Easy Tech TutsHow to Create a Partial Invoice in QuickBooks Online Easily 2026
By Impran M N
Billing a large project in stages, rather than all at once, needs the right setup. This guide covers how to turn on progress invoicing in QuickBooks Online and convert a master estimate into partial invoices tied to project milestones.
01Enable progress invoicing
Go to the gear icon, select Account and Settings, open the Sales tab, and toggle on Progress Invoicing.
02Draft a master estimate
Create a new Estimate covering the full project scope and save it as your baseline document.
03Create an invoice from the estimate
Open the saved estimate and click Create invoice to start a partial billing run.
04Choose your billing parameters
In the progress billing pop-up, select whether to bill a percentage, a fixed amount, or specific line items for this milestone.
05Review and send
Check that the partial totals match your intended milestone, add a note describing the phase covered, then save and send the invoice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an estimate before I can create a partial invoice?
Yes, progress invoicing works by converting portions of an existing estimate into individual invoices.
Can I bill a flat percentage instead of specific line items?
Yes, QuickBooks lets you choose a percentage of the remaining balance, a fixed dollar amount, or specific items for each partial invoice.
How do I track how much of the project has been billed?
Run the Progress Invoicing Summary by Customer report to see how much of each estimate has been invoiced so far.
Will the partial invoice show the original project total?
Yes, partial invoices typically display the original estimate total, current billing amount, and remaining balance for context.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
