Before sending shows Add the client's email below. Add their email in the review panel, or on their page in People.
• Before sending shows Stripe is still checking your details. Wait for Stripe to finish. Your draft is kept.
• You see Couldn't save. Check your connection. The editor saves again when you make your next change.

To see the page your client pays on, read What does my client see when they pay an invoice?