A business invoice is a bill you send your customer after completing the work. Every invoice contains the invoice number, contact information, due date and list of services so the customer knows exactly what they bought. Once you send the invoice, your customer reviews the information and pays the total on the bill. Having the invoice in writing reduces the risk of arguments, missed payments, and miscommunications, so never assume that a “verbal” invoice is enough.
You can send an invoice during any part of the process. If you prefer to get paid up-front, you’ll send the invoice at the beginning. You’ll send multiple invoices if you’d rather get paid at different points. If you want to get paid at the end, you’ll send the invoice when you complete the project. In any case, keep copies of the invoices for your records and use a service like BILL to keep track of payments.
Let’s break down a business invoice with an example. Below is a mockup of an invoice template, labelled with each of its individual parts.
.png)
There may be some additional components based on the industry and the specific needs of the business. But as a general guide, each of the above parts should be included. 
Thinking about making a switch to improve your invoicing process? Using the right invoice template will revamp your workflow and provide these benefits.
The quicker you send an invoice, the quicker you get paid. Using an invoice template in a ready-to-use format is a fast path from providing goods or services to billing for them.
It also saves you precious hours on admin work so you can focus on the things that matter most for your business. Plus, you can confidently grow your business without worrying about the extra work of invoicing any new customers.
You’ve put in work to acquire a customer, but how you present yourself still matters. A professional- looking invoice shows that the business is credible, especially if you go the extra mile to customize it with your branding and logo.
Your customers will be confident working with you knowing that you pay attention to detail and care about the little things.
Consistency and accuracy With a consistent format that’s ready for you to plug in information, you’re less likely to miss a detail or have an error with a calculation. The consistency also makes it easier for both you and your customers to refer back to past invoices.
Any errors could lead to a long back-and-forth with customers to hash out the details and delay payments. But with a template cutting out errors, you’ll confidently send invoices where you can focus on the details.
The business invoice template is a starting point with which you can put your own personal twist on. Add in a business logo or use your brand’s colors to make your invoices stand out.
Our custom invoice template can be easily altered in Excel or PDF readers to be adapted to your personal needs. Consider the template a functional framework you get to add some flair to.
To create your business invoice, use the invoice generator or download one of our templates. If you’d prefer a file, download a Word, PDF or Excel file, then edit your template through the platform. You can change everything on the template, including text, colors, fonts, branding and layout.
You can also make invoices in minutes with our invoice generator. Fill in the information, then preview your invoice and download a PDF or send the invoice directly. You can make as many invoices as you want—just note that the generator doesn’t save your invoice. Additionally, you can’t change the layout if you send the invoice through the generator.
To start, download the template that you want to use. Afterward, follow these steps:
When you’re done, email the invoice to the customer as an attached file. Don’t copy -and -paste the invoice directly into the email—it’ll be skewed and difficult to read.
Microsoft Word offers invoice templates. Open Word, then go to the templates section and search “invoice.” You’ll find several free templates available for download. Some invoices have colors and designs while others provide a blank invoice like a receipt. Click the template you want to use, edit the invoice and send it to your customer.
If you don’t see a design you like, check out our BILL templates. Download them all, and see which ones suit your business. Afterward, sign up for BILL so you can send invoices, keep track of payments and manage your business without spending money until you’re sure it’s the right decision.
In general, businesses typically accept the following payment options for their invoices:
It’s best to accept multiple payment methods to give your customers options. Making it easy for your customers to pay makes it more likely you’ll get paid fast.
While there’s no right or wrong answer in the debate of electronic versus physical, digital invoices offer some of the following benefits:
Digital invoices have their benefits compared to physical, but ultimately you should choose the option that makes the most sense for you and your customers.
Some industries that commonly use invoices include:
Our custom invoice template can be easily customized for the unique needs of any of these business types.
Some invoices are tailored for very specific situations. The most common invoice is the standard invoice you’re used to sending, but you may also make use of any of these different types of invoices:
The best way to automate your invoicing process is to use a dedicated invoice platform, like BILL. We automate much of the invoicing process, including time tracking, generation, and follow- ups. With features built specifically for invoicing, you’ll have everything you could want and more to make your administrative work a breeze. Reach out to schedule a demo.