Billing projects by milestone

When may a milestone be invoiced?

When the contract's trigger has occurred: signing, a delivery date, or the client's written acceptance (Abnahme).

Valtor holds a milestone that depends on acceptance until the evidence exists. Your client receives a secure link to confirm acceptance and upload the evidence.

How do deposits and the final invoice fit together?

A deposit (Anzahlung) is invoiced before the work, often on signing. The final invoice (Schlussrechnung) states the full price and deducts the advance payments received before the work and the VAT on them, as § 14 (5) UStG requires.

Valtor records which deposit belongs to which final invoice, so the deduction is never forgotten.

Example: a €54,000 project with a 30% deposit — €16,200 on signing, stage payments once the concept and the campaign launch are accepted, and a final invoice for the full price less the deposit.

What if acceptance never arrives?

The milestone stays held, and the responsible person is reminded. Nothing is invoiced on the assumption that the client accepted.

If the project changes, the change is recorded as an amendment and the calendar is recalculated from it.

What does a milestone invoice need?

• The service and the contract it belongs to.
• The date or period of the service.
• The purchase-order number, where the client requires one.
• On the final invoice, the deducted advance payments with their VAT.

Questions and answers