file-invoiceInvoice Management

Introduction

Gangmates provides robust tools for managing invoices, catering to purchase invoices (single and bulk) and sales invoices. This flexibility ensures that businesses can streamline their invoicing and payment processes efficiently while maintaining standardized documentation.


Understanding Invoice Types

Purchase Invoices (Single & Bulk)

Purchase invoices are submitted by contractors or employees to request payment from the company. This standardizes the invoicing process so your company doesn't depend on external parties for varying invoice formats.

Use Cases:

  1. Contractor Payment - A contractor invoices the company for services provided (e.g., radio promo services, consulting, etc.)

  2. Expense Reimbursement - An employee invoices the company for expenses paid out of pocket on behalf of the company

How It Works:

  1. Contractor or employee logs in and creates an invoice

  2. Invoice email is sent to their manager/relationship owner for review and approval

  3. Manager/relationship owner approves or rejects the request

  4. Finance officer views the approved invoice and clicks "Pay" to process payment

  5. Payment is processed via the company's payment provider (Flutterwave, Monnify, or Paystack - depending on company configuration)

  6. Company wallet is deducted and funds are transferred

Key Benefits:

  • Standardization: Consistent invoice format for all incoming invoices - no reliance on contractor/vendor invoice formats

  • Oversight: Manager approval workflow ensures proper authorization before payment

  • Integration: Payment processed through company's configured provider

  • Audit Trail: Complete documentation for all payments

Sales Invoices

Sales invoices are created by your company to bill customers for goods or services provided. They include automatic Nigerian tax calculations and integrated online payment.

How It Works:

  1. You create an invoice for your customer

  2. Customer receives invoice via email automatically

  3. Customer pays via payment provider's (Flutterwave, Monnify, or Paystack - depending on company configuration) payment link

  4. Funds are credited to your company wallet

  5. VAT collected is tracked for FIRS remittance

Key Benefits:

  • Professional customer-facing invoices

  • Automatic VAT (7.5%) and Stamp Duty (₦50) calculations

  • Direct wallet credit on payment

  • VAT tracking for FIRS compliance


Invoice Types at a Glance

Type
Who Creates
Who Pays
Wallet Impact

Purchase Invoice

Contractor or Employee

Your Company

Deducted (money out)

Sales Invoice

Your Company

Customer

Credited (money in)


Single Purchase Invoice Path: Finance → Invoices → New Invoice → Single Invoice → Form

Bulk Purchase Invoice Path: Finance → Invoices → New Invoice → Bulk Invoice → Form

Sales Invoice Path: Finance → Invoices → Sales Invoice → Form


Single Purchase Invoice Workflow

Use single purchase invoices when a contractor or employee needs to invoice the company for one item.

Who Can Create Purchase Invoices?

Contractors and employees with invoice creation permissions can submit purchase invoices. The invoice is then routed to their manager or relationship owner for approval.

Step 1: Navigate to the Invoice Form

  1. Go to Finance → Invoices

  2. Click New Invoice in the modal pop-up

  3. Select Single Invoice to proceed to the form

Step 2: Complete the Form

Payment Method:

Select the appropriate option:

  • Self: The invoice is for payment to yourself (employee reimbursement)

  • Third Party Provider: The invoice is for payment to an external contractor/vendor

Mandatory Fields:

  • Description: Enter details about the service or expense

  • Service Date: Input the date in MM/DD/YYYY format

  • Total Amount: Enter the full invoice amount

  • Amount Requested: Specify the payment amount requested

  • Category: Select the appropriate expense category

  • Subcategory: Choose a related subcategory

Step 3: Submit the Invoice

  1. Click Create Invoice to finalize

  2. Invoice email is sent to your manager/relationship owner for review and approval

  3. The invoice appears in the system with "Pending Approval" status

What Happens After Submission?

  1. Manager Review: Your manager/relationship owner receives an email notification to review the invoice

  2. Approval/Rejection: Manager approves or rejects with comments

  3. Finance Action: Finance officer views approved invoice and clicks "Pay" button

  4. Payment Processing: Payment is processed via the company's payment provider (Flutterwave, Monnify, or Paystack based on company settings)

  5. Wallet Deduction: Company wallet is deducted for the approved amount

  6. Payment Complete: Funds are transferred to the contractor or employee


Bulk Purchase Invoice Workflow

Use bulk purchase invoices when you need to submit multiple invoices at once via CSV upload.

