---
title: "Record client payments"
description: "Client payments in a project split into two categories: labor and materials. Labor payments can be tied to specific completed checklist items, so you know exactly what's been settled."
locale: en
category: projects
slug: client-payments
updatedAt: 2026-05-06
---
# Record client payments

During a project the client usually pays you several times: deposits, progress payments after stages, advances toward materials. Each payment goes into Bulido and you can see at a glance what's been paid and what's still outstanding. Payments are split into two categories that match how you bill the client.

## Two payment categories

- **Labor**: payments for work done. Usually larger amounts, billed when specific stages are complete.
- **Materials**: payments toward the cost of materials. Usually advances you spend on specific purchases, with a final balance at the end.

Each payment has its own date, amount, optional title, and optional note.

## Adding a labor payment

In the project, go to **Settlements → Labor** and click **+ Add payment**. The **Add labor payment** dialog opens with these fields:

- **Amount** (required).
- **Paid on** (required).
- **Title (optional)**: e.g. *Deposit*, *After plumbing*, *Bathroom finish*.
- **Note (optional)**: your own notes, hidden from the client.
- **Settled items**: the list of completed tasks from the checklist that you can tie to this payment.

Click **Save payment** and the entry lands in the payment history.

## Tying a payment to checklist items

The **Settled items** section is unique to labor payments. It lists tasks that:

- Are **completed** (marked done in the checklist).
- Aren't already tied to an earlier payment.

Tick the ones you want to settle with this payment and they get a **Settled** badge. Bulido tracks how much money is owed for completed work and flags it when the client falls behind. The project view shows *Value of {n} unsettled services: {amount}*.

If you'd rather not bill per service (a lump sum instead), the payment dialog has an option to disable this feature for the project.

## Adding a materials payment

In the **Settlements → Materials** tab, in the **Client payments** section, click **+ Add payment** → **Add materials payment**. Same fields as labor (amount, date, title, note), but without the settled-items section. Materials are reconciled by balance (payments minus expenses), not item by item.

## Balance and history

Each settlements tab shows metrics at the top:

- **Labor**: *Work value*, *Paid*, *Remaining*.
- **Materials**: *Client payments*, *Expenses*, *Balance*.

Below the metrics sits the payment history with dates, amounts, and titles. Each payment can be edited or deleted (with confirmation: *"Delete this payment?"*).

## What's next

- [Run the project checklist](/helpcenter/projects/checklist)
- [Log materials expenses](/helpcenter/projects/project-expenses)
- [Share project progress with the client](/helpcenter/projects/sharing-project)