Proforma invoice
Also called: PI
A preliminary invoice a supplier sends before shipment, confirming quantities, prices and terms, often used to release an advance.
A proforma invoice lists what the supplier expects to deliver and charge: items, quantities, unit prices, payment terms and delivery dates. Mills and factories commonly send one before production, and brands pay an advance against it.
It should match the purchase order and what was agreed.
Where it goes wrong
When a price or quantity changes in a chat, the PI is often issued with the old figures, and the advance is paid before anyone notices.
What Spurby does
Checks every PI against the latest agreement and the PO, and flags a mismatch before an advance is released.
Free template: Garment costing sheet template