Creating Invoices
This guide explains how to create invoices in Fiskl and bill clients professionally, from first-time setup through to advanced configuration.
Before You Begin​
Configure these settings once, and they apply to every invoice you create afterwards:
- Configure tax settings, if you charge tax. See Tax Management.
- Add your company details and logo. See Company Settings.
- Customise your invoice template and branding. See Invoice Templates and Brands.
- Set a default invoice language and email templates. See Invoice and Quote Settings.
- Connect payment gateways or add manual payment methods. See Payment Gateways.
Create an Invoice​
Start a New Invoice​
- In the left navigation, select Invoices
- Select New Invoice
Add Client Details​
The invoice pulls the following fields from the client profile automatically:
- Client name and address
- Client email (including CC and BCC addresses)
- Tax/VAT registration number (if set on the client)
- Default currency and time rate
The Client field is the only field in Basic Details you can change without selecting Edit first.
If the client already exists:
- Select the client from the Client dropdown
- Their details populate automatically
If this is a new client:
- Select Add New Client
- Enter the client details: name, email address, billing address, and phone number (optional)
- Select Save
Fiskl saves the client automatically under Clients in the left navigation.
Select a Currency​
The invoice currency defaults to your company's base currency, or to the client's default currency if one is set on their profile. To change the currency for this invoice, select Edit at the top right of the Basic Details section, then select the currency from the dropdown.
Select a Language​
Your default language is selected automatically. To use a different language for this invoice, select Edit at the top right of the Basic Details section, then select the language from the dropdown.
The language you select affects the invoice itself, standard email templates, and all client-facing screens.
Select a Template​
The default template applies automatically. If you use multiple templates or brands, select Edit at the top right of the Basic Details section, then select the appropriate template from the dropdown.
Set Invoice Details​
To change the invoice number or dates, select Edit at the top right of the Basic Details section.
Invoice number
Invoice numbers start at INV-0001 and increment automatically. To use a different format, edit the number on any new invoice — Fiskl uses that format for all subsequent invoices.
Two limitations apply:
- Auto-increment only works if the number ends with a digit
- Date-based formats (for example,
2025-01-0001) require manual updates at each period change
Invoice dates
| Field | Purpose | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice date | The date the invoice was issued | Today |
| Due date | The payment deadline | Seven days after invoice date |
| Sales date | Optional — records when the sale occurred | Empty |
To change the default due date period, go to Settings > Invoice & Quote Settings.
Add Custom Fields​
To add a purchase order or reference number, select Custom Fields > Plus > Add Field. Enter the label (for example, "Purchase Order") and value.
Add Line Items​
Line items are the billable rows on your invoice. Fiskl supports five types:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Product | A physical or digital item. Products are reusable templates. |
| Service | A service you provide. Services are reusable templates. |
| Expense | A business expense you are billing to the client. |
| Mileage | Travel distance billed at a per-kilometre or per-mile rate. |
| Time | Billable hours tracked against the invoice. |
You can create line items directly on the invoice, or set them up in advance under Products & Services in the left navigation.
Add a Product or Service​
- Select Plus in the line item section
- Select Add New > Product or Service
- Enter the line item details:
- Item name and description
- Quantity and unit price
- Tax rate (defaults to your primary tax rate)
- The amount calculates automatically
To add more detail, select More details:
- Change the default Income Account from the dropdown
- Select a different currency to create a multi-currency item
- Adjust the exchange rate and preview the converted total
Enter a Negative Line Item Amount​
On Product and Service line items, enter a negative number in the Quantity field to reduce the line total. The invoice Total updates automatically to reflect the reduction.
- Select the line item to edit, or add a new Product or Service item
- In the Quantity field, enter a negative value (for example,
-200) - The Line Total and invoice Total recalculate automatically
Add an Expense​
- Select Plus in the line item section
- Select Add New > Expense
- Enter the expense details:
- Select a vendor from the dropdown or create one by entering the vendor name and selecting + Create
- Description and price
- Tax rate (defaults to your primary tax rate)
- The amount calculates automatically
To add more detail, select More details:
- Change the Expense Account or Expense Category from the dropdowns
- Select a different currency
- Add a receipt number if required
Add Time​
- Select Plus in the line item section
- Select Add New > Time
- Enter the time details:
- Name and description
- Quantity (total time)
- Rate (defaults to your saved preference, or the client default rate if set)
- Tax rate (defaults to your primary tax rate)
- The amount calculates automatically
To add more detail, select More details:
- Change the Income Account from the dropdown
- Select a different currency
- Toggle Start – End time on to enter specific start and end times — the duration calculates automatically
Add Mileage​
- Select Plus in the line item section
- Select Add New > Mileage
- Enter the mileage details:
- Name and description
- Quantity (total distance in miles or kilometres)
- Rate (defaults to your saved preference)
- Tax rate (defaults to your primary tax rate)
- The total calculates automatically
To add more detail, select More details and choose a distance entry method:
- Direct — total distance already entered (default)
- Odometer — enter start and end readings; toggle on for a round trip
- Maps — enter start and end addresses or use Current Location; drag the route line to adjust the path
Toggle Reimbursement on to mark the mileage as eligible for expense reimbursement.
