01Why Partial Invoices Matter for the Self-Employed
Imagine this: you've won a contract worth CHF 15,000. Invoice the entire amount at the end? Risky. Your client could raise objections months later, and in the meantime you've been fronting material costs and time. Partial invoices solve this problem — they secure your cash flow and reduce risk for both sides.
In Switzerland, partial invoices and deposits are standard practice — especially in construction, the creative industry, IT projects, and consulting. Legally, each partial invoice is a standalone invoice with its own VAT calculation. Learn more in our article on advance payments, partial invoices and final invoices. The final invoice shows the grand total and deducts all amounts already paid.
02The Complete Workflow in einzly
einzly covers the entire process — from the quote with deposit to the final invoice. Here's an overview:
You create a quote as usual and enable the deposit option. Choose between a fixed amount (e.g. CHF 3,000) or a percentage (e.g. 30%). The deposit is displayed on the quote and in the PDF — the client knows from the start what's expected.
Your client receives the quote via link or email. They see the line items, the total, and the agreed deposit. With one click they accept — you're notified immediately.
Once the quote is accepted, einzly automatically creates an order. All data (client, line items, deposit) is carried over. The order appears in your order overview.
In the order you'll see the buttons 'Create Partial Invoice' and 'Create Final Invoice'. Create as many partial invoices as needed — each with its own amount, VAT, and QR payment slip.
At the end, you create the final invoice. einzly automatically lists all previously invoiced partial invoices as deductions — the remaining balance is calculated and shown on the QR payment slip.
03Defining a Deposit on the Quote
When creating a quote, you'll find the option 'Deposit required?' below the line items. Click 'Yes' and choose:
- Percentage — e.g. 30% of the grand total. The amount is calculated and displayed in real time.
- Fixed Amount — e.g. CHF 5,000. The percentage is calculated automatically.
The deposit is not added to the total — it's an indication to the client of the amount due upon order confirmation. On the PDF and in the online view, the information appears below the total: 'Agreed deposit: CHF 4,500.00 (30.0%)'.
04Creating and Sending Partial Invoices
Once your order is active, you can create partial invoices. In the order overview, click 'Create Partial Invoice'. You'll immediately see:
- The grand total of the order
- How much has already been invoiced
- How much is still outstanding
Enter the partial amount — as a percentage or a fixed amount. einzly automatically calculates net, VAT, and gross. The partial invoice receives a regular invoice number and the title 'Partial Invoice' instead of 'Invoice'. You can then send it directly. The QR payment slip contains the partial amount.
Each partial invoice references the order and the original quote — so your client can clearly match the payment.
05Keeping Track: Paid, Outstanding, Remaining Balance
In the order overview you can see the progress per order: how much has been invoiced, how much of that has been paid, and how much is still outstanding. You always have a clear picture — no spreadsheet on the side.
You can also mark partial invoices as 'paid' directly in the order overview — no need to switch to the invoices page. The remaining balance updates automatically.
06The Final Invoice — Everything Tallied Up
At the end of the project, you create the final invoice. einzly automatically carries over all line items from the original quote. You can adjust them if needed — for example if additional work was required.
The special part: the final invoice contains a deductions block. All previously invoiced partial invoices are listed here — with invoice number, date, and amount. The remaining balance is calculated automatically.
Here's what the deductions block looks like on the final invoice:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Project Amount | CHF 10,000.00 |
| Less Partial Invoice R-2026-003 (15.01.2026) | – CHF 3,000.00 |
| Less Partial Invoice R-2026-007 (15.03.2026) | – CHF 3,000.00 |
| Amount Due | CHF 4,000.00 |
The QR payment slip on the final invoice contains only the remaining balance — not the grand total. This avoids any confusion for the client.
07Backwards Compatible: Works Without Deposits Too
Not every project needs partial invoices. If you don't define a deposit on a quote, einzly works as usual: create a quote, accept the order, create one invoice. The entire partial invoicing flow is optional and only appears when you activate it.