A recurring invoice automatically creates and sends an invoice to your client at regular intervals. Recurring invoices are ideal for subscription services where payments are ongoing and amounts remain consistent.
Recurring invoices overview
Recurring invoices automate billing for subscription-based services or other regular charges, giving you a predictable income stream and removing the need to manually create invoices for regular clients.
You can manage recurring invoices from two places:
From the Invoicing page: Navigate to the Invoicing page and click Recurring Invoices in the sidebar to see every recurring invoice across your workspace.
From a project: Open the project, click the Invoices tab, then select the Recurring Invoices sub-tab to see recurring invoices for that project.
The recurring invoices list shows the amount, status, project, contact, start date, end date, next send date, number of invoices sent, autopay setting, and creation date for each schedule. Use the status tabs above the list (All, Draft, Active, Completed) to narrow the view, and use the filter, sort, and grouping controls to find a specific recurring invoice by client, project, or created date.
Recurring invoice statuses
Every recurring invoice has one of three statuses that determines what actions you can take.
Draft — The recurring invoice has been created but not started. You can edit, start, or delete it.
Active — The recurring invoice is running and generating invoices on schedule. You can edit it or stop it.
Completed — The recurring invoice reached its end date or was manually stopped. It cannot be edited or deleted.
Creating a recurring invoice
You can create a recurring invoice from the Invoicing page or from within a specific project.
From the Invoicing page
To create a recurring invoice from the global view:
Navigate to the Invoicing page.
Click Recurring Invoices in the sidebar.
Click New Recurring Invoice at the top of the recurring invoices list.
Select an existing Contact and Project from the dropdown menus.
You can create a new contact or project directly from the dropdown menus if needed.
Click Create Recurring Invoice.
From within a project
To create a recurring invoice scoped to a specific project:
Navigate to the Projects page.
Select a project.
Click the Invoices tab.
Click New Recurring Invoice at the top of the recurring invoices list.
The recurring invoice is created in Draft status. Configure the Schedule, Invoice, and Payment Plan sections before starting it.
Configuring the schedule
The Schedule section controls when and how often invoices are generated. On the recurring invoice detail view, click Edit on the Schedule section to configure these fields:
Send every — Set the interval for the recurrence (for example, every 1 month, 2 weeks, or 1 year).
Start date — Choose when the first invoice is created and sent.
End date — Set the date that invoices stop sending, or check Never ends to run indefinitely.
Autopay — By default, autopay follows your workspace settings. Click Override to open the Autopay settings dialog and set a different option for this recurring invoice. If autopay has already been overridden, click Edit to make changes.
Title — Enter a title that appears on every invoice generated by this recurrence.
Note to contact — Add an optional note that appears on every generated invoice. This field supports smart fields for dynamic content.
Click Save when finished.
If you choose the 31st as a start date, invoices will bill on the 1st for months without 31 days.
If you set an end date, choose a date one day after the final invoice date so the last invoice is still created.
Setting autopay for the recurring invoice
The Autopay settings dialog gives you per-recurrence control over how clients pay. Toggle off Follow brand settings to set an override, then choose one of these options:
Disabled — Autopay is turned off for this recurring invoice.
Optional — The client can choose to enroll in autopay.
Required — The client must pay via autopay.
Configuring invoice line items
The Invoice section defines the line items and pricing for each generated invoice. Click Edit on the Invoice section, then add your line items:
Click +Add Item.
Enter the Item Name.
Add a description (optional).
Enter a Quantity and Price per billing cycle.
Enter a tax percentage (optional).
Select a category (optional).
Repeat for additional line items.
Click Save.
Click Select a package to apply a package template you have already created under Invoicing ➔ Packages.
The grand total of your recurring invoice is the amount your client pays with each recurrence. For example, if you have two line items totaling $500, your client receives an invoice for $500 each billing cycle.
Discounts are not supported on recurring invoices because the same amount is sent each billing cycle.
Setting up due dates and reminders
Adding a payment plan to a recurring invoice is optional, but it lets you show a visible due date on each invoice and send payment reminders if a client misses a payment.
Due dates
To set a due date on each generated invoice:
Click Edit on the Payment Plan section.
Click Add installment.