Step 1: Navigate to the Bulk Invoice Form

  1. Go to Finance → Invoices

  2. Click New Invoice in the modal pop-up

  3. Select Bulk Invoice to proceed to the form

Step 2: Select the Invoice For Option

In the Invoice For dropdown, choose one of the following:

  • Self: Invoices for payments to yourself (employee reimbursements)

  • Someone Else: Invoices on behalf of another internal staff member

  • Third Party Provider: Invoices for payment to external contractors or vendors

Step 3: Download and Fill the CSV Template

Dynamic CSV Template:

Download the template, which adjusts fields based on the selected Invoice For option:

  • Self: Fields for logged-in user and related invoice details

  • Someone Else: Includes a Requester Email column for internal staff

  • Third Party Provider: Adds a Third Party Provider Name column

Fill Out the Template:

  • Mandatory fields include Description, Service Date, Total Amount, Amount Requested, Category, and Subcategory

  • Ensure email addresses and provider names match system entries

Save the File:

  • Save the completed template as a CSV file

Step 4: Upload the Completed CSV

  1. Navigate to the Bulk Upload section in Gangmates

  2. Click Choose File and select your completed CSV file

  3. Click Upload to begin processing the invoices

Step 5: Approval Process

Auto-Approval:

  • If the Approve All checkbox is selected, all uploaded invoices are automatically approved

  • Note: Requires the logged-in user to have the Bulk Invoice Approver permission

Manual Approval:

  • Invoices are sent to respective managers/relationship owners for review

  • Managers approve or reject individually as needed

What Happens After Approval?

  • Finance officer reviews approved invoices and processes payment

  • Payment is processed via the company's payment provider

  • Company wallet is deducted for approved amounts

  • Funds are transferred to the contractor or employee


Sales Invoice Workflow

Use sales invoices to bill your customers for goods or services.

Who Can Create Sales Invoices?

Users with the Create Sales Invoice permission can access this feature. Contact your administrator if you need this permission enabled.


Step-by-Step: Creating a Sales Invoice

Step 1: Navigate to the Sales Invoice Form

  1. Go to Finance → Invoices

  2. Select Sales Invoice

  3. The Sales Invoice form opens

Step 2: Enter Customer Information

Customer Name (Required)

  • Enter the full name or business name of your customer

Customer Email

  • Enter a valid email address

  • The invoice will be sent to this email automatically when you click "Create Invoice"

  • Note: "Invoice will be sent to this email automatically" appears below the field

Customer Phone

  • Enter the customer's phone number for your records

Customer Address

  • Enter the customer's billing or business address

Step 3: Enter Invoice Details

Amount (NGN) (Required)

  • Enter the total amount you are billing

  • Minimum amount: ₦100.00

Purpose/Description (Required)

  • Describe what you are billing for

  • Be specific so your customer understands the charge

  • Examples: "Consulting services for January 2026", "Website development - Phase 1"

Additional Notes

  • Add any extra information for your customer

  • Examples: Payment terms, project details, thank you message

Step 4: Select Tax Options

Include VAT

  • Check this box to add 7.5% VAT to the invoice

  • VAT is calculated on the base amount

  • Example: ₦100,000 amount → ₦7,500 VAT added

Include Stamp Duty (NGN 50 for invoices over NGN 10,000)

  • Check this box to add Stamp Duty when applicable

  • Stamp Duty is ₦50 flat fee when invoice total exceeds ₦10,000

  • This is a Nigerian regulatory requirement

Step 5: Configure Payment Options (NEW!)

☑️ Allow Partial Payments

  • Check this box to let customers pay in installments

  • When enabled, customers can choose to pay full amount or custom amount

  • Great for large invoices or customers who need payment flexibility

Minimum Payment Amount (Optional)

  • Only visible when "Allow Partial Payments" is checked

  • Set the smallest amount customers can pay per transaction

  • Example: Set ₦5,000 minimum on a ₦50,000 invoice

  • Leave blank to allow customers to choose any amount

  • Prevents very small payments that rack up fees

Example Scenarios:

No Minimum (Maximum Flexibility)

With Minimum (Controlled Flexibility)

Without Partial Payments (Traditional)

Step 6: Create the Invoice

  1. Review all information entered

  2. Click Create Invoice

  3. The invoice is created and sent to your customer's email automatically


How Partial Payments Work

The Customer Experience

When a customer receives an invoice with partial payments enabled:

First Time Opening Invoice:

After First Payment:

Transaction Fee Structure

  • 1.5% fee applies to EACH payment

  • Fee is calculated on the payment amount (not the invoice amount)

  • Customer sees the fee BEFORE paying

Example: ₦50,000 Invoice Paid in 2 Installments

What You See in Your Dashboard

Invoice Status Badges:

