Turn a payment into a clear record

A receipt tells your customer what they paid, when they paid it, and what the payment was for. InvoiceMaker creates receipts on your phone and lets you preview the PDF before sharing it. You can also record a payment against an invoice so the remaining balance reflects what you have received.

This is a manual record of payment. Confirm the money has arrived through your chosen payment method before recording it. Creating a receipt does not charge a card, move money, or verify a bank transfer.

What to include on a payment receipt

  • Your business name and contact details.
  • The customer’s name and relevant billing details.
  • A unique receipt number and the payment date.
  • A description of the goods, services, or invoice being paid.
  • The amount received and its currency.
  • The payment method and any useful reference.
  • The remaining balance when the payment covers only part of an invoice.

Keep the description specific. “Payment toward invoice INV-104 for office painting” is easier to reconcile later than “payment received.”

A receipt for a partial payment

Sample payment record

Invoice INV-104: $525
Payment received: $200
Payment method: bank transfer
Remaining balance: $325

The receipt records the $200 received. It does not say the entire $525 invoice has been paid.

A partial payment needs that distinction. Otherwise the customer may read the receipt as confirmation that nothing remains due. Our partial payment guide shows how to keep the original total, received amount, and balance clear.

How to make and send a receipt

  1. Choose the receipt workflow, or record a received payment against an existing invoice.
  2. Check the customer, document reference, date, amount, and payment details.
  3. Review the receipt before saving it. A standalone receipt and a payment linked to an invoice serve different record-keeping needs.
  4. Preview the PDF and use your device’s share sheet to send it through an available app.
  5. Keep the record alongside the related invoice so you can answer later questions.

Receipt or paid invoice?

An invoice requests payment; a receipt acknowledges payment. A fully paid invoice can show that its balance is settled, while a separate receipt gives the customer a focused payment record. Use the document that clearly represents the event you are recording.

For a side-by-side explanation, read estimate, invoice, and receipt differences. If you are still preparing the bill, start with how to write an invoice.