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

# Parties & Counterparties

> Contact records and merchant relationships before creating invoices or orders.

A **party** is a contact record — a person or entity identified by name, phone, and optional email/country.

<Note>
  **API Reference:** [Create party](/api-reference/parties/create-party) · [List parties](/api-reference/parties/list-parties) · [Retrieve party](/api-reference/parties/retrieve-parties)
</Note>

Use parties for anyone you collect from or pay out to.

## Counterparty

A **counterparty** links a party to **your merchant account** with a relationship type:

| Type               | Typical use          |
| ------------------ | -------------------- |
| `CUSTOMER`         | Paying you           |
| `SUPPLIER`         | You pay them         |
| `EMPLOYEE`         | Payroll              |
| `BENEFICIARY`      | Payout recipient     |
| `FRIEND`           | Personal contact     |
| `FAMILY`           | Family member        |
| `DONOR`            | Donation source      |
| `DONEE`            | Donation recipient   |
| `CONTACT`          | General contact      |
| `SERVICE_PROVIDER` | Vendor or contractor |
| `PARTNER`          | Business partner     |
| `SELF`             | Your own entity      |

Invoices and orders in the document-first flow require a `counterparty_id`.

## Checkout shortcut

`POST /v1/checkouts/create` can create or match party and counterparty from payer details in one request. See [Collect via checkout](/guides/collect-via-checkout) or [Hosted checkout](/guides/hosted-checkout).

<Info>
  Customers do **not** need a Dollr account to pay via a payment link — they complete payment in the browser with mobile money or card.
</Info>

## Invoice vs order

|          | Invoice                       | Order              |
| -------- | ----------------------------- | ------------------ |
| Number   | Auto-generated invoice number | Order number       |
| Due date | Supported                     | Optional           |
| Best for | B2B billing, formal invoices  | E-commerce, retail |

Both can be published and collected through checkout sessions or [hosted checkout](/guides/hosted-checkout).

## Related

* [Quick Start](/quickstart) — create party → counterparty → invoice
* [Invoices](/api/invoices) · [Orders](/api/orders) · [Checkouts](/api/checkouts)