Select from Your Products & Services Catalogue​
To add existing items instead of creating new ones:
- Select Plus in the line item section
- Select Select Existing
- Select items from your Products & Services catalogue or saved client items
You can filter the list by type and currency.
Apply Tax​
Apply tax at the line item level. Fiskl supports single taxes, multiple taxes, and compound taxes per item.
Toggle the excl option on a line item to switch between tax-exclusive and tax-inclusive pricing.
If your tax number is not showing on the invoice, check both settings:
- Go to Settings > Tax Management > Tax Rates and confirm the Display tax number on invoices checkbox is selected
- Go to Settings > Templates & Brands and confirm the Hide tax number option is not selected
Your tax number appears automatically when at least one line item has tax applied.
Apply Discounts and Deposits (Optional)​
Apply discounts or request deposits at the invoice level, not per line item.
- Select Edit next to Payment Terms
- Toggle the Discount and/or Deposit options on
- Enter a fixed amount (for example,
100for a £100 discount) or a percentage (for example,15%) - The total updates automatically
Deposits appear as a separate line in the invoice total.
Set Up Payment Schedules (Optional)​
Split a single invoice into two to twelve instalments using payment schedules. Each instalment can be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total, and Fiskl tracks each instalment's payment status separately.
Use payment schedules for short-term instalment billing. For long-term or indefinitely recurring billing, use Recurring Invoices instead.
Select Payment Methods​
If you have connected a payment gateway, it appears under Payment Methods. Toggle each gateway on to make it available to your client on the invoice and payment page. Fiskl updates the invoice status automatically when your client pays.
Supported gateways: Stripe, Bancontact, iDEAL, GoCardless, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
To automatically select available payment gateways on new invoices, go to Settings > Invoice & Quote Settings > Manual Payment Methods and toggle Auto-select Payment Gateways on.
Manual payment methods are saved under Settings > Invoice & Quote Settings > Manual Payment Methods.
Save and Send​
Select Save to save your invoice as a draft.
To send the invoice, see Sending Invoices.
Common Issues​
My tax number is not showing on the invoice
Two settings control tax number visibility — both must be configured correctly.
- Go to Settings > Tax Management > Tax Rates and confirm the Display tax number on invoices checkbox is selected
- Go to Settings > Templates & Brands and confirm the Hide tax number option is not selected
Your tax number only appears when at least one line item on the invoice has tax applied.
The invoice currency is wrong
The currency defaults to your company's base currency, or the client's default currency if one is set. To change it for an individual invoice, select the currency from the dropdown in the Basic Details section.
To update the client's default currency, go to Clients, select the client, and update their currency setting.
My client cannot pay online
Online payment requires an active payment gateway. Go to Integrations and confirm that Stripe or another gateway is connected and active. Check that the payment gateway toggle is also turned on within the invoice itself.
If no payment method is set up, your client sees the invoice but does not see a payment button.
The invoice number is out of sequence
If you edited an invoice number manually, Fiskl uses that number as the new base for auto-increment. Create a new invoice and manually enter the correct number. All subsequent invoices increment from that point.
Template changes affected invoices I already sent
Template changes apply to all invoices using that template. If you need to change styling without affecting existing invoices, create a new template in Settings > Templates & Brands and apply it only to new invoices going forward.
Related Topics​
- Invoice Management — Edit, duplicate, void, and archive invoices
- Sending Invoices — Email options, reminders, and client view
- Recurring Invoices — Automate regular billing
- Invoice Payment Schedules — Split invoices into instalments
- Tax Management — Configure tax rates and display options
- Managing Clients — Set up client profiles and defaults
- Payment Gateways — Connect Stripe and other payment methods
- Products & Services — Build a reusable catalogue of items