> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.tapp.shop/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create and issue a business invoice

> Save a business customer, prepare an invoice draft or start from a paid order, and issue it with its own invoice number.

Bill a business customer from **Invoices** in the web app. You always prepare a draft first, then issue it.

## Who can do this?

**Owners and Managers** can manage invoice customers and create and issue invoices for their shop. Staff cannot use invoicing.

## Where to do it

In the web app, select a shop in Germany and open **Invoices** in the side menu. The page has two tabs, **Invoices** and **Customers**.

## Add a business customer

1. Open **Customers** and select **Add customer**.
2. Enter the **Legal business name**. Search for the address under **Street and house number**, or enter it with **Postal code** and **City** yourself.
3. Add the **Invoice email**, a German **VAT ID** and a **Buyer reference** if you need them.
4. Check **Payment terms (days)**, from 0 to 70, and select **Save**.

Customers are shared by all your shops. Use **Edit** to update one; issued invoices keep the details they were issued with.

## Prepare a draft

1. Select **New invoice**.
2. Under **Legal business name**, search for the customer and select it. The **Due date** is set from the customer's payment terms when you select them. Check it again if you change the invoice date.
3. Keep **Invoice stage** on **Standard invoice** for goods delivered or work completed.
4. Check the **Invoice date**, **Due date** and **Service date**. The service date cannot be later than the invoice date, and the due date cannot be earlier.
5. For each item, enter a **Description**, **Quantity**, **Unit** (**Each**, **Hour** or **Day**), **Unit price excl. VAT** and a **VAT** rate of 19% or 7%. Use **Add item** for further lines.
6. Add a **Buyer reference** or **Notes** if needed. Notes appear on the invoice, one per line and up to 10.
7. Check the preview totals and select **Save draft**.

To change a draft, open it from the list and select **Edit**.

## Start from a paid order

For a sale already paid at your till:

1. Select **From paid order**.
2. Enter the order number shown in **History** as the **POS order ID**.
3. Select the customer, check the **Invoice date** and add a **Buyer reference** if needed.
4. Select **Save draft**.

Items, VAT and payment are taken from the order and cannot be edited. The draft is marked **Paid POS order**.

The order must be fully paid with a single payment, not split, and have its fiscal receipt. It cannot have a refund or an invoice already. Card payments must be settled first, and the invoice date cannot be before the order date.

## Issue the invoice

1. Open the draft and check the customer, dates, items and totals.
2. Select **Issue invoice** and confirm.
3. Wait while the status shows **Issuing**. The page updates automatically.

Once the status is **Issued**, the invoice has its number from the shop's own number series, and its contents are fixed. To change it, create a correction document.

## Platform and market notes

These steps describe the web app. Invoices are available only for shops in Germany, always in euros.

## Troubleshooting

* **Complete setup before issuing invoices** lists what is missing: your business legal name and address, and a tax number or VAT ID. Only the Owner can update the tax number or VAT ID (see [Update your German business tax details](/en/settings/update-german-tax-details.md)).
* When you issue, the invoice date cannot be in the future. The due date must not have passed or be more than 70 days away. Change the dates in the draft and issue it again.
* If the status changes to **Issue failed**, read the message, correct the problem and select **Retry issuance**.
* If issuing was interrupted, **Return to draft** can appear. Select it, review the draft and issue it again.
* If an order is rejected, check it in History against the conditions under **From paid order** above.

## Related articles

* [Bill a job with advance and final invoices](/en/history/bill-a-job-with-advance-and-final-invoices.md)
* [Send an invoice and collect payment](/en/history/send-an-invoice-and-collect-payment.md)
* [Correct, cancel or refund an invoice](/en/history/correct-cancel-or-refund-an-invoice.md)
* [Update your German business tax details](/en/settings/update-german-tax-details.md)


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