  • 🟡 Unpaid - No payments made yet

  • 🟡 Partially Paid - Some payments made, balance remaining (shows percentage)

  • 🟢 Paid - Fully paid

  • 🔴 Cancelled - Invoice voided

Invoice Details Page Shows:

  1. Payment Progress Card

    • Visual progress bar with percentage

    • Total / Paid / Remaining amounts

    • Number of payments made

  2. Payment History Table

    • Date and time of each payment

    • Amount paid per transaction

    • Transaction fee per payment

    • Payment reference

    • Running totals

  3. Partial Payment Settings

    • Shows if partial payments are enabled

    • Shows minimum payment amount (if set)

Example Details View:


Sales Invoice Statuses

Status
Description
What It Means

Unpaid

Invoice created, no payments made

Customer hasn't paid anything yet

Partially Paid (NEW!)

Some payments made, balance remains

Customer paid part of the invoice, more needed

Paid

Invoice fully paid

All payments complete, funds in wallet

Cancelled

Invoice voided

Invoice no longer valid


Payment Process (After Creation)

For Full Payment (Traditional Flow)

  1. Customer receives secure payment link via email

  2. Invoice details and "Pay Now" button sent automatically

  3. Customer has 15 minutes to complete payment after clicking "Pay Now"

  4. Payment processed through your payment provider (Flutterwave, Monnify, or Paystack)

  5. Funds automatically credited to your wallet

  6. Both you and customer receive confirmation emails

For Partial Payments (NEW Flow)

  1. Customer receives secure payment link via email

  2. Customer opens link and sees payment options (Full or Custom amount)

  3. Customer selects amount to pay (subject to minimum if set)

  4. System shows real-time breakdown (amount + fee = total)

  5. Customer has 15 minutes to complete payment after clicking "Pay Now"

  6. Payment processed through your payment provider

  7. Wallet credited for that payment amount immediately

  8. Invoice status updates to "Partially Paid"

  9. Customer can return to the same link anytime to pay more

  10. Process repeats until invoice is fully paid

  11. Once fully paid, status changes to "Paid"


Sharing Options

While invoices are sent automatically via email, you can also share manually:

  • Copy Link - Share via WhatsApp, SMS, or messaging apps

  • Download PDF - Send the PDF file manually

Note: The payment link remains active for partially paid invoices. Customers can bookmark it and return to complete payment.


Tax Calculations

VAT (Value Added Tax)

  • Rate: 7.5% of the invoice amount

  • Example: ₦100,000 → ₦7,500 VAT

  • Calculated on base amount before partial payments

  • Customer pays proportional VAT with each payment

Stamp Duty

  • Rate: ₦50 flat fee

  • Applies when: Invoice total exceeds ₦10,000

  • Included in total invoice amount

Combined Example with Partial Payments:

Invoice Created:

Customer Pays in 2 Installments:


Remitting VAT to FIRS

VAT collected from sales invoices must be remitted to FIRS (Federal Inland Revenue Service).

Important: VAT remittance only applies to fully paid invoices.

Process:

  1. Wait until invoice is fully paid (status = "Paid")

  2. Navigate to Remittances → Initiate Remittance

  3. Select VAT & FIRS Remittance

  4. Choose fully paid invoices to include (partially paid invoices won't appear)

  5. Submit to an agent for FIRS payment

Deadline: VAT must be remitted by the 21st of the month following the transaction.

For detailed remittance instructions, see the Remittance Management User Guide.


Features Comparison

Feature
Without Partial Payments
With Partial Payments

Payment Options

Full amount only

Full or custom amounts

Customer Flexibility

Must have full amount

Can pay what they can afford

Payment Window

15 minutes (one-time)

15 minutes per payment session

Transaction Fees

1.5% × 1

1.5% per payment

Status Options

Unpaid → Paid

Unpaid → Partially Paid → Paid

Invoice Link

Single use

Reusable until fully paid

Payment Tracking

Single transaction

Multiple transactions tracked

Wallet Credits

One credit

Multiple credits

VAT Remittance

After payment

After FULL payment


Use Cases

When to Enable Partial Payments

Large invoices (₦100,000+) - Makes big amounts more manageable ✅ Long-term clients - Shows flexibility and trust ✅ B2B invoices - Businesses often prefer installment payments ✅ Project-based billing - Allow payment as milestones complete ✅ Seasonal businesses - Help clients with cash flow challenges

When to Keep Traditional (Full Payment Only)

Small invoices (< ₦10,000) - Not worth the complexity ✅ One-time customers - Simpler process ✅ Urgent payments - Need immediate full payment ✅ Subscription services - Regular, predictable amounts


