# What is the Difference Between Sales and Sales Order

**URL:** <https://community.getswipe.in/t/what-is-the-difference-between-sales-and-sales-order/2790>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [April 5, 2025, 4:30am UTC](https://community.getswipe.in/t/what-is-the-difference-between-sales-and-sales-order/2790 "2025-04-05T04:30:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![swipe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@swipe](https://community.getswipe.in/u/swipe)\
**Post date:** [April 5, 2025, 4:30am UTC](https://community.getswipe.in/t/what-is-the-difference-between-sales-and-sales-order/2790/1 "2025-04-05T04:30:34Z")

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_Sales_

- A **Sale** is a **completed transaction**.
- It means the product/service has been delivered, and the payment (full or partial) has either been received or is due.
- In Swipe, it’s typically used when the sale is **finalized** and you’re generating a bill/invoice.

**Example** : You sell 10 pens to a customer, give them the items, and maybe collect payment — that’s recorded as a **Sale**.

_Sales Order_

- A **Sales Order** is more like a **commitment or intent to buy** , not a finalized transaction yet.
- The customer places an order, but the items may not have been delivered or invoiced yet.
- It’s useful for tracking **pending or upcoming sales**.

**Example** : A customer says, “I want 10 pens next week.” You enter this as a **Sales Order** — it’s not a sale yet, just a record of the order.