Kanban Your Cash Flow: Turn Tasks Into Invoices Faster

When every card on your board maps to billable work, moving a task to Done should move money into your bank account. With Invoice Master Kanban, it does.

Why Kanban boosts cash flow

• Visual progress → fewer bottlenecks: See stalled work before it delays billing.
• One‑click invoicing: Turn a card (or a batch) into an invoice with line items prefilled.
• Shorter quote‑to‑cash: Faster approvals and cleaner hand‑offs mean earlier payment.
• Clear scope control: Columns and WIP limits prevent overservicing and margin leaks.
• Audit‑ready history: Time‑stamped moves show who did what—and when.

Need instant billing after approvals? See Convert Quotes to Invoices Instantly.

60‑second setup

1. Boards → New Board → “Service Project” template (To‑Do / Doing / Review / Done).
2. Link a client in Board Settings.
3. Add tasks as cards; set price or estimated hours × rate.
4. Toggle “Billable by default.”
5. Start dragging—progress updates in real time.

Pro move: attach contracts, mockups or SOWs so they carry to the invoice.

Column blueprint that speeds payment

| Column | Purpose | Quick Win | |---|---|---| | Backlog | Unapproved ideas | Keep non‑billable items out of scope. | | Ready | Green‑lit work | Only cards here count toward quotes. | | Doing | Active tasks | Log time on the card sidebar. | | Review | Waiting on client approval | Auto‑remind clients every 48 h. | | Done → Invoiced | Finished & billed | Auto‑archive after payment clears. |

From task to invoice (in one click)

• Open a Done card → Create Invoice to auto‑add line items, notes, and taxes.
• Batch bill: multi‑select cards across columns → Generate Invoice to bundle.
• Partial billing: split a card into milestones and invoice as you go.
• Time tracking: convert approved hours into priced lines automatically.

Pair with Automating Recurring Invoices for retainers and maintenance plans.

Control WIP, increase throughput

Set a Work‑In‑Progress limit on Doing (e.g., max 3 cards). When it’s full, no new work starts until something moves forward—shortening cycle time and pulling revenue forward.

Metrics to watch on your board:

• Lead time: Backlog → Done
• Cycle time: Doing → Done
• Throughput: Done cards per week

Deep‑dive your numbers in Dashboard Deep‑Dive.

Client approvals without the email ping‑pong

• Share the board as Viewer for live status—fewer status updates, faster sign‑off.
• Keep feedback on the card via comments.
• Use Approval Required on Review to block invoicing until clients OK the work.

Mobile & team‑friendly

• Fully responsive—drag cards and log time from any phone.
• Role‑based permissions keep boards tidy while enabling collaboration.
• Activity feed shows assignments, edits, and moves for accountability.

Pro workflows

• Recurring cards: Spawn monthly tasks that auto‑invoice when moved to Done.
• Dependencies: Label blockers to surface bottlenecks early.
• Tags & filters: View by project, phase, or priority.
• Project hub: Attach your board to Projects for unified quotes, invoices, and bills.

FAQ

Can I invoice multiple tasks at once?
Yes—bulk‑select cards and click Generate Invoice to bundle them into a single document.

Do boards replace my PM tool?
For many freelancers and small teams, yes. Boards cover task tracking, time logs, approvals, and billing in one place.

How do I share progress with clients?
Invite them as Viewer; they see live status but can’t edit. Add auto‑reminders to Review for approvals.

What about recurring work?
Use Recurring Card; a new card appears on schedule and follows your billing rules.

Is there a mobile view?
Absolutely—manage boards, time logs, and invoices on any device.

5‑minute challenge

1. Create a board and link one active client.
2. Add three current tasks with prices.
3. Move one task to Review, request approval.
4. Drag to Done and Create Invoice.
5. Send it—watch quote‑to‑cash time shrink.

👉 Try Invoice Master free and turn work‑in‑progress into cash‑in‑bank faster.