Proforma invoice or invoice: what's the difference
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A proforma invoice says what something will cost and asks for payment. An invoice confirms that the work was done or the goods delivered. They look alike, but in your records they behave in completely different ways.
The difference in short
A proforma invoice (predračun) is issued before the supply and is not proof that any supply took place. An invoice (faktura) is issued for a supply that did take place, and it goes into your books.
| Proforma invoice | Invoice | |
|---|---|---|
| When it's issued | Before delivery or before work starts | Once the work is done or the goods delivered |
| What it's for | A quote and a request for payment in advance | A record of the supply |
| KPO book | Not entered | Entered |
| 6 million limit and 8 million threshold | Doesn't count | Counts |
| Numbering | Its own, separate from invoices | Its own |
| Date of supply | None | Required |
When to issue a proforma invoice
- When you work for a client for the first time and ask for payment up front.
- When a company needs a document to approve payment before delivery.
- When a client wants a quote with the exact amount before placing an order.
A proforma is optional. If you and the client agree that they pay once the work is done, you issue only the invoice.
What a proforma invoice shows
Almost the same details as an invoice: your details and the buyer’s, a number, a date, line items with prices, the total and payment details. There are three differences: the document clearly says PROFORMA INVOICE (PREDRAČUN), it has its own numbering separate from invoices, and it has no date of supply, because no supply has happened yet. It also helps to say how long the offer is valid.
“Profaktura” is another Serbian name for the same document. What the invoice itself must show is covered in How to make an invoice in Serbia.
When the client pays
A payment against a proforma doesn’t close the matter. When you finish the work or deliver the goods, you issue an invoice for that supply, and only the invoice goes into the KPO book and into the turnover that counts toward the limit. On the invoice you can mention the proforma number that was paid, so the client can see the bill is already settled.
If you are in the VAT system, a payment in advance is an advance (avans) and special rules apply to it (an advance invoice, avansni račun). Agree with your accountant how to record it.
In Fakturio a proforma has its own numbering and never counts toward turnover or receivables. When the client pays, you turn the proforma into an invoice from History, without retyping the line items.
Common questions
Does a proforma invoice go into the KPO book?
No. The invoice goes into the KPO book. More about the book in Invoicing as a flat-rate entrepreneur.
Can I issue an invoice without a proforma?
Yes. A proforma is issued only when it’s needed.
Does a proforma invoice have to be signed?
No, and neither does an invoice. Add a signature if the client asks for one.