Was ist eine Gutschrift? Wie Man Eine Erstellt

What Is a Credit Note? How to Create One (With Examples)

What Is a Credit Note?

A credit note (also called a "credit memo") is a document that reduces what a customer owes you.

It's not a refund. It's a deduction from a future invoice.

Example: ``` Original invoice: $1,000 Client dispute: Overcharged by $100 Credit note issued: -$100 New amount owed: $900 ```

Credit Note vs Refund

Aspect	Credit Note	Refund
Form	Document reducing future debt	Cash/payment back
Timing	Issued, applied to next invoice	Immediate payment
When to use	Regular customer, ongoing relationship	One-time customer, immediate settlement

Rule of thumb: Use a credit note for ongoing customers. Use a refund for one-time transactions.

When to Issue a Credit Note

Issue a credit note when:

✅ You overcharged the client ($500 should have been $400 → issue $100 credit) ✅ Client returns goods/services (sold 10 units, they returned 2 → issue credit) ✅ You made an error on the invoice (invoiced $2,000 instead of $1,800 → issue $200 credit) ✅ Client qualifies for a discount later (retroactive bulk discount → issue credit)

Key Features

1. Explain the reason clearly ``` Credit Note #: CN-2025-008 Reason: Client requested removal of extra page design (not included in original estimate) ```

2. Reference the original invoice ``` Reference Invoice: INV-2025-042 (issued Jan 10) ```

3. Show the adjustment ``` | Description | Original | Adjustment | New Amount | |---|---|---|---| | Website design | $2,500 | -$500 | $2,000 | ```

How to Track Credits

Step 1: Issue the credit note Step 2: Note it in your records as a deduction Step 3: Apply it to the next invoice Step 4: Confirm with the client

[Create professional credit notes free](/create-free-invoice) — organized and clear.