Start from the problem, not the feature list
Bill a construction job in stages
One contract, paid in draws as the work gets done. Each application has to show what was billed before, what is billed now, and what is held back, or the owner's bookkeeper sends it back.
The situation
A remodel, a build-out or a commercial job runs for months. You agreed a price per line of work and you bill a percentage of each line as it completes. The owner, or their lender, holds back retainage until the end. Every application has to reconcile to the ones before it, to the cent.
What goes wrong today
Ordinary invoicing tools know nothing about previous applications, so people keep the schedule of values in a spreadsheet and type the numbers into a fresh invoice each month. One wrong "previously billed" figure and the whole chain is off. Retainage gets forgotten at release time, and the final application rarely matches the contract total.
How it works in Invoice My Clients
Switch progress billing on in Settings > Invoicing (Professional plan and above). A job holds the schedule of values, up to 40 lines. Each application is an invoice on the construction template: enter percent complete per line, and the previous applications, the retainage held and the amount due this period are worked out for you. Sales tax applies per application on what is billed now. Retainage is released on the final application. A job can start from a signed proposal, and the whole chain stays linked so the next application always knows what came before.
When it does not fit
| Situation | What happens | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| The owner requires AIA G702 and G703 forms | Those official documents are not produced | Use the application as the backup and fill the AIA form from its figures |
| You need lien waivers with each draw | Lien waivers are not generated | Attach your own waiver to the invoice |
| You bill stored materials or change orders as separate approvals | Stored materials and change order approval are not modelled | Add a line to the schedule of values and note the approval in the invoice |
| You are on the Free or Starter plan | Progress billing is a Professional feature | Upgrade, or bill each stage as a normal invoice and track previous billing yourself |
Where this lives in the product
Free tools
Questions people ask
Is this the same as milestone billing?+
Yes. A milestone is a line that goes from 0 to 100 percent complete in one application; progress billing covers that and partial percentages.
Where does retainage go?+
It is held per application at the rate you set, shown on every invoice, and released on the final application.
Can the client pay each application online?+
Yes. Each application is a normal invoice with a payment link, and partial payments are allowed.