Frictionless
Frictionless

Invoicing

Learn how to create, manage, and track invoices in Frictionless. Create professional invoices with line items, taxes, and discounts.

Invoicing

Create professional invoices that get you paid faster. Frictionless provides a streamlined invoicing system with flexible pricing, multiple currencies, and automated tracking.

📄 Overview

The invoicing system in Frictionless includes:

  • Professional invoice creation with customizable line items
  • Flexible pricing with support for discounts, taxes, and shipping
  • Multiple currencies for international clients
  • Automated invoice numbering and status tracking
  • Invoice status management (draft, issued, paid)
Invoice list page with status indicators and payment information

➕ Creating New Invoices

Step 1: Access Invoice Creation

  1. Navigate to the Invoices section in your dashboard
  2. Click the "Create Invoice" or "New Invoice" button
  3. You'll be taken to the invoice creation form

Step 2: Basic Invoice Details

Fill in the essential invoice information:

  • Client - Select the client from your client database (required)
  • Invoice Number - Auto-generated sequential number (can be customized)
  • Title - Descriptive title for the invoice (required)
  • Memo - Additional notes or description (optional)
  • Currency - Invoice currency (defaults to organization currency)

Step 3: Add Line Items

Add products or services to your invoice:

  1. Item Name - Description of the product or service (required)
  2. Description - Detailed description (optional)
  3. Quantity - Number of units (defaults to 1)
  4. Unit Price - Price per unit in cents/smallest currency unit (required)

Adding Multiple Line Items:

  • Click "Add Item" to add additional line items
  • Use "Remove" to delete unwanted items
  • Auto-calculate totals as you add items

Step 4: Configure Taxes and Discounts

Set up pricing adjustments:

Taxes:

  • Tax Name - Name of the tax (e.g., "Sales Tax", "VAT")
  • Tax Percentage - Tax rate as a percentage
  • Multiple taxes can be added for different tax types

Discounts:

  • Discount Type - Choose between percentage or fixed amount
  • Discount Value - Discount amount or percentage
  • Applied to - Select which items the discount applies to

Shipping:

  • Shipping Amount - Additional shipping costs (if applicable)
Invoice creation form with line items, taxes, and discount options

Step 6: Review and Save

  1. Preview the invoice to check calculations and layout
  2. Review all details including client information and line items
  3. Create Invoice
Generated invoice preview showing professional layout and branding

📋 Managing Invoices

Invoice Status Types

Draft

  • Invoices that are being created or edited
  • Can be modified and saved multiple times
  • Not sent to clients yet

Pending

  • Invoices that have been sent to clients
  • Payment tracking begins

Paid

  • Invoices that have been fully paid
  • Cannot be modified
  • Payment details are recorded

Overdue

  • Invoices that have not been paid by the due date
  • Cannot be modified
  • Payment tracking still continues

Invoice List View

The invoice list provides comprehensive management:

  • Search - Find invoices by number, client, or title
  • Filter - Filter by status, date range, or client
  • Sort - Sort by date, amount, or status
  • Bulk actions - Select multiple invoices for batch operations
Invoice list page with status indicators and payment information

Invoice Actions

Each invoice supports various actions:

  • Preview - Open the invoice for viewing in a new tab
  • Copy Link - Appears when the invoice has been finalized/issued
  • Finalize Invoice - Send invoice to client via email
  • Confirm Payment - Record payment manually
  • Delete - Delete the invoice

💰 Pricing and Calculations

Line Item Pricing

  • Unit prices are stored in cents/smallest currency unit for precision
  • Quantity calculations are automatic
  • Subtotals are calculated per line item
  • Total calculations include all line items, taxes, and discounts

Tax Calculations

  • Percentage-based taxes are calculated on subtotal
  • Multiple tax rates can be applied
  • Tax totals are clearly displayed
  • Tax-exempt clients can be configured

Discount Applications

  • Percentage discounts are calculated on subtotal
  • Fixed amount discounts are applied directly
  • Discount limits can be set to prevent over-discounting
  • Discount tracking for reporting purposes

🎨 Invoice Design and Branding

Professional Layout

  • Clean, modern design that builds client trust
  • Your branding with customizable header colors and text
  • Professional typography for readability
  • Clear information hierarchy for easy scanning

Customizable Elements

  • Header colors - Match your brand colors
  • Footer text - Add custom messages or terms

📊 Invoice Analytics

Invoice Overview

Track important invoice metrics:

  • Total invoices created
  • Outstanding invoices awaiting payment
  • Paid invoices and revenue collected
  • Average invoice value and payment time

🔄 Invoice Workflows

Draft to Issued/Pending

  1. Create invoice in draft status
  2. Add line items and configure pricing
  3. Review and preview the invoice
  4. Issue invoice to send to client
  5. Track payment status

Payment Processing

  1. Client receives invoice via email or link
  2. Client pays using available payment methods
  3. Payment is processed through PayPal, Stripe, or manual entry
  4. Invoice status updates to "Paid"
  5. Payment details are recorded

🚀 Best Practices

Invoice Creation

  • Use descriptive titles that clearly identify the work
  • Include detailed line items to avoid client questions
  • Set appropriate due dates based on payment terms
  • Add helpful memos for context or instructions

Professional Presentation

  • Proofread carefully before sending to clients
  • Use consistent formatting across all invoices
  • Include all necessary details for payment processing
  • Make it easy to pay with clear payment instructions

Payment Follow-up

  • Track payment status regularly
  • Follow up on overdue invoices promptly
  • Record payment details accurately
  • Maintain payment history for client relationships

🆘 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Invoice calculations incorrect

  • Check line item quantities and unit prices
  • Verify tax rates and discount calculations
  • Ensure currency settings are correct
  • Review subtotal and total calculations

Cannot edit issued invoice

  • Issued invoices may have limited edit capabilities
  • Create a new invoice or credit note for corrections
  • Contact support for complex modifications

Client cannot pay invoice

  • Verify payment methods are properly configured
  • Check invoice status and payment links
  • Ensure client has correct payment information
  • Test payment process in development mode

📚 Next Steps

Now that you understand invoicing, explore these related topics:


Ready to create professional invoices? Start by creating your first invoice and streamline your billing process with Frictionless!