> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://learn.withessential.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://learn.withessential.com/revenue/invoices/send-an-invoice-to-a-customer.md).

# Send an invoice to a customer

When an invoice is ready, use the Send button in the action bar at the top of the invoice. Save your changes first, because the Send button stays disabled while there are unsaved edits, and the invoice needs at least one line item, a recipient (an existing contact or a valid email address), and any required custom fields filled in. When a contact has additional email addresses, the recipient picker lists each one under the contact's name so you can send to a specific address. See [Give a contact more than one email address](/customers-and-work/contacts/give-a-contact-more-than-one-email-address.md).

When you send, Essential emails the invoice to the customer, includes a PDF copy, and moves the invoice from Draft to Unpaid (or Overdue if the due date has already passed, or Paid if the total is zero). Follow-up and resend emails also include the current PDF. After it's sent the contents are locked, and you can Resend it from the ... menu.

Before sending, review the Email Reply To and custom message. Reply To defaults to your login email, and you can edit it before sending. If **Business profile email** is selected under Settings -> Invoicing -> Invoice -> **Email reply-to**, the field is hidden and replies go to your business email instead.

If the customer has autopay turned on, Send moves out of the action bar and into the **...** menu, where it stays available until the invoice has been sent once. Once your Stripe connection is verified, the action bar shows **Charge Payment Method** in its place — it charges their saved payment method instead of emailing for payment.

> **Where to find it:** On the open invoice, the Send button in the action bar at the top

The **Custom Message** starts with your business’s saved default. To change it for everyone, open **Settings → Quotes & Invoices → Invoicing → Invoice → Default email message** and click **Save changes**. You can still edit it for an individual send. See [Set the pre-filled message for quotes and invoices](/administration/settings/customize-your-invoice-email-and-receipt-templates.md#set-the-pre-filled-message-for-quotes-and-invoices).

## Related guides

* [Customize your invoice email and receipt templates](/administration/settings/customize-your-invoice-email-and-receipt-templates.md)
* [Receipts, Finalize Without Sending, and Resend](/revenue/invoices/receipts-finalize-without-sending-and-resend.md)
* [Why can't I send an invoice?](/revenue/invoices/why-cant-i-send-an-invoice.md)
* [Add a line item to an invoice](/revenue/invoices/add-a-line-item-to-an-invoice.md)
* [Apply a discount to an invoice](/revenue/invoices/apply-a-discount-to-an-invoice.md)
* [Attach files or reports to an invoice](/revenue/invoices/attach-files-or-reports-to-an-invoice.md)


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