Billing & Payments
Customers view invoices and make payments through the Billing section.
Billing Overview
The billing page displays:
- Invoice List - All shared invoices
- Financial Summary - Balance and payment info
- Payment Button - Online payment option
- Payment History - Past payments
Invoice List
Invoice Information
Each invoice shows:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Invoice # | Invoice number/reference |
| Date | Invoice date |
| Amount | Invoice total |
| Status | Current status |
| Balance | Running balance |
Invoice Status
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Pending | Payment due |
| Paid | Fully paid |
| Void | Invoice cancelled |
| Processing | Payment in progress |
| Unreleased | Not yet finalized (optional visibility) |
Viewing Invoices
Invoice List View
- Open Billing section
- See all invoices in list
- Sort by date (newest/oldest)
- Search by invoice number
Invoice Details
Click an invoice to see:
- Full invoice breakdown
- Line items and amounts
- Payment terms
- Due date
Downloading Invoices
- Open the invoice
- Click Download or PDF
- Invoice saves to device
Making Payments
Online Payment Options
Depending on how your company is configured, customers may see a Pay or Make Payment button:
| Option | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Checkbook.io | Customer pays via ACH/digital check directly in the portal. Payment automatically records in Readybuild. |
| Custom Payment URL | Customer is redirected to your company's external payment system. Payment must be manually recorded in Readybuild. |
If neither option is configured, customers will need to pay via check, cash, or other offline methods.
Payment Process (Checkbook.io)
- Find the invoice to pay
- Click Pay button
- Enter payment information
- Confirm the payment
- Receive confirmation
- Payment automatically records in Readybuild
Payment Process (Custom Payment URL)
- Click Make Payment button
- Customer is redirected to your external payment portal
- Customer must manually enter the payment amount (invoice amount is not sent automatically)
- Customer completes payment in your external system
- Your team must manually record the payment in Readybuild
Payment Message
A custom message may display with:
- Payment instructions
- Accepted payment methods
- Contact information
- Special terms
Financial Summary
Dashboard View
The dashboard shows:
- Balance Due - Current amount owed
- Past Due - Overdue amount (if any)
- Days Past Due - How long overdue
- Next Payment - Upcoming payment date
Billing Page Summary
Additional details:
- Original contract amount
- Change orders total
- Total contracted amount
- Payments received
- Current balance
Invoice Filtering
Filter Options
- All Invoices - Complete list
- Pending - Unpaid invoices
- Paid - Completed payments
- By Date - Date range
Search
Find specific invoices by:
- Invoice number
- Amount
- Date
Unreleased Invoices
What Are Unreleased Invoices?
Invoices not yet finalized:
- Draft invoices
- Pending approval
- Not yet sent
Visibility Setting
Company setting controls:
- Show - Customers see unreleased invoices
- Hide - Only released invoices appear
Typically hidden to prevent confusion.
Payment Configuration (For Staff)
Enable Billing & Payments
- Go to Admin → Company Settings
- Find Client Portal section
- Enable Billing & Payment
- Configure payment options
Checkbook.io Setup
To enable online payments with automatic payment recording:
- Set up the Checkbook.io integration in Admin → Integrations (see Checkbook.io Integration)
- Enable Invoice Payments in Checkbook.io settings
- Test with a small invoice to verify the flow
Custom Payment URL Setup
If you use a different payment processor (not Checkbook.io), you can redirect customers to your own payment portal:
- Go to Admin → Company Settings
- Find the Client Portal section
- Enter your payment URL in the Payment Link URL field
When using a Custom Payment URL:
- Invoice amounts are not sent to your payment system - customers must manually enter the amount they're paying
- Payments do not automatically sync back to Readybuild - your team must manually record each payment after it's received
- Consider using the Payment Message field to provide instructions for customers
Payment Message
Add helpful information:
- Enter text in Payment Message
- Appears above invoice list
- Include instructions, policies, or contact info
Sharing Invoices (For Staff)
Publishing to Portal
- Create invoice in Readybuild
- Release the invoice
- Click Share to Portal (or automatic if configured)
- Invoice appears in customer portal
What Customers See
- Invoice amount and details
- Due date
- Payment options
- Running balance
What Customers Don't See
- Cost details (unless shown)
- Internal notes
- Draft invoices (usually)
Payment Security
Secure Transactions
- HTTPS encryption
- Secure payment providers
- No card data stored locally
Payment Confirmation
Customers receive:
- On-screen confirmation
- Email receipt
- Updated balance
Troubleshooting
Invoice Not Showing
Check that:
- Invoice is released
- Invoice is shared to portal
- Billing feature is enabled
- Customer has correct access
Payment Button Missing
Verify one of the following is configured:
- Checkbook.io: Integration is connected and Invoice Payments is enabled
- Custom Payment URL: A payment URL is entered in Client Portal settings
- Billing & Payments is enabled in portal settings
Payment Failed
Customer should:
- Verify payment information
- Try different payment method
- Contact your team for help
Best Practices
Invoice Management
- Release invoices promptly
- Include clear descriptions
- Set appropriate due dates
- Monitor payment status
Customer Communication
- Send payment reminders
- Be clear about terms
- Respond to questions quickly
- Acknowledge payments
Payment Setup
- Test payment flow yourself before going live
- Provide clear instructions in the Payment Message
- Monitor for payment issues