Proforma invoice vs Invoice

What is proforma invoice?

A proforma invoice looks like an invoice but is clearly marked “proforma”. It's used to confirm a purchase, arrange financing, or clear customs before goods or services are delivered. It isn't a tax invoice and doesn't record a completed sale, though buyers sometimes pay against it in advance.

What is invoice?

A final invoice is the real request for payment, issued once the work or goods are delivered. It has a unique invoice number, counts for tax, and is what the client actually pays.

Proforma invoice vs Invoice: the key differences

Here's how proforma invoice and invoice differ at a glance:

• Stage — proforma before delivery; final invoice after.
• Legal weight — proforma isn't a tax document; the final invoice is.
• Numbering — only the final invoice takes the next number in your official invoice sequence.

How this works in Invco

Invco doesn't have a separate proforma document type. It's built for final invoices: each one gets the next sequential number for that company, with subtotal, tax and total calculated for you, and can be downloaded or emailed as a PDF.

Invco is invoicing software for people who run more than one company. Design your own invoice template or upload your existing invoice PDF, add line items with per-line tax and discounts, and Invco calculates the totals, numbers each invoice sequentially and emails it as a branded PDF from your own address. Every invoice is tracked from draft to sent to paid, and overdue ones are flagged automatically. Plans from $10/month.