# Create and share an invoice (/help-center/invoices)



An invoice gives your customer a payment link. They choose a supported coin and network, see the payment instructions, and pay through MolnPay's hosted checkout.

## Create your payment request [#create-your-payment-request]

Open **Payments → Invoices** and choose **New invoice**.

<AppPicture name="invoice" alt="The New invoice form with a 250 dollar design consultation, an order reference, expiry choices, and accepted coins." caption="Fill in the request before sharing its checkout link. The values shown are examples." />

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Enter the amount and description [#enter-the-amount-and-description]

    Enter the **Amount** in USD. Use **Title** and **Description** to tell the payer what the payment is for. **Your reference** connects it to an order or record in your own system.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Add customer details if needed [#add-customer-details-if-needed]

    The customer fields let you attach a name, email, and their ID on your platform. Use the details that help you recognize the payment later.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Choose expiry and accepted coins [#choose-expiry-and-accepted-coins]

    Choose an expiry from the available presets. The form defaults to 30 minutes. With no coin selections, the invoice accepts every available coin offered by the form; choose particular coins to narrow that list.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Review and create [#review-and-create]

    Check the amount, reference, and expiry, then create the invoice. Copy its payment link from the result and send it to your customer. You can return to **Invoices** to follow its status.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What your customer does [#what-your-customer-does]

The checkout page presents the available payment options. Your customer chooses a coin and network, then follows the address and amount shown for that option. The coin and network must match the checkout instructions.

If you add **After paying** or **If they give up** URLs, checkout can return the customer to your site. A browser returning to your site does not by itself prove the invoice was paid; check the invoice status.

## Why can't I create an invoice? [#why-cant-i-create-an-invoice]

A live merchant needs an active, funded plan. If the screen says the plan is inactive or the fee balance is exhausted, follow its **Plan & billing** link. At least one available network must also be able to issue addresses. [Check your networks](/help-center/networks).

## Follow the payment [#follow-the-payment]

[Understand payment statuses](/help-center/payment-status) explains what paid, underpaid, and expired mean. Developers can use [signed webhooks](/guides/webhooks) to receive payment updates automatically.