Business Benefits

Better Cash Flow

  • Get some money now rather than waiting for full amount

  • Partial payment is better than no payment

  • Reduces payment delays

Higher Conversion

  • 40% increase in payment completion rates (industry average)

  • Customers more likely to start paying when they have flexibility

  • Reduces invoice abandonment

Professional Image

  • Shows you understand customer needs

  • Modern, customer-friendly approach

  • Competitive advantage

Complete Control

  • You decide which invoices allow partial payments

  • Set minimums to prevent very small payments

  • Can still require full payment when needed

No Extra Work

  • Just one checkbox when creating invoice

  • Automatic status updates

  • Automatic wallet credits

  • Complete audit trail maintained


Troubleshooting: Partial Payments

Customer Can't Make Partial Payment

Issue: Customer only sees "Pay Full Amount" option

Solutions:

  • Verify "Allow Partial Payments" was checked when creating invoice

  • This setting can only be enabled at invoice creation

  • If disabled, invoice must be cancelled and recreated


Minimum Payment Error

Issue: Customer gets error "Minimum payment is ₦X"

Solutions:

  • Customer must pay at least the minimum you set

  • They can pay exactly the minimum or more

  • They can pay up to the remaining balance

  • If minimum is too high, you'll need to create a new invoice


Payment Not Updating to Partially Paid

Issue: Customer paid but status still shows "Unpaid"

Solutions:

  • Payment confirmation may take a few minutes

  • Refresh the page after waiting

  • Check your wallet transactions for the credit

  • If payment went through but status unchanged, contact support


Can't Find Partially Paid Invoices

Issue: Not seeing partially paid invoices in list

Solutions:

  • Use the status filter and select "Partially Paid"

  • Look for yellow badge with percentage

  • Check invoice details for payment history

  • Ensure you're in the correct company/workspace


Invoice Stuck at Partially Paid

Issue: Customer paid some but hasn't completed

Solutions:

  • Customer can return to the same payment link anytime

  • Share the link via WhatsApp/SMS as a reminder

  • No automatic reminders (yet - coming soon!)

  • You can cancel invoice if needed and create new one


Transaction Fee Questions

Issue: Customer confused about fees on multiple payments

Solutions:

  • Explain that 1.5% fee applies per payment (standard)

  • Total fees are same as if paid all at once

  • Fee is shown clearly before each payment

  • This covers payment processing costs per transaction


VAT Remittance with Partial Payments

Issue: Can't find invoice in VAT remittance

Solutions:

  • Invoice must be fully paid (status = "Paid")

  • Partially paid invoices don't appear in remittance

  • Wait until customer completes all payments

  • VAT is only remitted on completed invoices


Quick Reference: Partial Payments

Creating Invoice with Partial Payments

Customer Makes Partial Payment

Viewing Payment Progress

Key Numbers

Item
Value

Transaction Fee

1.5% per payment

Payment Window

15 minutes after clicking "Pay Now"

Minimum Invoice

₦100

VAT Rate

7.5%

Stamp Duty

₦50 (invoices > ₦10,000)

Maximum Partial Payments

Unlimited

For detailed remittance instructions, see the Remittance Management User Guide.


Invoice Types Comparison

Feature
Purchase Invoice (Single/Bulk)
Sales Invoice

Purpose

Contractor/employee invoices company

Company invoices customer

Who Creates

Contractors, employees

Company

Who Pays

Company

Customer

Approval Required

Yes - Manager/relationship owner

No

Payment Action

Finance clicks "Pay" button

Customer clicks "Pay Now" link

Email Sent To

Manager/relationship owner

Customer

Payment Provider

Company's payment provider (Flutterwave, Monnify, or Paystack - depending on company configuration).

Company's payment provider (Flutterwave, Monnify, or Paystack - depending on company configuration).

Wallet Impact

Deducted (company pays out)

Credited (company receives)

Tax Calculation

N/A

Automatic (VAT 7.5%, Stamp Duty ₦50)

FIRS Remittance

N/A

Yes (VAT tracking)


Benefits Summary

Purchase Invoices (Single & Bulk)

  • Standardization: Consistent invoice format for all contractor and employee invoices - no dependence on external invoice formats

  • Control: Manager/relationship owner approval before payment

  • Visibility: Finance team has clear view of all pending payments

  • Bulk Processing: CSV upload for multiple invoices with optional auto-approval

  • Integration: Payment processed through company's configured provider (Flutterwave, Monnify, or Paystack)

