Invoicing made easy: How to get paid
author
Majella Dempsey
published
Aug 22, 2024
categories
Article
read time
3 mins

Invoices are intimidating; but they don't have to be difficult. An invoice template can make a hard job easy. We explain what you need to include, and where to get one.
Table of Contents
1. What your invoice needs to include
2. Creating an invoice from a template
3. Advantages of using an invoice template
- 1. What your invoice needs to include
- 2. Creating an invoice from a template
- 3. Advantages of using an invoice template
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In every industry, whether it’s providing a service or product, someone needs to get paid. Entering financial details is as common as coffee breaks. But bridging these transactions is a crucial document: the invoice.
And behind every smooth sale and prompt payment is an unsung hero: the invoice template. These templates might not wear capes, but they know a thing or two about saving your skin.
Invoices get you paid, so it’s important to get them right. Whether you’re contracting for the first time or you’ve hopped back on the invoicing horse after taking a salary, writing up a demand for money can be intimidating.
If you’re here, you’ve likely been bombarded with an internal flood of questions and doubts surrounding invoicing: what if I forget an important bit of information? What if it’s not legally binding for some reason? What does someone actually need to know in order to pay the invoice?
Don’t worry, it’s normal to have these concerns when creating an invoice at first (or even after a while). The good news is you only have to get it right once, then you’re all set up for ongoing work.
What your invoice needs to include
Several key pieces of information contribute to a successful invoice:
- addresses: include the complete address of both you and the recipient.
- date: your invoice should be dated the day you complete it.
- payment owed: include an itemized list of services/products you delivered and the cost of each. Clarify whether it’s an hourly, daily or per-project rate and how much this is.
- due by date: include a line at the bottom of each invoice clarifying when payment is due. This is commonly along the lines of: “Payment is due within 30 days of receiving this invoice.”
- invoice number: attribute a unique number to each invoice you create. These are usually sequential - the first invoice is INV001, the second is INV002 and so on. Feel free to create any number/labelling system that works for you - it’s for your files, not theirs.
Our hot tip? Use an invoice template to figure out what from the above goes where.
Creating an invoice from a template
Sure, there are plenty of ways to make an invoice. You could ask a friend for a look at how they do things, knock up one of your own (now you know what needs to go in it), or try the easiest option: create your invoice with a blank invoice template. This takes away some of the guesswork that often comes with the structure and content of an invoice, leaving you with fillable fields to slot your information into.
You can grab a pre-set template from our library that hosts thousands of manually reviewed forms and templates – all categorized by country, industry, and task for easy navigation. Now that a free invoice template is right in front of you, it’s time to get down to why you should use it.
Advantages of using an invoice template
Templates are a great way to get started invoicing. They provide a basic structure, help you avoid common mistakes and most importantly; get you paid on time. Some key benefits of using an invoice template are below:
Eliminate administrative burdens
Using an invoice template speeds up your invoicing process by eliminating the creation process. If you’re a freelancer, self-employed or running your own business, you know how much of a time-suck this admin can be.
Tailor to your needs
Whether you’re consulting, freelancing or somewhere in between, invoice templates provide you with the flexibility to take an invoice structure off the shelf and make it your own. Additionally, free PDF editors are a great tool to take your invoice template to the next level of personalization.
Provide consistency
Consistency is key, and templates guarantee it. Consistent invoice formatting keeps communication with your clients reliable and professional. As an added bonus, your recipients will quickly learn how to navigate your process, lessening their administrative burdens in turn; and this could mean speeding up your paycheck.
Make sure to proofread your document thoroughly, or use a dedicated grammar-checking software like Grammarly. Pay close attention to the correctness of your entered amounts, dates, invoice numbers and deadlines. That’s it! Your invoice letter is now complete.
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