💡 Quick Answer: Partial payments and deposits in QuoteIQ are taken through estimates, not invoices. Set a deposit amount or percentage when you create the estimate, share it with the customer, and they pay the deposit. Additional partial payments (or the final balance) are taken from the same estimate by tapping the Paid button again. Every payment is tracked in the estimate's View Log.
Available on: All plans.
Why Partial Payments Live on Estimates (Not Invoices)
In QuoteIQ, invoices are designed for full payment of completed work. Estimates are where deposits, down payments, and partial payments happen — because the work isn't done yet and you're collecting against the agreed-on total.
This means: if a customer wants to pay you a deposit upfront, half today and half on completion, or any other split — start with an estimate, not an invoice.
⚠️ If you already created an invoice and need to take a partial payment, the cleanest path is to delete the invoice and rebuild the job as an estimate — see the FAQ at the bottom for that scenario.
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.
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 Stripe-powered 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).
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.
Key Points to Remember
Partial payments live on estimates, not invoices. If you need a deposit or split payments, start with an estimate.
Estimates do not auto-convert to invoices when a partial payment is taken. The estimate is the system of record for the entire payment lifecycle.
No limit on number of partial payments — customers can pay $1 at a time or $500 at a time, as often as they want.
Card-on-file automatically bills when the customer initiates a partial payment through the estimate link — they can also choose a different method.
All payment history lives in the estimate's View Log.
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?
Partial payments are handled through estimates, not invoices. Create an estimate with a deposit amount or percentage. The customer pays the deposit. To take additional partial payments later, open the same estimate and tap the Paid button — you can charge another partial amount or the full remaining balance. Every payment is logged in the estimate's View Log.
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.
Can I take partial payments on an invoice?
Can I take partial payments on an invoice?
No. Invoices in QuoteIQ are designed for full payment of completed work — Pending or Paid only. For any split-payment, deposit, or down-payment scenario, use an estimate instead. The estimate stays open through the entire payment cycle and tracks every partial in its View Log.
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. There's no cap on how many partial payments a single estimate can have. A customer can pay $1 at a time, $500 at a time, or any combination — at whatever frequency works for them — until the full balance is paid.
How does the customer's card get charged for additional partial payments?
How does the customer's card get charged for additional partial payments?
When a partial payment is initiated from the estimate, the customer's card on file is charged automatically — or they can choose to pay with a different method (different card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or ACH if enabled). All charges appear in the estimate's View Log.
How do I record a cash or check partial payment?
How do I record a cash or check partial payment?
Open the estimate and tap the Paid button, then record the partial amount manually as a cash or check payment. It logs to the View Log just like any card payment, and the remaining balance updates automatically.
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.
I already created an invoice for this job and the customer wants to pay a deposit. What do I do?
I already created an invoice for this job and the customer wants to pay a deposit. What do I do?
The cleanest path: delete the invoice and rebuild the job as an estimate with the deposit configured. Then send the estimate to the customer so they can pay the deposit, and continue taking partial payments through the estimate from there. Invoices in QuoteIQ aren't designed to hold partial payments — the estimate-based flow is the supported path for any deposit or split-payment scenario.
Which plans include partial payments?
Which plans include partial payments?
All plans — Essentials, Beginner, Pro, Elite, and Max. The partial-payment-through-estimates flow works the same regardless of plan.
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.