💡 Quick Answer: QuoteIQ supports partial payments on both estimates and invoices. Use an estimate when you want to set an upfront deposit before invoicing. If an invoice already exists, open the pending invoice and select Actions → Mark as Paid → Partial Payment, enter the amount received, and save it. The remaining balance stays due until the invoice is paid in full.
Available on: All plans.
Choose the Right Payment Workflow
QuoteIQ supports partial payments on both estimates and invoices. Use the document that matches where you are in the job:
Estimate: Use an estimate when you want to request and collect an upfront deposit before the job is invoiced.
Invoice: If the job has already been invoiced, record the amount received as a partial payment directly on that invoice. QuoteIQ keeps the unpaid amount as the remaining balance.
Already created an invoice? You do not need to delete it or rebuild the job as an estimate. Add the partial payment to the existing pending invoice.
Step 1: Create an Estimate with a Deposit
From the Estimates tab, create a new estimate the way you normally would — customer, services, totals. When you reach the deposit field, enter either a dollar amount (e.g. $500) or a percentage (e.g. 25%) for the required deposit.
Your default deposit pulls from your company settings automatically, so you don't have to re-enter it on every estimate — and you can still adjust it per estimate whenever a job calls for something different.
Save and send the estimate to the customer.
Step 2: Customer Pays the Deposit
When the customer opens the estimate, they'll see the amount due based on the deposit you set (not the full estimate total). They can:
Pay through the Pay Now button — the system will automatically charge the deposit amount to the card on file (if one exists), or
Choose a different payment method (different card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, ACH if enabled).
Paying the deposit also automatically moves the estimate to Accepted — money down means the deal is closed, with no separate approval step for the customer and no chasing a signature after the payment already arrived. See Customer Estimate Actions for the other things customers can do from their estimate link.
The total saved matches exactly what the customer was charged, and the remaining balance on the customer's estimate page updates right away. As soon as the deposit is paid, it shows up in the estimate's View Log.
Step 3: Take Additional Partial Payments (Same Estimate)
When the customer is ready to pay more — whether that's another partial amount or the remaining balance — open the estimate and tap the Paid button again. You can:
Charge another partial amount (any dollar value — even $1 if needed)
Charge the full remaining balance
Use the customer's card on file, enter a new card, or record a cash/check payment manually
Customers can pay at whatever speed and frequency works for them — there's no cap on how many partial payments a single estimate can have. Every payment is logged.
Step 4: Track Everything in the View Log
Every payment on the estimate — deposit, partials, and final balance — is recorded in the View Log section of the estimate card. This gives you a complete payment history for the job, including:
Each payment amount
Date paid
Payment method used
Running balance remaining
The estimate stays open until the full balance is paid off.
Take a Partial Payment on an Invoice
Go to Invoices and open the invoice from the Pending tab.
Select Actions, then choose Mark as Paid.
Choose Partial Payment. The screen shows what's been paid so far and what's left.
Enter the amount received (or a percentage) and save the payment. If the customer paid by check, the check number is kept with the payment.
The original invoice total remains in place, the payment is applied to the invoice, and the unpaid amount remains as the balance due. Repeat the same process as additional payments are collected until the invoice is paid in full. Once an invoice is fully paid, it can't take another payment.
What You and Your Customer See
Estimates and invoices show payments the same way in the app preview, on the PDF, and on the page your customer opens:
Total and Balance Due are shown separately, so it's clear what the job costs and what's still owed.
Every payment is listed — deposits, partial payments and the final payment — each with its payment method and date.
Invoices show their status, such as Overdue or Partially Paid, along with the due date.
Paid invoices say "Paid in full" instead of showing a $0.00 balance.
If a paid invoice is short by exactly the convenience fee, the fee shows as waived.
Bank transfers: while a customer's bank transfer is still going through, the invoice shows "Bank Transfer Pending" and a second payment is blocked. If two payments do get through, you're told right away.
Key Points to Remember
Partial payments are supported on both estimates and invoices.
Use an estimate for an upfront deposit before invoicing, or apply a partial payment directly to an existing invoice.
You do not need to delete an invoice to accept a partial payment.
Your default deposit comes from company settings and can be adjusted per estimate.
Paying a deposit on an estimate auto-accepts the estimate.
Estimates do not auto-convert to invoices when a partial payment is taken.
Percentage partial payments take the percentage of what's still owed, not the original total.
Keep adding payments to the same document so its payment history and remaining balance stay together.
Available on all plans — Essentials, Beginner, Pro, Elite, and Max.
