How to Create and Send an Invoice
This guide covers how to create a new sale, build an invoice, preview it before sending, and finalize it for your buyer. It also explains how the payment process works — including when you get paid once your buyer accepts and initiates payment.
Before you start
You'll need the following ready before you begin:
- An active, validated Alethium account
- At least one buyer connected to your organization on the platform
- The details of what you're invoicing for (items, quantities, and prices)
The Selling module
When you open the Selling module, you'll see a list of all orders you've sent to your customers, sorted by date. You can use the filters at the top of the page to search by buyer, order status, or date range.
Step-by-step instructions
Start a new sale
Click New Sale in the top right corner of the Selling module.
Select the buyer
Choose the buyer you're selling to from the dropdown. This ensures the invoice is created for the correct customer and routed appropriately.
Enter line items
Add each item you're invoicing for, along with the quantity and price. Alethium automatically calculates totals as you go.
Choose a payment method
Select a payment method to propose to your buyer: Trade finance (your buyer repays on extended terms via a financing partner, and you receive funds the next business day after they agree) or Direct bank transfer (your buyer pays you directly). Your buyer will be able to accept or change the payment method before confirming.
Review and recalculate
Check the invoice details and amounts. If you've made any changes, click Recalculate to make sure the totals are up to date.
Create a draft invoice
When everything looks right, click Create Draft. This generates a preview of your invoice so you can review it before sending. Nothing has been sent at this stage, so you can still make changes if needed.
Finalize the invoice
Once you're happy with the draft, click Create Order to finalize. This locks the invoice and sends it to your buyer for review. Your buyer will receive a notification and can accept the payment method you proposed — or choose a different one. Once your buyer confirms, you'll receive funds the next business day. After finalizing, you can also download a copy for your records from within the platform.
Common questions
Still need help? Our team is happy to walk you through any questions you still have.
Contact support