Estimates, deposits and payment schedules

Send an EST-numbered estimate with a hosted accept link — your client accepts with a typed name recorded with a timestamp — convert it to an invoice in one tap, and collect through a deposit or milestone schedule that chases itself.

An estimate lets your client say yes before any money changes hands — and a payment schedule makes sure the money then arrives in the right pieces. This guide covers the full flow: create an estimate, share the accept link, let the client accept online, convert to an invoice, and split it into a deposit or milestones that chase themselves.

Create and share an estimate

From Invoices, choose New estimate. Estimates get their own EST- numbering series, so your invoice sequence is untouched. Add the client and line items exactly as you would on an invoice, save, and share the accept link — over WhatsApp, email or however you like.

Your client accepts online

The link opens a hosted accept page showing the full estimate. To accept, your client types their name — Finocket records that typed-name acceptance together with a timestamp on the estimate, so you always know who agreed and when. They can also decline with a reason, which lands back on the estimate for you to see.

Convert to an invoice in one tap

Once accepted, tap Convert to invoice. The client, line items and taxes carry over — nothing is retyped — and the estimate stays linked to the invoice it became.

Deposits and milestone schedules

Any invoice can carry a payment schedule: either a deposit percentage up front (say 40% to start, 60% on delivery) or custom milestones with their own amounts and due dates. The invoice total never changes — the schedule just says how it arrives.

How installments get chased

Payment links always collect the next open installment, not the whole balance — so a deposit request can't accidentally charge the full amount.
Reminder emails chase the next open installment as its due date approaches and passes (see Getting paid faster for the schedule).
The client portal shows the schedule and offers a pay action on whichever installment is due next.
When an installment is paid it ticks itself off; if a payment is refunded, the installment reopens so the balance stays honest.

Clients, projects and invoices

Add clients with GSTIN + state auto-fill. Send invoices — tax invoice, bill of supply, export invoice, receipt or credit note — start from an estimate, or split an invoice into a deposit + milestone schedule.

The client portal and statements of account

One branded link shows your client their balance, open invoices with pay actions, estimates to accept, payment history and a statement download — plus how to run a per-client statement with running balance and ageing.

Getting paid faster

Reminder sequences on offsets you control with escalating tone, automatic late fees after a grace period, one-tap WhatsApp nudges, the net-7 terms nudge, and UPI Autopay on retainers (early access).