---
title: "What is a sales order?"
description: "A sales order is an agreed sale before it is invoiced. See when to use it."
url: https://support.sapera.io/en/articles/655-what-is-a-sales-order
collection: "The Sapera glossary"
updated: 2026-07-01
language: en
alternates: [da]
---

# What is a sales order?

A sales order is an agreed sale before it is invoiced. See when to use it.

A sales order is a record of a sale you have agreed with a customer but have not yet invoiced. It is used when time passes between agreement and delivery — for example when goods have to be ordered in, reserved or delivered later.

## What it does

-   Holds the agreement: which items, quantities and prices the customer has said yes to.
    
-   Can reserve goods so they are not sold to someone else.
    
-   Later becomes an invoice, when the goods are delivered or paid for.
    

## Sales order vs. invoice

The sales order is the commitment; the **invoice** is the actual settlement that is posted to the accounts. A sales order does not affect the accounts until it becomes an invoice.

Read more in [Sales orders](https://support.sapera.io/en/collections/183) and see quick how-tos in [Sales order (quickguides)](https://support.sapera.io/en/collections/252).