Invoicing

    Proforma invoice

    A preliminary invoice sent before work or shipment to confirm terms.

    Definition

    Proforma invoices look like real invoices but carry no accounting weight — they're a commitment letter. Used heavily in international shipping for customs and in custom-fab jobs to lock specs before production starts.

    Related terms

    Invoice

    A document a business sends a customer requesting payment for goods or services.

    Estimate

    A non-binding written quote of the cost of a job, sent before work begins.

    Purchase order (PO)

    A formal request from a buyer authorizing a seller to perform work or ship goods.