[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-190110-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":81,"doc-detail-190110-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","proforma-invoice-vs-invoice","Proforma Invoice vs Invoice","","This document compares and contrasts proforma invoices with regular invoices, providing a clear definition, purpose, and bookkeeping implications for each. A proforma invoice serves as a good faith estimate of pricing and terms before a purchase order is issued, acting as a negotiation tool and precursor to a sale. It does not include an invoice number and is not recorded in bookkeeping as it is neither a financial record nor a legal document. In contrast, a regular invoice is a legally binding document issued after a purchase agreement has been struck but before payment, containing full transaction details and a mandatory invoice number. It confirms the actual sale and requires financial entries by both parties. The document elucidates that proforma invoices are accepted as a precursor to a sale, while regular invoices are accepted as confirmation of a sale, highlighting their distinct roles in the transaction process.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/invoices/","Invoices",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/proforma-invoice-vs-invoice/190110/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/proforma-invoice-vs-invoice/190110.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Terk","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-09-26","2026-09-03",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",7,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is the primary difference between a proforma invoice and a regular invoice?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"A proforma invoice is a good faith estimate before a purchase, while a regular invoice is a legally binding confirmation of a sale after an agreement and before payment.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"When is a proforma invoice typically issued and accepted?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"A proforma invoice is issued before a purchase order and accepted as a precursor to the actual sale, serving as a negotiation tool for final details.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What are the bookkeeping implications for proforma and regular invoices?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Proforma invoices are not recorded in bookkeeping because they are not legal or financial documents, whereas regular invoices result in financial entries for both buyer and seller as they confirm a binding transaction.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},190110,1788400782,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,89,94,98,103,108,113,118,123],{"id":85,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":86,"show_sort_weight":87,"slug":88},11,"Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":90,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":91,"show_sort_weight":92,"slug":93},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":95,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":97},14,70,"invoices",{"id":99,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":100,"show_sort_weight":101,"slug":102},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":104,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":105,"show_sort_weight":106,"slug":107},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":109,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":110,"show_sort_weight":111,"slug":112},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":114,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":115,"show_sort_weight":116,"slug":117},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":119,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":124,"doc_module":22,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":126},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":128},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":129,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":22,"category_id":95,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":136,"language":137,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":138,"faqs":139,"seo_title":140,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":80,"read_time":26},1099525198933,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_155a257f0dc6eb9ab79c44ca47cae57d","| DESCRIPTION | PROFORMA INVOICE | INVOICE |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Definition: | Provides a good faith estimate of the pricing and terms for a given transaction, as well asa detailed description of the goods and services to be sold. Does not include an invoice number. | A legally binding document containing full details of goods and services to be provided in a given transaction. Must include an invoice number. |\n| Document Type: | A quotation. | A bill. |\n| Issued: | Before a purchase order is issued. | After a purchase agreement has been struck but before payment has been made. |\n| Accepted: | As a precursor to the actual sale. | As confirmation of the actual sale. |\n\n\n| Purpose: | A negotiation tool to help buyers or importers who are actively committed to making a purchase iron out the final details of the order and make a decision about whether to place it based on the information provided. | To provide the buyer or importer with the amount due for payment. |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Bookkeeping: | Not recorded, as the invoice is neither a financial record nor a legal document. | Financial entries are created by the seller and buyer to reflect a legally-binding transaction. |","cbCaitc3cOWwSQQi","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaitc3cOWwSQQi","pdf",146112,6,"English","# Proforma Invoice vs Invoice\n## Definition\n## Document Type\n## Issued\n## Accepted\n## Purpose\n## Bookkeeping","[{\"question\":\"What is the primary difference between a proforma invoice and a regular invoice?\",\"answer\":\"A proforma invoice is a good faith estimate before a purchase, while a regular invoice is a legally binding confirmation of a sale after an agreement and before payment.\"},{\"question\":\"When is a proforma invoice typically issued and accepted?\",\"answer\":\"A proforma invoice is issued before a purchase order and accepted as a precursor to the actual sale, serving as a negotiation tool for final details.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the bookkeeping implications for proforma and regular invoices?\",\"answer\":\"Proforma invoices are not recorded in bookkeeping because they are not legal or financial documents, whereas regular invoices result in financial entries for both buyer and seller as they confirm a binding transaction.\"}]","Proforma Invoice vs Invoice | PDF"]