---
title: Create Your First Invoice - Kenly Billing Guide
description: Step-by-step guide to creating and sending client invoices through Kenly's portal system.
keywords: create invoice, client billing, invoice template, send invoice, payment request
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Create Your First Invoice
Skill Level: 🟢 Basic
Time Required: ~3 minutes
Goal: Create and send an invoice to a client
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Why Invoice Through Kenly?
Invoicing in Kenly:
- Automatically delivers invoices to client portals
- Sends email notifications when invoices are ready
- Enables payment status tracking
- Triggers automatic payment reminders
- Creates a centralized payment history
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Step 1: Navigate to Client Billing
- Click Clients in the sidebar
- Select the client you want to invoice
- Click the Billing tab
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Step 2: Create New Invoice
Click the + Add Invoice button.
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Step 3: Enter Invoice Details
Invoice Number (Required)
Kenly auto-generates invoice numbers, or you can customize:
- Auto:
INV-001, INV-002, etc.
- Custom:
2024-001, CLIENT-JAN-01
Pro Tip: Use a consistent numbering system for accounting.
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Amount (Required)
Enter the invoice amount:
- Currency: USD, EUR, GBP, etc.
- Amount: Dollar/cent format (e.g.,
2500.00)
Example: $2,500.00 for a monthly retainer
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Due Date (Required)
- Click the date picker
- Select when payment is due
- Common terms:
- Net 15 — Due in 15 days
- Net 30 — Due in 30 days (default)
- Due on receipt — Immediate payment
Pro Tip: Set realistic due dates to ensure timely payment.
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Description (Optional but Recommended)
Add invoice details:
Example:
Monthly Marketing Retainer - January 2024
Services included:
Social media management (20 hours)
Content creation (5 blog posts)
Email campaigns (4 campaigns)
Analytics reporting
Total: $2,500.00
This appears in:
Client portal
Email notifications
Payment reminders
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Step 4: Review and Save
Click Create Invoice.
✅ What Happens Next:
Invoice appears in client portal
Client receives email notification
Invoice status is set to "Unpaid"
Payment reminder is scheduled (if due date passes)
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What Clients See
In the Portal
Clients see:
Invoice number and amount
Due date
Description of services
Payment status (Paid/Unpaid/Overdue)
Download as PDF button
Email Notification
Clients receive:
Invoice notification email
Amount due and due date
Link to view invoice in portal
Payment instructions
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Managing Invoices
View All Invoices
From any client:
Go to Billing tab
See all invoices for that client
Filter Invoices
Filter by status:
Unpaid — Awaiting payment
Paid — Payment received
Overdue — Past due date
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Marking Invoices as Paid
When a client pays:
Open the invoice
Click Mark as Paid
Enter payment date
Add payment method (optional)
Pro Tip: Add payment notes like "Paid via Stripe" for your records.
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Invoice Status Workflow
Created → Unpaid → Overdue (if past due) → Paid
Status Indicators:
🔴 Overdue — Past due date, unpaid
🟡 Unpaid — Due soon, not paid
🟢 Paid — Payment received
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Common Questions
Q: Can Kenly process payments?
A: No. Kenly tracks invoices but doesn't process payments. Use your payment processor (Stripe, PayPal) and manually mark invoices as paid.
Q: Can clients pay directly in the portal?
A: Not yet. Add payment instructions in the invoice description with a link to your payment processor.
Q: Do invoices sync with accounting software?
A: Not currently. You can export invoice data as CSV for import into QuickBooks, Xero, etc.
Q: Can I customize invoice design?
A: Invoices use your organization branding (logo, colors). Full custom templates are coming soon.
Q: What if I made a mistake on an invoice?
A: You can edit unpaid invoices or delete and recreate them.
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Best Practices
✅ Clear descriptions — List all services/deliverables
✅ Realistic due dates — Set terms clients can meet
✅ Consistent numbering — Makes accounting easier
✅ Prompt updates — Mark paid immediately
✅ Payment instructions — Tell clients how to pay
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Advanced: Recurring Invoices
For monthly retainers:
Create invoice template with standard amount
Duplicate monthly
Update dates and invoice number
Coming soon: Automatic recurring invoice creation.
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What's Next?
Track payment status 🟢
Enable payment reminders 🟡
View billing reports 🟡
Manage subscriptions 🟡
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Pro Tip: Create invoice templates for your most common services to speed up billing.