No-Code System to Auto-Create Client Invoices Using Stripe + Make.com

Getting paid is the best part of business. Creating invoices is the worst.

If you are a freelancer or solopreneur, you probably have a "Friday Admin" ritual where you log into Stripe, copy transaction details, paste them into a Word doc, save as PDF, and email it to the client.

It's boring, prone to typos, and completely unnecessary.

In this guide, I'll show you how to build an Auto-Invoicing Machine. When a client pays you via Stripe, this system will instantly generate a branded PDF invoice and email it to them.

Time to build: 25 minutes Tools required: Stripe, Make.com, Google Docs, Gmail

Why Automate Invoicing?

Beyond saving you 10 minutes per client, automating invoices has hidden benefits:

Professionalism: Your client gets a receipt seconds after paying. It looks like you have a finance department.

Accuracy: No more "Oops, I typed $50 instead of $500". The data comes straight from the bank transaction.

Compliance: You automatically create a paper trail for every single dollar that enters your business.

The Workflow Blueprint

Trigger: Stripe detects a successful payment (charge.succeeded).

Generate: Make.com takes the data and fills out a Google Doc template.

Convert: The Google Doc is downloaded as a PDF.

Deliver: The PDF is emailed to the client.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Phase 1: Create Your Invoice Template

Open Google Docs and create a new document.

Design your invoice. Add your logo, address, and footer.

Crucial Step: Add "Merge Tags" where the dynamic data will go. Use double curly braces:

* {{CustomerName}}

* {{InvoiceDate}}

* {{Description}}

* {{Amount}}

Name the document "Invoice Template - MASTER" and save it in a specific Google Drive folder.

Phase 2: Configure Make.com

Step 1: The Stripe Trigger

Create a new Scenario in Make.

Add the Stripe module.

Select "Watch Events".

Connect your Stripe account (you'll need your API key from the Stripe Dashboard).

Select the event charge.succeeded.

Step 2: Format the Data (Optional but Recommended)

Stripe sends amounts in cents (e.g., $100.00 comes as 10000).

Add a Tools module -> Set Variable.

Name it FormattedAmount.

Value: {{Amount / 100}}.

Step 3: Create the Document

Add the Google Docs module.

Select "Create a Document from a Template".

Choose your "Invoice Template - MASTER" file.

Map the fields:

* {{CustomerName}} -> Stripe: Billing Details: Name

* {{Amount}} -> FormattedAmount (from Step 2)

* {{Description}} -> Stripe: Description

* {{InvoiceDate}} -> Created (Format this using Make's formatDate function: MM/DD/YYYY).

Title: Set the new file name to Invoice - {{CustomerName}} - {{Date}}.

Step 4: Download as PDF

Add another Google Docs module.

Select "Download a Document".

Map the Document ID from the previous step.

Select Format: PDF.

Step 5: Email the Client

Add the Gmail module.

Select "Send an Email".

To: Stripe: Billing Details: Email (or Receipt Email).

Subject: "Invoice for your purchase from [Your Name]".

Attachments: Select the PDF file from the "Download a Document" module.

Phase 3: Test and Launch

Run the scenario once.

Go to Stripe and create a test payment (or use a past real payment ID if testing manually).

Check your email. Did you get the PDF?

Open the PDF. Is the math right? Is the name right?

Advanced Enhancements

1. Save to Google Drive

Want a backup? Add a Google Drive "Upload a File" module to save the generated PDF into a "Client Invoices/2025" folder for your own records.

2. QuickBooks/Xero Sync

Instead of just making a PDF, add a module for your accounting software to create the invoice record there officially. This keeps your books balanced automatically.

3. Slack Notification

"New Payment! $200 from John Doe. Invoice sent."

Add a Slack module to celebrate the win.

Real-World Example: The "Digital Product" Seller

I sell a $49 ebook. Stripe handles the payment, but doesn't send a customizable PDF invoice that meets EU VAT requirements.

* Old Way: Customers would email me "Hey, can I get a VAT invoice?" and I'd have to make one manually.

* New Way: This automation runs for every sale. It calculates the VAT, adds my tax ID to the footer, and sends it. I never hear "Can I get a receipt?" anymore.

Conclusion

Your time is worth more than data entry. By automating your invoicing, you remove friction from your sales process and give yourself the freedom to focus on earning the money, not just accounting for it.

Ready to build this?

* Get your free Make.com account here

* Stripe API Documentation

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