How to bill in stages or split a bill

On an accepted quote, bill a share at a time with a running balance, or send part of the bill to a second payer.

Updated 2026-10-24

Big jobs are often billed in stages, e.g. 30% to start, 40% at rough-in and the rest at the end. Some jobs have two payers, e.g. a home warranty company pays for the parts and the homeowner pays the service fee.

Where

Quotes → open an accepted quote → Bill in stages. You need a position that writes invoices.

Steps

Bill in stages

1. Type the percent this stage bills, e.g. 30, and press Bill this stage. A draft invoice is made, e.g. "Stage 1: 30% of quote Q-0012".
2. Each later stage works the same way. The list shows every stage, what it billed, whether it is paid, and what is left to bill.
3. For the last one, press Bill the rest.

Split with a second payer

1. Press Split the bill.
2. Pick who pays the other share, e.g. the warranty company, from your contacts.
3. Tick the lines they pay for, then press Make the two invoices. The ticked lines go on their invoice, the rest on the customer's.

Good to know

• Each stage bills its share of every line. The last stage bills what is left of each line, so the stages of a line add up to exactly that line.
• Tax is worked out on each invoice, so all the stages together can differ from the quote's tax by a cent.
• A cancelled stage bills nothing, and its share can be billed again.
• A percent discount applies to both halves of a split bill; an amount discount stays on the customer's invoice.
• Both kinds are drafts until you send them. Record payments on them as usual.

If it doesn't work

• "Bill a quote in stages once it is accepted." Mark the quote accepted first.
• "Invoice … already bills the whole of this quote." Cancel that invoice to bill in stages instead.
• "Quote … is being billed in stages." A whole invoice would bill twice: press Bill the rest instead.
• "… of this quote is left to bill." Ask for that much or less.