Your First Invoice

This guide walks you through creating and sending your first invoice in Clarth. By the end, you'll have a professional invoice ready to send to your client.

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Step 1: Create a New Invoice

1. Click the + button in the top navigation
2. Select Invoice
3. Choose your invoice type:
   • Standard Invoice — One-off billing
   • Recurring Invoice — Repeat billing schedule
   • Credit Note — Adjustments or refunds

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Step 2: Add Client Details

Select an Existing Client

1. Click Client dropdown
2. Search for your client by name
3. Select them from the list — their details auto-fill

Add a New Client

1. Click + New Client
2. Enter the details:
   • Name — Client or company name
   • Email — For sending the invoice
   • Address — Billing address
   • Payment terms — e.g., 30 days, Due on receipt
3. Click Save Client

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Step 3: Add Line Items

For each product or service:

1. Click Add Line Item
2. Fill in:
   • Description — What you're billing for
   • Quantity — Number of units
   • Rate — Price per unit (in £)
   • VAT rate — Select from 0%, 5%, 20%, or Exempt

Examples:

Tip: Save frequently used items to your Products & Services list for quick access next time.

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Step 4: Customise Your Invoice

Invoice Details

• Invoice number — Auto-generated, but editable (e.g., INV-001)
• Issue date — When the invoice is sent
• Due date — Payment deadline
• Purchase order — Client's PO number (optional)

Branding

1. Click Branding tab
2. Upload your logo
3. Choose your brand colour
4. Select a template layout:
   • Classic — Clean and minimal
   • Modern — Bold headers, colour accents
   • Detailed — Full breakdown with terms

Notes and Terms

• Customer note — Message to your client (e.g., "Thank you for your business")
• Terms & conditions — Payment terms, late fees, etc.

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Step 5: Preview Your Invoice

Click Preview to see exactly what your client will receive:

• Check all details are correct
• Verify the VAT calculation
• Ensure your branding looks right
• Review the total amount due

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Step 6: Send Your Invoice

Option 1: Send via Email

1. Click Send Invoice
2. Review the email template
3. Add a custom message (optional)
4. Click Send

Your client receives a professional email with:

• Invoice PDF attached
• Link to view online
• Payment button (if online payments enabled)

Option 2: Share via Link

1. Click Share Link
2. Copy the unique invoice URL
3. Send via WhatsApp, text, or any channel

Option 3: Download PDF

1. Click Download
2. Save the PDF to your device
3. Send manually via your own email

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Step 7: Enable Online Payments

To get paid faster, connect a payment provider:

1. Go to Settings > Payments
2. Connect Stripe or PayPal
3. Your invoices will now include a Pay Now button
4. Clients can pay by card or PayPal directly from the invoice

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Tracking Your Invoice

Once sent, track the invoice status in Invoicing > Invoices:

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Automatic Reminders

Clarth sends payment reminders automatically:

• 3 days before due — Friendly reminder
• On due date — Payment due today
• 3 days overdue — First follow-up
• 7 days overdue — Second follow-up
• 14 days overdue — Final notice

Customise reminder timing in Settings > Invoice Reminders.

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What's Next?

• Invoicing Features — Explore recurring invoices, quotes, and more
• Expenses — Track expenses against your invoices
• Accounting — See how invoices flow into your accounts