Easy Tech TutsHow to Do Progress Billing in QuickBooks Online Easily 2026
By Impran M N
For projects that span weeks or months, billing everything at the end isn't practical, which is where progress billing comes in. This guide walks through how to invoice a project in stages using QuickBooks Online's progress billing feature.
01Create an estimate for the full project
Start with an estimate that covers the total scope and value of the project.
02Turn on progress invoicing
Enable the progress invoicing setting so you can bill a percentage or portion of the estimate at a time.
03Create a progress invoice from the estimate
Generate an invoice from the estimate and specify how much of the total to bill for this stage.
04Repeat for each project milestone
Continue creating progress invoices from the same estimate as work is completed until the full amount is billed.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to create a new estimate for each billing stage?
No, you create one estimate for the full project and generate multiple invoices from it as work progresses.
Can I bill different percentages at each stage?
Yes, progress invoicing lets you specify a different percentage or amount each time you bill.
What happens once the full estimate has been billed?
Once the total estimate amount has been invoiced across all stages, no further progress invoices can be created from it.
Is progress billing available on every QuickBooks Online plan?
Progress invoicing is typically available on higher-tier plans, so confirm your subscription supports it.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
