Guides · Invoicing
Guide: send your first invoice in 12 steps
6 min read · updated Sep 23, 2026
1. Check what you need to send
Every invoice you send a business client needs a unique number, the date, both company names and addresses, the line items and the amount due. Summit CRM fills most of it for you.
2. Connect your payment account
Link your bank account or Stripe once, in Settings › Payments. Approval usually takes a day, and Summit CRM only asks for access with your consent.
3. Fill in your company details
In Settings › Billing add your tax ID, your office address, your bank details and the invoice series. The default series is SUM, numbered from 0001.
4. Add the client
Search the client by name or tax ID and the details fill in from your contacts. For Northwind Tech Inc. (San Francisco, EIN 94-1234567) you also see the current balance, $12,480.00.
5. Create the invoice
Pick the products or services, the quantities and the tax rate. The totals update as you type, rounded to the cent.
6. Check the totals
Before sending, look over the summary: the amount before tax, the tax for each rate and the total due.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Summit CRM Pro license, 12 months | $4,800.00 |
| Setup and data import | $3,200.00 |
| Team training (hours) × 8 | $2,000.00 |
| Sales tax 8% | $800.00 |
| Total due | $10,800.00 |
7. Send it
Press Send invoice. The invoice gets a number and its status moves to “Sent”. You can close the page, delivery continues in the background.
8. Track delivery
Within minutes the status turns “Delivered” or “Bounced”. If it bounces you see the exact reason, for example a wrong email address.
9. Download the PDF
The signed PDF is your record of the invoice. Summit CRM keeps it for 7 years, as most tax rules require.
10. Get paid
The client gets an email with the PDF and a payment link. When the money arrives, the invoice marks itself as paid.
11. Correct an invoice
A sent invoice is never deleted: issue a credit note for the full amount, then a new, correct invoice.
12. Automate it
For subscriptions, set up monthly recurring invoices. They are issued and sent on the first day of the month, without a click.
Need help? Write to support@summitcrm.com.