How Do You Use Retainer Invoices in Zoho Books to Collect Advance Payments?

How Do You Use Retainer Invoices in Zoho Books to Collect Advance Payments?


Info

Retainer invoices allow you to request and track upfront deposits from clients, which can be adjusted against future invoices.

  1. Create a Retainer Invoice:

    • Go to Sales → Retainer Invoices → + New → Enter customer and deposit amount.

  1. Record Payment:

    • Record full or partial payment and generate a receipt.

  1. Apply Retainer to Invoice:

    • When raising an invoice, apply the retainer as payment.

  1. Track Balances:

    • Go to Reports → Retainer Summary to view outstanding balances and applied retainers.

Why This Workflow Matters:
Using retainers improves cash flow, secures commitment from clients, and supports milestone-based billing.