# Tech store step 8: sell phones on credit and instalments

> Sell a phone or laptop with a down payment and collect the rest in later payments, with pay terms, credit limits and the customer ledger.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/tech-store/step-8-credit-and-instalments/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

Phones and laptops are expensive, so many shops let customers pay in parts: something today and the rest over the next weeks or months. In SmartPOS Hub that is a **sale with part payments**. This page gives the tech-store summary; the [appliance guide's instalment page](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/appliances/step-5-sell-on-instalments/) walks through a full example with screenshots of every step.

## The short version

| Step | Where | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Set terms on the customer | **Customers › Customers › Add** › **Balance & credit** | **Pay term** (for example 1 month) and **Credit Limit** |
| 2. Sell with a down payment | POS **Multiple Pay**, or **Sell › Add Sale** › **Add payment** | Enter only the down payment as the amount. The rest stays due. |
| 2b. Sell with nothing paid | POS **Credit Sale** | The whole invoice is due. |
| 3. Take each instalment | **Sell › All sales** › **Actions › Add payment**, or the customer's page › **Add payment** | Enter the instalment amount and a note such as "Instalment 1 of 3" |
| 4. Check what is left | Customer page › **Ledger** | Total invoice, total paid, **Balance due** |

![Add payment window for invoice NY-00281 showing the customer, total amount, payment method cash, paid on date, amount 260 and the note Instalment 1 of 2](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/instalment-add-payment.BxjWbk7d.png) (web app page: `/sells`)
*Recording an instalment against the original invoice.*

![Customer ledger with account summary showing total invoice 721.65, total paid 460.00 and balance due 261.65, and lines for the sale and two payments](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/customer-ledger-instalments.BHDFCumZ.png) (web app page: `/contacts/…`)
*The ledger shows the sale, each payment and the balance still due.*

**Tip:** 
Write the plan in the sale note (for example "Down payment 200, then 2 monthly payments") so every cashier knows the agreement. Print or send the ledger with **Send ledger** on the customer page.

## Repairs paid in advance

A deposit on a repair job sheet is a customer advance. When you convert the job to an invoice, use **Store credit (advance)** for the deposit amount. See [step 7](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/tech-store/step-7-run-repair-jobs/).

Next: [daily operations](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/tech-store/daily-operations/).

  - [Credit and part payments](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/credit-and-partial-payments/)
  - [Customer credit limits and advances](https://docs.smartposhub.com/selling/customer-credit-limits-and-advances/)
  - [Customer ledger](https://docs.smartposhub.com/customers/customer-ledger/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Is there a separate instalment plan feature?

No. Instalments are part payments on one invoice. You take a down payment at the sale, set a pay term for the due date, and record each later payment against the same invoice. The invoice shows Partial until it is fully paid.

### Can the customer pay instalments at another branch?

Yes. Payments are recorded on the invoice from Sell › All sales or from the customer's page, whichever branch you are in, and each payment goes into the payment account you choose.

### How do I stop a customer from owing too much?

Set a Credit Limit on the customer. When a new sale would take their unpaid balance over the limit, the sale is stopped with a Customer Credit Limit Exceeded message.

### Can I add interest or a fee for paying in instalments?

Not automatically. Add the fee as a separate service product on the sale, or build it into the price.

### Where do I see who is late?

Reports › Payment by Age groups unpaid invoices by how long they are overdue, and the Supplier & Customer Report shows each customer's total due.