How To Create an Invoice: Guide for Businesses

how to prepare an invoice

Invoices are typically issued after goods or services have been provided, but the exact timing can vary depending on the type of business, agreement with the client, or industry standards. If you’re looking for a full-featured, professional invoicing experience tied to powerful accounting features, Intuit QuickBooks absolutely earns its place at the top. Once you upload a CSV or enter a customer’s details manually, FreshBooks creates a dedicated space that tracks all transactions with them, complete with a visual chart of outstanding revenue. Clients can also pay invoices directly through the portal using integrated payment gateways. Plus, the portal reveals outstanding receivables, unused credits, payment terms and a visual summary of income and expenses over the past 6–12 months.

Commercial invoice template

how to prepare an invoice

Microsoft Word is an indispensable tool for many businesses—not only as a word processor but as a key invoicing apparatus. If you already have access to the Microsoft Office Suite, select a template you can edit in Word or Excel. If you prefer the Google range, choose the Google Doc or Google Sheets invoice templates to get started. You will still have the option to save all of these as a PDF file once you have finished editing. Freshbooks offers several free, professional-looking invoice templates, including a functional yet flexible invoice template for Microsoft Word. Follow up on overdue invoices and maintain records for accounting purposes.

how to prepare an invoice

Itemizing Rendered Services

This article will cover how to pay domestic and international invoices on time, using different methods. You can also find some tips on how to get a customer to pay an invoice. There may be a discrepancy between the sum of money listed and what you thought you had to pay. The invoice payment method you choose can also make a difference in fees, speed, and practicality. Whether you run a business or fly solo, invoice payments can cause headaches.

  • Design visual brand experiences for your business whether you are a seasoned designer or a total novice.
  • You can also find invoice templates in Microsoft Word and Google Docs that you can customize and save.
  • Every payment method you allow should be secure for the sake of your business and your customers.
  • Add any late payment policies, like interest, if the invoice hasn’t been paid by the due date.
  • It works well for general invoicing, but not so much for a specialized invoice like a credit or debit invoice.
  • Rho is a fintech company, not a bank or an FDIC-insured depository institution.

Use an invoice template

how to prepare an invoice

Keep these notes concise and relevant to avoid overwhelming the client with too much information. It breaks down the billable hours spent on specific tasks or projects, the hourly rate, and the total amount due. Proforma invoices are often used in international trade to declare the value of goods for customs.

Best Practices for Successful Invoicing

  • Modify this invoice with your own details and brand colors, and share it online, send off in an email or download in high-quality PDF format with bleed marks for printing purposes.
  • If you’re VAT-registered, then you need to be using VAT invoices.
  • You can create an invoice manually using programs like Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or Word.
  • For example, describing conditions under which customers can return or exchange items can help avoid disputes and late payments.

If you email your invoice directly from Invoice Simple, you will receive a notification when your customer views the invoice. The notification is useful for following up with clients to confirm payment. Use a unique invoice number and include both the issue date and due date. This helps with tracking and ensures everyone’s aligned on timelines. In the following sections, we will dive deeper into creating the perfect invoice. But before we do we will share with you a free invoice template so you can follow along with our tips by working on your invoice at the same time.

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how to prepare an invoice

But manual invoicing processes can Opening Entry be time-consuming, and invoices can look unprofessional. Invoice generators streamline the essential invoicing process, which can speed up how quickly you get paid. Use this guide and the provided examples to streamline your invoicing process and ensure timely payments. It is important to be aware of the elements to be included in your invoice, and also to present them effectively so that your customer understands the invoice and makes the payment promptly. Fortunately, creating the perfect invoice is easy with efficient online invoicing software like Zoho Invoice. Take the stress out of billing with InvoiceOwl’s free professional invoice templates and tools.

how to prepare an invoice

Making your invoice look professional is one of the most crucial aspects of invoicing and should be taken more seriously. Understand legal rules, tax responsibilities, and how to avoid misclassification with this guide. You can find a breakdown of all the fees, as well as some tips on how to save money, in the full article.

  • An interesting feature is Zoho’s Customer Portal, from which clients can view, comment on and approve estimates or quotes you send them.
  • Different businesses and transactions require various types of invoices.
  • This clear guide will help businesses who need to invoice international clients.
  • See our guide to available invoicing features for more detail on all your options.
  • Double-check your calculations to ensure accuracy, as errors can undermine your professionalism and delay payments.
  • Start by using an invoice template that includes all essential components like your details, the client’s information, an invoice number, and a clear breakdown of services.
  • They are crucial for businesses that need to adjust billing amounts post-transaction and ensure all services or products are adequately billed.

However, you can start off by sending an outstanding invoice to remind the client about the overdue amount. Once satisfied with the template, you QuickBooks can generate the invoice, deliver it to a client, or store it online. Follow this simple step-by-step process to generate custom invoices with Docupilot. Using a document management system, such as Dropbox, can also help you streamline the invoicing process by storing, managing and retrieving statements. This means the client has 30 days from the invoice date to pay you. You should also include the invoice date (the date you created the invoice) and when the payment is due.