Help & onboarding
This guide is written for first-time users who want clear, practical setup steps. Follow the checklist in order and you will be ready to send your first invoice.
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Need a direct answer? Contact support at santiago@sierraservices.ch.
Setup checklist
How to send your first invoice
Work through these steps in order. Most new workspaces can be ready in 10 to 20 minutes.
1. Fill in your workspace profile
Add your business name, address, country, invoice sender, IBAN, and contact details in Settings. If you want your invoices to look branded, upload your logo there as well.
2. Set your next invoice number
If you already invoiced elsewhere, continue from your current numbering so your records stay clean. If this is your first system, you can leave the default next number and the app will format it for you automatically.
3. Add clients manually or import them
Most users add their first few clients manually. Use CSV import only if you are migrating from a spreadsheet or another tool and already have a client list that you want to clean up into the template.
4. Decide whether you need Stripe
Stripe is optional. You only need it if you want clients to pay invoices online by card. If bank transfer or Swiss QR payment is enough, you can skip Stripe for now and finish setup later.
5. Create the first invoice as a draft
Drafts do not count against the free plan limit. Create the invoice, review the PDF, and only send it once the business details, numbering, taxes, and payment notes look correct.
6. Add expenses and keep receipts attached
Expenses help you understand whether the month is actually profitable. You can add an expense manually and attach a receipt image or PDF right away, including a phone photo when you are on a mobile device.
Paid setup help
Need hands-on support?
If you would rather have a human help you configure the workspace, Sierra Invoices offers a CHF 99 onboarding service.
This support can help with
Manual clients vs CSV import
Manual creation is the normal path for small businesses and freelancers. It is faster when you only have a few clients.
CSV import is mainly for migration. If you use it, download the template first and adapt your spreadsheet to the exact columns the app expects.
Free vs Pro
Free workspaces can issue 3 official invoices per calendar month. Drafts stay free until you turn them into official invoices.
Pro costs CHF 19 per month and removes the invoice limit.
Receipts and expenses
Add expenses from the Expenses page and attach the receipt immediately or later from the edit screen.
On phones, the file picker can open the camera so you can take a receipt photo on the spot.
Troubleshooting
An invoice does not look right yet
Keep it as a draft. Check your business profile, sender name, tax lines, invoice numbering, payment notes, and client language before sending.
A client import fails
Download the official template again, make sure the headers match exactly, and check whether duplicate client emails are being skipped.
Stripe is not connected yet
You can still invoice without it. Stripe only matters if you want card payments online. Bank transfer and Swiss QR billing can work without Stripe.
You reached the free invoice limit
Existing invoices stay available. Only the next official invoice is blocked until the new month starts or the workspace upgrades to Pro.
After the first invoice
Send reminders from the invoice workspace
Sent and overdue invoices can be followed up directly from the Invoices page. That keeps collections work in one place.
Use Analytics to understand the month
Analytics shows cash collected, expenses, overdue exposure, and how much of this month's issued work is still open.
Keep receipts attached as you go
Attaching receipt files when you create or edit expenses makes later bookkeeping and review much easier.
Pricing, billing, onboarding, and contact details are also described in the public legal pages.