Plans & Limits
Sending Your First Invoice
A walkthrough of the first-send experience, including the inline card-on-file modal and what happens after the card is saved.
3 min read
Before you start
You've signed up (no card required).
You've added at least one client with an email address.
You've drafted an invoice.
Step 1: Click Send Invoice
Open the invoice you want to send. Click the Send Invoice button. If you've never sent before and you're on the free plan, the card-on-file modal opens.
Step 2: Add a card (first send only)
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A modal appears titled "Add a card to send your first invoice."
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Enter your card number, expiry, and CVC. Stripe Elements renders the secure card form inside the modal.
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Click "Save card & send invoice."
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We confirm the card with Stripe and save it on file. No charge happens.
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The original send goes through automatically. The modal closes and you're back on the invoice page with the sent confirmation.
You only see this modal once per account. Subsequent sends go straight through. If you upgrade to Pro, the card already on file becomes your subscription card.
Step 3: What the client sees
Your client receives a professional email with your business name, the invoice total, a brief preview, and a link to view the full invoice in their browser. From there they can download the PDF, view the line items, and (if you're on Pro) pay online.
If the modal fails
If the card is declined or the modal errors out, the invoice stays in its current state and no email is sent. You can retry from the same Send Invoice button. Common causes:
Insufficient funds or address mismatch — try a different card.
Browser blocking Stripe.js — disable ad blockers or try a different browser.
Stale page — refresh and try again.
After the first send
Every subsequent send works the same way as if the card had always been there — you click Send Invoice and the email goes out instantly. The 25/30-day cap and (for new accounts) 5/24h cap still apply on the free plan.