Click TBD to edit the due date and select Relative.
Do not use Fixed or TBD dates for recurring invoices. These options will not properly set the due date after the first recurrence.
Select 0 day(s) after payment plan applied to invoice to make the invoice due on the day it is created.
Only use after payment plan applied to invoice. The other relative triggers do not function properly with recurring invoices.
Under Amount Due, select Percentage and enter 100%.
The recommended setup for recurring invoices is a single installment at 100% of the total. If you need multiple installments with different due dates, a standard invoice with a payment plan may be a better fit. See Recurring invoices vs. payment plans.
Payment reminders
To add reminder emails for overdue invoices:
Under Reminders, click the empty area and then click +Add reminder.
Under When, select the length of time after the due date for the reminder to send.
Only use reminders set to send after the due date. Reminders set to send before the due date may not work as expected, since the next invoice has not yet been created.
Under Email template, choose an email template for the reminder.
Click Apply.
Repeat to add additional reminders.
Click Save.
Starting the recurrence
Once the schedule, line items, and (optionally) the payment plan are configured, click Start at the top of the recurring invoice detail view.
A recurring invoice must have a start date and at least one line item before it can be started. Once started, the status changes from Draft to Active and the first invoice is created and sent based on the start date.
The time you click Start determines the time all future invoices are sent. You cannot change the send time after starting.
Editing an active recurring invoice
Active recurring invoices can be edited without stopping the schedule. Click Edit on the Schedule, Invoice, or Payment Plan section to make changes, then click Save within that section to apply them. Changes take effect on the next generated invoice.
You can update line items, pricing, the recurrence schedule, and the payment plan without disrupting your client's autopay enrollment.
If your client is enrolled in autopay, a confirmation dialog appears when you click Edit. The dialog reminds you to notify your client about any changes that may affect their automatic payments. Click Continue to proceed with editing.
Stopping a recurring invoice
To stop an active recurring invoice, open it and click Stop at the top of the detail view. The status changes to Completed and no further invoices are generated. Completed recurring invoices cannot be edited or deleted, but they remain visible for your records.
Viewing generated invoices
Open any active or completed recurring invoice to see every invoice it has generated. The Created Invoices list appears alongside the detail view, showing each generated invoice with its date, number, and status (for example, Paid, Unpaid, or In Progress). Click any listed invoice to open it.
You can also view all invoices for a project by navigating to the project and clicking the Invoices tab.
The Created Invoices list only appears for active and completed recurring invoices. Draft recurring invoices have not yet generated any invoices.
Recurrence email
Your client receives an email each time a new invoice is generated by the recurrence. To edit the default email template for recurring invoices, navigate to Messages ➔ Default templates and select the Send Invoice template.
FAQ
Can I add a discount to a recurring invoice?
No. Recurring invoices do not support discounts because the same invoice amount is sent each billing cycle.
Can my client update their payment method on a recurring invoice that has already started?
Yes. Every client-facing invoice includes a Change payment method link. Changing the payment method does not disrupt the recurring invoice or autopay enrollment.
What happens if my client's autopay payment fails?
See what happens to failed payments for details.
Can I change the time a recurring invoice is sent?
No. The time you click Start determines the send time for all future invoices.
Can I start a recurring invoice from a flow or proposal?
No. Recurring invoices must be created manually from the Invoicing page or from within a project.
How do I edit the email my client receives for each recurring invoice?
Navigate to Messages ➔ Default templates and select the Send Invoice template.
Can I have multiple installments on a recurring invoice's payment plan?
Multiple payment installments are technically possible, but the recommended approach is a single installment at 100% of the total. If you need multiple installments, a standard invoice with a payment plan is a better fit.
Why can't I edit or delete a recurring invoice?
Check the status. Completed recurring invoices cannot be edited or deleted. Only Draft recurring invoices can be deleted. Draft and Active recurring invoices can be edited.
My client is enrolled in autopay. Can I still edit the recurring invoice?
Yes. You can edit active recurring invoices even when your client is enrolled in autopay. A confirmation dialog reminds you to notify your client about any changes that may affect their automatic payments.
I can't start my recurring invoice. What's wrong?
A recurring invoice requires a start date and at least one line item before it can be started. Verify both are configured.