Clients, projects and invoices

Clients + invoices is the backbone of Finocket. This article covers adding clients, the six invoice document types, series-based numbering, and how credit notes work.

Add a client

Two paths: Add → Client from anywhere, or Clients → + top-right. Only the name is required. Everything else — phone, email, address, GST number — can be added later.

GSTIN validation. Type a 15-character GSTIN and Finocket checksums it as you type. A valid GSTIN gets an emerald tick, and the client's tax state is auto-filled from the first two digits. Wrong state code, bad checksum or wrong length shows a red hint with the exact issue.

Six invoice document types

Pick from Invoice, Tax Invoice, Bill of Supply, Export Invoice, Receipt, and Credit Note. Each gets its own numbering prefix (INV-, TAX-, BOS-, EXP-, RCT-, CN-) and the PDF header reads whichever type you picked.

• Tax Invoice — for GST-registered clients. CGST + SGST for same state, IGST for different state.
• Bill of Supply — for composition scheme dealers who can't collect GST.
• Export Invoice — for foreign clients. Optional LUT number declares no IGST is charged.
• Receipt — advance payment or informal acknowledgement.
• Credit Note — returns, refunds or discounts against an existing invoice. Own numbering series so your invoice sequence is undisturbed.

Start with an estimate

Not sure the client will say yes? Send an estimate first — it gets its own EST- numbering, your client accepts it online with a typed-name acceptance recorded with a timestamp (or declines with a reason), and one tap converts the accepted estimate into an invoice with nothing retyped. Full flow in Estimates & deposits.

Split an invoice into a payment schedule

Any invoice can collect in pieces: a deposit percentage up front, or custom milestones with their own amounts and due dates. Payment links, reminder emails and the client portal always chase the next open installment; a paid installment ticks itself off, and a refund reopens it. Details in Estimates & deposits.

Numbering series

By default, Finocket uses a single series per document type. To split (e.g. one series for your consultancy client, another for retail), open Profile → Invoice defaults → Numbering series. Create as many series as you like, each with its own prefix and counter. Set a client's default series on the client detail page so their invoices always number neatly.

Send an invoice

After saving, the invoice detail page shows a preview and four actions: Download PDF, Print, Share via WhatsApp, and Payment link. INR invoices carry a UPI QR code automatically — your client can scan it from their phone and pay via any UPI app. Or generate an online payment link (Razorpay) for card/net-banking/UPI options in one screen. When a client pays through the link, the payment appears on the invoice automatically. Payment links need payments onboarding first — set that up under Developers → Payments.

Credit note against a paid invoice

Open Invoices → New Credit Note. Pick the same client, add the returned items and rate, save. The credit note prints as "CREDIT NOTE CN-0001" and appears in the client ledger against their outstanding.

Cancel and reissue

If you sent a wrong invoice, open its detail page and tap Cancel & Reissue. Finocket cancels the invoice, with an undo in case you tapped it by mistake. Then raise a fresh invoice with the corrected details. If you need a GST-compliant reversal instead — for an invoice you've already filed — issue a Credit Note from the invoice actions; it reduces your GSTR-1 and outstanding correctly.

Related: Payments & TDS, Reports & GST filings.