  • Audit Trail: Complete documentation for all payments

Sales Invoices

  • Professional: Customer-facing invoices with your company branding

  • Tax Compliance: Automatic VAT (7.5%) and Stamp Duty (₦50) calculations

  • Convenience: Integrated Flutterwave payment for customers

  • Efficiency: Automatic email delivery, no manual sending

  • Cash Flow: Direct wallet credit on customer payment

  • Compliance: VAT tracking for FIRS remittance


Key Notes

Purchase Invoices (Single)

  • Payment Method dropdown adjusts the form based on Self or Third Party Provider

  • Invoice goes to manager/relationship owner for approval

  • After approval, finance officer processes payment via "Pay" button

  • Company wallet is deducted upon payment

Purchase Invoices (Bulk)

  • Ensure CSV templates are correctly completed based on the Invoice For option

  • Only users with Bulk Invoice Approver permission can use the Approve All feature

  • Each invoice is routed to the appropriate manager for approval (unless auto-approved)

  • Finance processes payment after approvals

Sales Invoices

  • Requires Create Sales Invoice permission

  • Customer email receives invoice automatically on creation

  • Payment link expires 15 minutes after customer clicks "Pay Now"

  • Funds credited to wallet only after successful payment

  • Paid invoices with VAT must be remitted to FIRS by the 21st of the following month


Troubleshooting Common Issues

Purchase Invoice Issues

Invoice Not Approved:

  • Check with your manager/relationship owner for status

  • Review any rejection comments

  • Resubmit with corrections if needed

Invoice Approved But Not Paid:

  • Contact finance team to process payment

  • Verify company wallet has sufficient balance

Invalid Data Format (Bulk):

  • Ensure all dates are in MM/DD/YYYY format

  • Ensure amounts are numerical

  • Download error report, correct issues, re-upload

Errors During Upload (Bulk):

  • Download the error report

  • Correct the flagged issues

  • Re-upload the corrected file

Missing Permissions:

  • Contact your administrator for required permissions

  • Bulk Invoice Approver permission needed for auto-approval

Payment Failed:

  • Check company wallet balance

  • Verify payment provider is configured correctly

  • Contact finance team for assistance

Sales Invoice Issues

Customer Didn't Receive Email:

  • Verify the email address is correct

  • Check customer's spam/junk folder

  • Use Copy Link to share via WhatsApp or SMS as alternative

Payment Link Not Working:

  • Ensure customer is clicking the link within the email

  • The 15-minute window starts when they click "Pay Now", not when email is sent

  • If expired, customer can return to email and click again for new session

Invoice Status Not Updating to Paid:

  • Flutterwave payment confirmation may take a few minutes

  • Refresh the page after waiting

  • Check wallet for credited funds

  • Contact support if payment was made but status unchanged

VAT Not Calculating:

  • Ensure "Include VAT" checkbox is checked

  • VAT only applies to the base amount entered

Stamp Duty Not Appearing:

  • Stamp Duty only applies when total (including VAT) exceeds ₦10,000

  • Ensure "Include Stamp Duty" checkbox is checked

Invoice Not Appearing in VAT Remittance:

  • Invoice must have "Paid" status

  • Invoice must have VAT or Stamp Duty amounts greater than zero

  • Invoice must not have been previously submitted for remittance


Support

Need Help?

For unresolved issues, contact [email protected].

For bulk invoice issues, include your CSV file and error messages for faster assistance.

For sales invoice issues, include the invoice reference number and any error messages.


Quick Reference

Invoice Type
Path

Single Purchase Invoice

Finance → Invoices → New Invoice → Single Invoice

Bulk Purchase Invoice

Finance → Invoices → New Invoice → Bulk Invoice

Sales Invoice

Finance → Invoices → Sales Invoice

Purchase Invoice Use Cases

Scenario
Example

Contractor Payment

Radio promo vendor invoices for services rendered

Expense Reimbursement

Employee invoices for out-of-pocket expenses

Sales Invoice Tax Rates

  • VAT: 7.5% of invoice amount

  • Stamp Duty: ₦50 flat fee (invoices over ₦10,000)

Invoice Flows

Purchase Invoice: Contractor/Employee Creates Invoice → Manager/Relationship Owner Receives Email → Approves → Finance Clicks "Pay" → Wallet Deducted → Funds Transferred

Sales Invoice: Company Creates Invoice → Customer Receives Email → Customer Pays via Flutterwave → Wallet Credited → Remit VAT to FIRS

Required Permissions

Action
Permission Required

Create Single Purchase Invoice

(Standard user access)

Bulk Purchase Invoice Auto-Approve

Bulk Invoice Approver

Create Sales Invoice

Create Sales Invoice


User Guide Version 2.1 | Feb. 2026

Last updated