Balance Due

What is balance due?

Balance due is simply the amount a client still owes you. If you sent a $1,000 invoice and they've paid $600, the balance due is $400. It's the number that matters most when tracking payments—the amount that needs to clear before an invoice is considered paid in full.

On invoices, the balance due typically appears prominently so clients know exactly what they need to pay.

How balance due is calculated

Balance due accounts for everything that affects what's owed:

• Original invoice total — The starting amount
• Minus payments received — Any partial payments already made
• Minus credits applied — Credit notes or adjustments in the client's favor
• Plus additional charges — Late fees or interest if applicable

Balance due vs. total

The total is the original amount of the invoice. The balance due is what remains unpaid. For a new invoice with no payments, these numbers are the same. Once partial payments come in, the balance due decreases while the original total stays the same for record-keeping.