How invoices help Kenyan small businesses

Invoices are useful whenever a customer receives goods or services but payment is not immediate, or when the customer needs a professional record of what they bought.

Duka or mini-mart example

• A regular customer takes goods on credit and promises to pay Friday.
• The shop owner creates an invoice with the customer name, item list, amount, and due date.
• When the customer pays by M-PESA, the owner records the invoice payment.
• The balance becomes zero if fully paid, or part-paid if only part of the money was received.

Salon or barber shop example

• A client receives several services and buys hair products.
• The business creates an invoice showing services and products separately.
• If the client pays a deposit first, the invoice remains part-paid until the final payment is received.

Freelancer or consultant example

• A designer, tutor, consultant, or online worker invoices a client for work done.
• The invoice can include custom service lines instead of inventory items.
• Payment instructions can tell the client to pay by M-PESA, bank transfer, cash, or card.

Fundi or repair business example

• A fundi invoices a customer for labour and materials.
• Materials can be listed as items and labour can be entered as a custom service.
• The due date helps the business follow up if the customer delays payment.

Supplier or delivery business example

• A small supplier delivers goods to another business and invoices them.
• The delivery state helps show whether the invoice was sent.
• The balance due helps show how much is still expected from that customer.