FAQs
How do I take a partial payment in QuoteIQ?
How do I take a partial payment in QuoteIQ?
For an existing invoice, open it from the Pending tab and select Actions → Mark as Paid → Partial Payment. Enter the amount received and save it. For an upfront deposit before invoicing, create an estimate and set the deposit amount or percentage there.
How do I take a deposit before starting a job?
How do I take a deposit before starting a job?
Create an estimate for the job and set a deposit (either a dollar amount like $500 or a percentage like 25%). Send the estimate to the customer. When they open it, they'll see the deposit as the amount due and can pay it through the estimate's payment link.
Does paying a deposit accept the estimate?
Does paying a deposit accept the estimate?
Yes. When a customer pays the deposit on an estimate, the estimate automatically moves to Accepted. There's no separate approval step for the customer once the deposit is paid.
Can I set a default deposit for all my estimates?
Can I set a default deposit for all my estimates?
Yes. Set your default deposit in your company settings and it fills in automatically on every new estimate. You can still change it on any individual estimate.
Can I take partial payments on an invoice?
Can I take partial payments on an invoice?
Yes. Open the pending invoice, select Actions → Mark as Paid, choose Partial Payment, enter the amount received, and save it. The remaining balance stays due on the invoice. Repeat the process for later payments until the balance is paid in full.
If I take a partial payment by percentage, what is it a percentage of?
If I take a partial payment by percentage, what is it a percentage of?
Of what's still owed. For example, 50% on a $1,000 invoice that already has $400 paid takes $300 — half of the $600 balance, not half of the original total.
What does "Bank Transfer Pending" mean?
What does "Bank Transfer Pending" mean?
Your customer paid by bank transfer and it's still going through. While it's pending, a second payment on the same invoice is blocked, so the customer can't pay twice. If two payments ever do get through, you're told right away.
Why does my invoice say "Paid in full" instead of $0.00?
Why does my invoice say "Paid in full" instead of $0.00?
Paid invoices now say "Paid in full" everywhere — in the app, on the PDF and on the customer's page — so it's clear the job is settled. Fully paid invoices can't take another payment.
Does the estimate become an invoice once partial payments start?
Does the estimate become an invoice once partial payments start?
No. The estimate stays as an estimate through the entire payment lifecycle. Partial payments, the deposit, and the final balance are all recorded against the estimate and tracked in its View Log.
Can a customer make multiple partial payments?
Can a customer make multiple partial payments?
Yes. On an estimate, additional payments can be added to the same estimate until it is fully paid. On an invoice, record each additional payment through Actions → Mark as Paid → Partial Payment until the invoice balance is paid in full.
How does the customer's card get charged for additional payments on an estimate?
How does the customer's card get charged for additional payments on an estimate?
When a partial payment is initiated from the estimate, the customer can use the card on file or choose another available method, such as a different card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or ACH if enabled. The payment appears in the estimate's View Log.
How do I record a cash or check partial payment on an estimate?
How do I record a cash or check partial payment on an estimate?
Open the estimate and tap the Paid button, then record the partial amount manually as a cash or check payment. It is added to the View Log and the remaining balance updates. Check numbers are kept with the payment.
Where can I see all the payments made on an estimate?
Where can I see all the payments made on an estimate?
Open the estimate and look at the View Log section of the estimate card. You'll see every payment — deposit, partials, and final — along with the amount, date, and payment method. Payments are also listed on the estimate PDF and the customer's page.
I already created an invoice and the customer wants to make a partial payment. What do I do?
I already created an invoice and the customer wants to make a partial payment. What do I do?
You do not need to delete the invoice. Open it from the Pending tab, select Actions → Mark as Paid → Partial Payment, enter the amount received, and save it. The unpaid amount remains as the invoice balance.
Which plans include partial payments?
Which plans include partial payments?
All plans — Essentials, Beginner, Pro, Elite, and Max. Partial payments can be recorded on estimates and invoices.
Can I set a percentage-based deposit instead of a dollar amount?
Can I set a percentage-based deposit instead of a dollar amount?
Yes. When creating the estimate, the deposit field accepts either a dollar amount (e.g. $500) or a percentage of the total (e.g. 25%). The customer will see the calculated amount due.
What happens when the estimate is fully paid?
What happens when the estimate is fully paid?
The estimate's View Log shows zero balance remaining and all payments accounted for. The estimate stays in your records as the system of record for the entire transaction.
Need help? Contact us at support@quoteiq.io or text (912) 913-7154.