How to turn an estimate into an invoice
Updated
Keep both parties and the line items, drop the validity date, set a due date, and download the invoice PDF. A quote uses the same button; its reference becomes the PO number.
Key takeaways
- An estimate is a price before the work, not a bill.
- The button copies lines onto the invoice page. It does not create a fifth document type.
- A receipt comes after you are paid, and it does not keep an invoice discount.
What changes when the estimate becomes an invoice
On Estimate Maker, fill both names and at least one line, then use “Use these lines on an invoice.” The client, the line items, tax, and any discount open on Invoice Generator. The estimate number keeps its digits and gains an INV- prefix. The invoice date is today and the due date is 14 days out. Valid until is left behind. If you named the job, that name is added after the payment terms. Check the due date, then download the PDF.
A quote uses the same button
Quote Generator has the same control. The reference on the quote is copied into the invoice PO number, and it is not repeated in the notes. The validity date is still dropped. You set the due date on the invoice, the same way you would after an estimate.
After you are paid, copy the invoice onto a receipt
Invoice Generator can send the same lines to Receipt Maker. The invoice number is placed in For invoice, and the receipt date is today. Choose the payment method yourself. Receipts on this site do not apply a discount, so if the invoice had one, check the amount paid before you download.
What to check before you download
Read the due date, the PO number, and the payment terms. Empty lines are not copied. Both names are required before the button will leave the page. The PDF is still built on the server from the fields you see, and a free download still carries the small brand line.
FAQ
Does the validity date show up on the invoice?
No. Valid until stays on the estimate. The invoice gets a due date instead, 14 days from the day you copy the lines, unless you change it.
Is the discount still there?
On the invoice, yes. On the receipt, no. Receipt Maker does not have a discount field, so compare the amount paid with the invoice total before you download.
Do I have to type the client again?
No. The client name, address, and email are copied. Change them only if the bill should go to someone else.