# How to split the design fee across project stages

Source: https://archiboard.design/help/how-to/design-fee-stages

The design fee is often paid in parts: an advance at the start and a share after each stage. In ArchiBoard these invoices are created automatically from the design stages. The client sees them in the portal, and you see how much has already been paid.

1. **Open client invoices.** Open the project → «Project finances» → the «Studio bills to the client» block. Click «Fee by stage».
2. **Enter the fee and advance.** Enter the «Design fee» and «Advance, %». The advance is invoiced at the project start.
3. **Split the shares across stages.** Set the share of each design stage. The total must be 100%. A stage's share is invoiced on its end date.
4. **Create the invoices.** Click «Create bills». The list shows «Design project, advance» and «Design project: stage, %» invoices with due dates.

- If the project has no design stages, the whole fee is invoiced as an advance.
- Client payments are taken from «From client» transactions and settle invoices in order of due date. Each invoice shows «Paid X of Y».
- Procurement and supervision are calculated separately; their invoices don't change.
- Creating them again replaces the current «Design project» invoices.