Streamline Payments by Generating Invoices from Signed Documents

Combining Signatures and Payments in One Flow

You can create a seamless experience for your clients where signing a document automatically generates an invoice and, optionally, takes them directly to a payment page. This guide explains how to set up this integrated flow, whether you're sending a document directly or automating it through a workflow.

Creating a Document with an Integrated Product List

Navigate to Payments › Documents & Contracts › New Document.

Setting Up Signers and Products

First, add the primary signer for the document. Then, add a product list to the document. The items you add determine the invoice type:

• One-time items create a single invoice. You can mark items as optional or make quantities editable from the properties section.
• Recurring items create a subscription invoice. A single document can only have one recurring frequency, which you set in the Invoice frequency settings on the left.
• If you add both, tags will indicate the item types. One-time items bill on the first invoice, while recurring items follow the chosen schedule.

Configuring Payment Behavior

In the Payments section on the left, configure these key settings:

• Direct Payment: Turn this ON to redirect the primary signer to pay immediately after they sign, provided an invoice exists at that moment.
• Send Invoice: Turn this ON to automatically email the invoice when it is generated (either at signing or on its scheduled date).
• Auto-Payment: Turn this ON to save the client's payment method (with supported gateways) and automatically charge future invoices in a recurring schedule.

Note: Documents & Contracts templates do not have a separate test mode toggle. To test payments, use a payment method that supports test mode (like a Payment Link) or your gateway's test configuration.

What Happens When the Document is Signed

The experience depends on your invoice type and settings:

• One-time Invoice: The primary signer is redirected to the invoice to pay immediately.
• Recurring Invoice (Start at signing): The primary signer is redirected to pay the first invoice immediately.
• Recurring Invoice (Start later): No redirect occurs at signing. The first invoice is created and sent on the scheduled start date.

Only the primary signer is redirected to pay. Other recipients simply complete their signature. If enabled, an invoice email is also sent to the payer.

Automating the Process with Workflows

You can save your document setup as a template and trigger it automatically.

1. Go to Payments › Documents & Contracts › Templates › New Template.
2. Build your template by inserting signature fields and adding your product list. For recurring items, choose whether the schedule starts at signing or on a future date.
3. Configure the Direct Payment, Send Invoice, and Auto-Payment settings as needed and save the template.
4. In a workflow, add the Send Documents & Contracts action and select your saved template.

When the workflow runs, the recipient receives the document. The same signing and payment rules apply: the primary signer will be redirected to pay if an invoice is generated at the time of signing.

Tracking Documents and Payments

Monitor the entire process in two key areas of your CRM:

• Payments › Documents & Contracts: View the document status, signing progress, and overall payment status.
• Payments › Invoices: See detailed records for each generated invoice, including payment status, the progress of recurring schedules, and results of any auto-payment attempts.

Tips and Common Scenarios

• Weekly Schedules: If a document with a "every Thursday" schedule is signed on a Thursday, the first invoice generates immediately, triggering a redirect. Otherwise, it's sent on the next Thursday.
• Setup Fees: Add a one-time product to represent a setup fee. It will appear on the first invoice, while the recurring product continues on the schedule.
• Payment Schedules: If you use a custom payment schedule and an invoice isn't generating, ensure the first payment is set to "Upon primary signature." This aligns the schedule correctly and allows the invoice to be created.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why wasn't my client redirected to pay after signing?

This happens if Direct Payment is OFF, or if no invoice existed at the moment of signing. For recurring invoices, this occurs if the schedule is set to start on a future date. Enable Direct Payment and, for recurring items, set the start to "at signing."

Where can I track the document and payment progress?

Check Payments › Documents & Contracts for the document-level status. For invoice-specific details like payment history and schedule tracking, go to Payments › Invoices.

Can I mix one-time and recurring items in the same document?

Yes. The product list will tag each item type. One-time items are billed on the first invoice, and recurring items continue according to their schedule.

Can I send test invoices from a Documents & Contracts template?

No, the template itself does not have a test mode setting. To perform a test transaction, use a different payment method that supports test mode, such as sending a Payment Link or an Invoice directly, or configure your payment gateway for testing.