The Ultimate Invoice Template for Invoicing Clients

Invoices are an integral part of business. When they’re paid on time there’s enough cash to meet payroll and take care of your expenses.

According to a study by Market Invoice, 60% of all invoices are paid late. Some clients are chronic late payers while others might have run into unforeseen circumstances that pushed your invoice to the bottom of the priority list.

Whatever the case, the right invoice template can help you collect your outstanding dues faster without harassing your clients. Everyone wins.

This article outlines how to create an invoice template that saves you time and helps you collect your money as quickly as possible.

Essential information in your invoice template

The information in this section will make your invoice template more effective and, in many cases, compliant with the law. Note: this does not serve as legal or financial advice. Please consult with your accountant or attorney to ensure you’ve complied with all regulations in your area.

Beyond that, when you include this information, your invoice cuts down on a lot of the confusion associated with making a payment.

It should be labeled invoice

An invoice should be labeled clearly with the word Invoice as close to the top as you can get it. If not it can be mistaken for another document such as a receipt.

Business name

This is necessary even if you’re sending it from your business email and your client knows your business name. It’s essential for them because of tax and reporting purposes and it’s essential for you for legal reasons.

Contact Information

Though you’ll cut down on a lot of confusion by including all of this information within your invoice template. It’s important to give them the best method to reach you in case of any questions.

Invoice number

This is important for tracking and staying organized when you want to find past invoices. You can use a date based invoice number or sequential invoice numbers. It doesn’t matter which method you choose. What matters is that you stay consistent with how your invoice templates are numbered.

Invoice date & purchase date

There are two items here. The first one makes it clear when the goods or services in question were delivered. The second one lets them know when the invoice itself was created. This should be immediately after the services were rendered.

Due date

Make it painfully clear when the payment is due. A lot of the confusion associated with invoices stem from the client not understanding this. This is usually a set period after the invoice was generated.

Included with the due date are payment terms. This outlines how long your client has to pay and payment options available.

Amount owed

This is simply the amount your client is to pay.

Bill to

Clearly state who the invoice is meant for, their name, and contact information.

Details of the products sold or services rendered

Itemize what you’re billing your client for. If it’s for hourly work then itemize the hours worked and go into as much detail as necessary. If it’s for fixed work then itemize the deliverables.

Tax amount

This is dependent on your jurisdiction and business type. Be sure to get qualified help before you add tax information to your invoice.

Discounts (if applicable)

Itemize the discount amount and what the discount is.

Additional notes.

The notes portion, though often overlooked, can be a place to add personality or simply thank your client for their continued business.

Include clear payment terms

Payment terms include clauses that tell your client when payments are due but they’re so much more. Clear payment terms are the difference between an invoice template that works and one that gathers dust in the inbox.

Payment terms for your invoice template should contain:

  • How long your client has to pay (usually expressed as net14, net30, etc.)
  • What payment methods you accept
  • How to pay
  • The currency you deal in
  • Late penalties (if you charge them)
  • Fast payment incentives (if you have them)

It can be easy to take these for granted. For example, it may be obvious to your that you bill in US dollars but what’s stopping your client from assuming you bill in Australian dollars? Don’t assume your client knows this, spell it out.

If your payment terms are net30 then spell it out that your client has 30 days from the invoice date to pay.

Most invoices are paid late so it may be in your best interest to create payment terms that have a late payment buffer. For example, if you know you to be paid within 30 days for cash flow reasons, set payment terms for 21 days to ensure even your late payers will meet the internal deadline.

State clearly whether you accept credit cards, bank transfers, or PayPal deposits and give them the details of each of those payment methods.

Remove all jargon and any language that can be misinterpreted by clients.

Provide multiple payment options

Your clients are likely familiar with all types of online payment methods and have a preference. Cater to the way they like to do business by including multiple payment options in your invoice.

Let them click a button and pay by credit card, send money to your PayPal account, or even provide bank details for a wire transfer.

Other things to consider for an effective invoice template

Here are a few remaining items that don’t fit neatly in a subheading but are important for your invoice template.

Keep it on one page

The easier it is to digest your invoice the more likely you are to get paid on time. Even if your invoice stretches across multiple pages, summarize everything on the first page.

Send it as a PDF

Not everyone is honest. If you send the invoice as an editable document, some clients will edit the invoice. Even though you have a copy, they’ll say you sent the edited version.

You have a few options at that point:

  • Accept that you made a mistake and absorb the loss if it’s not too much
  • Correct the mistake and send another invoice and hope they pay on time

Automate the reminder process

No one likes chasing down invoices and it can create a sour note in your client relationships. Automated reminders from a generic email address are just as effective but remove you as an individual from the equation.

You get paid and your client doesn’t feel like you personally hounded them.

Conclusion

Invoicing is a necessary part of any successful business. Unfortunately, not all invoices can be handled automatically, especially when you do a considerable amount of custom work for clients.

The right invoice template will save you time, cut down on confusion, and ensure you get paid on time.

Keep in mind the most important elements of your invoice which I outlined in this article and strive to be clear above all else.

Let me know how you go about creating invoice templates in the comments and don’t forget to share.