# Send an invoice and understand the email

Post a draft, then email the customer a link and an optional PDF copy.

Canonical: https://demo.qixcount.com/help/invoicing/send-an-invoice

Who can do this: Owners, or people with *Send invoices* and *View invoices*

Where: Sales, then Invoices

You'll need: Customer email, invoice emails enabled, and a draft with at least one item and a positive total

Marking an invoice sent and emailing it are separate actions. Owners can do both; staff need *Send invoices*. Opening the invoice also needs *View invoices*.

## Post the invoice

1. Open **Invoices** and select the draft's invoice number.
2. Review its dates, items and total.
3. Select **Mark Sent**.

![Invoice email dialog with recipient, personal message and attachment option](https://demo.qixcount.com/images/help/invoice-email.webp)

This posts the invoice to the general ledger using the invoice date. It does not send an email. Posting can fail for a closed or locked period or a backdating restriction; resolve the displayed error before continuing.

## Email the customer

1. Select **Email Invoice** on the posted invoice.
2. Check **Sending to:**.
3. Enter **Personal Message** (optional) if needed, up to 2,000 characters.
4. Select **Attach PDF copy of invoice** if you want a PDF attached.
5. Select **Send Email**.

The saved invoice email attachment setting can also cause a PDF to be attached even when this checkbox is clear.

## What the customer receives

The email contains the invoice number, dates, customer, balance and the first five line items, with a count of any remaining items. Your personal message replaces the default introductory message. The email includes **View Invoice**, which normally opens a signed link valid for 30 days without a business login.

**Pay Now** appears when an eligible Stripe payment link is available. Sending the email can create that payment link when online payments are enabled. A success message does not confirm delivery. If the customer does not receive the message, contact support before repeatedly sending it.

Next, [review the public invoice page](https://demo.qixcount.com/help/invoicing/public-invoice-and-payment-page) or [download the invoice PDF](https://demo.qixcount.com/help/invoicing/invoice-pdf).

See [the invoice email](https://demo.qixcount.com/help/what-your-customer-sees/the-invoice-email) from your customer's side.

## Who can do this and what you need

The customer needs an email address. Invoice emails must be enabled in the business's invoice email settings. A draft needs at least one item and a positive total before it can be marked sent.