> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.kneadapp.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Your First Order — End to End

> Follow an order from enquiry to delivery in Knead.

## Overview

Every order in Knead follows the same lifecycle: a customer submits a request through The Board, you review it, and the order moves through a series of statuses until it is fulfilled. This guide walks you through each stage.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/kneadapp/QI-UYIeV8ml85IEr/images/gs-orders-board.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QI-UYIeV8ml85IEr&q=85&s=f193e8a0d948dbce0b38543dde15991b" alt="The Board showing orders list with status badges, client names, products, and due dates" width="1440" height="900" data-path="images/gs-orders-board.png" />

## Stage 1: Customer Submits an Enquiry

A customer visits your Board link, browses your products, selects what they want, picks a date, and submits an order request. This lands in your orders list as an **Enquiry**.

You receive a notification when a new enquiry comes in. No commitment has been made yet on either side.

## Stage 2: Review the Enquiry

1. Tap **Orders** in the sidebar.
2. Find the new enquiry at the top of the list.
3. Tap the enquiry to open the details.

Review what the customer is asking for: products, quantities, variants, requested date, and any notes they included. Check The Sweet Spot if you need to confirm you have capacity for that date.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/kneadapp/QI-UYIeV8ml85IEr/images/gs-order-enquiry.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QI-UYIeV8ml85IEr&q=85&s=e9b922a909add502f7cf3da7af9a997e" alt="Order detail showing a pending review enquiry with line items, delivery date, client info, and Accept Order button" width="1440" height="900" data-path="images/gs-order-enquiry.png" />

## Stage 3: Accept the Enquiry

Once you are ready to take the order:

1. Tap **Accept** on the enquiry detail screen.
2. The status changes from **Enquiry** to **Accepted**.

The customer receives an email letting them know their order has been accepted. If the order does not work for you, you can decline it with an optional message.

<Tip>Pro tip: Accept or decline enquiries within 24 hours. Fast responses build trust and lead to repeat customers.</Tip>

## Stage 4: Send an Invoice

With the order accepted, it is time to get paid.

1. Tap **Create Invoice** on the order detail screen.
2. Review the line items. Knead pre-fills them from the order details.
3. Adjust quantities, add extras, or apply discounts if needed.
4. Tap **Send Invoice**.

The customer receives the invoice by email with a link to pay online. If you have Stripe connected, they can pay by card immediately.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/kneadapp/QI-UYIeV8ml85IEr/images/gs-order-accepted.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QI-UYIeV8ml85IEr&q=85&s=cf08186789a4db41c08a785c965dc596" alt="Accepted order showing line items, delivery date, and invoice creation options" width="1440" height="900" data-path="images/gs-order-accepted.png" />

## Stage 5: Customer Pays

When the customer pays through the invoice link, the order status automatically updates to **Paid**. You receive a notification confirming payment.

If you accept cash, check, or other offline payments, you can manually mark the invoice as paid.

<Note>Good to know: You can require a deposit upfront and collect the balance later. See the invoicing guide for deposit setup.</Note>

## Stage 6: Move to Production

When bake day arrives:

1. Open the order and tap **Start Production**.
2. The status changes to **In Production**.

This is your signal that the order is actively being worked on. If you use The Pass, this order now appears in your production checklist for the day.

## Stage 7: Mark Complete

Once everything is baked, packaged, and ready:

1. Tap **Mark Complete** on the order.
2. The status changes to **Complete**.

The customer receives a notification that their order is ready. If delivery is involved, coordinate the handoff from here.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/kneadapp/QI-UYIeV8ml85IEr/images/gs-order-completed.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=QI-UYIeV8ml85IEr&q=85&s=4620da5a09efa416d221d02414c9fb8d" alt="Completed order showing final status, order summary, and delivery details" width="1440" height="900" data-path="images/gs-order-completed.png" />

## The Full Status Flow

Here is the complete progression at a glance:

1. **Enquiry** — Customer submitted, waiting for your review.
2. **Accepted** — You confirmed you can fulfill the order.
3. **Invoiced** — Invoice sent, waiting for payment.
4. **Paid** — Payment received.
5. **In Production** — You are baking.
6. **Complete** — Order fulfilled and delivered or picked up.

Each status change triggers a customer notification so they always know where things stand. For a full breakdown of every status and what it means, see [order statuses explained](/managing-orders/order-statuses-explained).

<Tip>Pro tip: Use The Counter each morning to see which orders need action. It surfaces orders that are waiting for your next step.</Tip>

## Related Articles

* [Understanding The Counter](/understanding-the-counter)
* [Order Statuses Explained](/managing-orders/order-statuses-explained)
* [Creating and Sending Invoices](/invoicing-and-payments/creating-and-sending-invoices)
* [Using The Pass](/production/using-the-pass)
* [Reviewing and Accepting Enquiries](/managing-orders/reviewing-and-accepting-enquiries)

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*Still need help? [Contact us](mailto:hello@kneadapp.co)*