Quote vs Invoice
The difference between the estimate you accept before work starts and the bill you settle after delivery — and how they connect.
This is the single most common point of confusion on Fingaon, so it is worth two minutes.
| Quote | Invoice | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Before work starts | After delivery |
| Purpose | Estimate you accept to authorise the work | Bill that settles the engagement |
| Who acts | Client reviews and accepts | Client pays the net amount due |
| Can change? | It is a proposal until accepted | It reflects what actually happened |
How they connect
A quote and its final invoice are linked. The invoice is built from the accepted quote, then reconciled against anything already paid during delivery.
Quote
Invoice
Why an invoice can differ from the quote
An invoice reflects reality, so it can legitimately differ from the original estimate when:
- Pass-through costs (government fees, deposits) were added during delivery.
- Interim pay orders were already collected — these are subtracted, so the invoice shows a smaller net payable.
- The scope changed and the firm agreed a revision with you.
Net payable
The final invoice shows net payable = total charges + service fee − already paid. If you paid pay orders along the way, the invoice's due amount is lower than the headline total — that is expected. See Pay Order vs Invoice.
If your invoice still looks wrong, see Why is my invoice different from my quote?.