Invoice Template Generator

An invoice, or sales invoices, is a billing document issued by a seller to a customer.

The document typically:

• Details the contact and billing information
• Quantifies an itemized list of goods or services sold
• Provides a clear total for the purchase
• Defines any discounts or specific payment terms
• Contains a unique invoice number and date

An invoice number is a unique number that you assign to each new invoice you create. These numbers are then used to organize and track each invoice you send.

Your invoice numbers should be assigned in sequential order. For example, your very first invoice might be “invoice no. 1,” followed by “invoice no. 2,” and so on. Invoice numbers aren’t specific to one customer, so you should keep a running total across all of the invoices you send.

That being said, some businesses choose to adapt their numbering system to meet their individual needs. This might mean that you choose to incorporate the date into your invoice number for filing purposes, like this: 20172711-001.

1. Include the word "Invoice."
2. Assign a unique invoice number and date.
3. Provide your business name and contact information.
4. List out the details of the product(s) or service(s) you provided -- include quantity, rates, hours, etc.
5. Provide the name and contact information of the customer.
6. Highlight the subtotal.
7. Specify any payment details or a due date if necessary. 

While your invoice details will change slightly depending on whether you are providing a service or a product (e.g., billable hours and rate vs. quantity and cost), the above guidelines serve as best practices for creating a professional invoice.

When it comes to actually sending your invoice off to the customer, you have a couple of options:

1. Send the invoice electronically via email or website.
2. Send the invoice via postal mail.

When sending an invoice electronically, you may send it through email or directly from your accounting or invoicing software. For many businesses, this is a preferred sending method, as it allows you to deliver invoices to a customer in real time. Invoices that are sent electronically are often paid electronically -- or, less commonly, paid via mail.

When sending an invoice by postal mail, make sure that you consider the time it will take for your invoice to arrive. While this tends to be the slower of the two options, many businesses still send invoices via postal mail to meet the needs and demands of their specific audiences.

There are many different layout options for invoices, but the most important thing is to include all of the necessary information in a clear and concise manner. The layout should also be easy to read and understand. Some common elements that should be included in an invoice layout are the following:

• Company name and contact information
• Invoice number
• Date
• List of products or services purchased
• Quantity
• Unit price
• Total amount due
• Payment terms
• Due date
  
  

When you are invoicing a client, it is important to include all of the relevant information so that they can easily make the payment. Here is how to fill out an invoice:

1. Include your name and contact information. This should include your full name, business name (if applicable), address, phone number, and email address.
2. Include the client's name and contact information. This should include their full name, business name (if applicable), address, phone number, and email address.
3. Include the invoice date. This is the date that you are sending the invoice to the client.
4. Include the due date. This is the date that the client needs to make the payment by.
5. Include a description of the services rendered. This should be a detailed description of the work that you did for the client.
6. Include the cost of the services rendered. This should be a breakdown of all charges associated with the work you did for the client, including any taxes or fees.
7. Include any special instructions. This is where you can include any additional information that the client needs to know in order to make the payment, such as if there is a minimum amount required or if there are discounts for early payment.
   
   By following these simple instructions, you can ensure that your invoice includes all of the necessary information and that the client can easily make the payment. If you need to fill out an invoice, HubSpot's Invoice Generator can make the process easy. Simply enter in the necessary information and our free invoice maker will do the rest. You can then download or print the completed invoice for your records.

The term “invoice” is often adopted in business environments to define a payment request for goods or services purchased by a specific customer. Once the customer receives the invoice, they will typically refer to it as a bill that they now owe to the seller.

That being said, it’s not uncommon for the two terms to be used interchangeably, as they both refer to an itemized statement of payment owed to a seller by a buyer.

1. Standard Invoice
2. Shipping Invoice
3. Service Invoice
4. Pro-forma Invoice
5. Commercial Invoice
6. Recurring Invoice

The standard invoice is the most common invoice type. The standard invoice includes all of the basic information needed to complete an invoice, including contact information for the buyer and seller, an invoice number, an invoice date, itemized purchases, and a clearly defined subtotal.

The shipping invoice serves as a formal payment agreement for goods sold between a seller and a customer. For shipping invoices, information typically includes the cost and number of each item, the subtotal after shipping fees and taxes, the contact information of both parties, as well as an invoice date and number.

The service invoice is often used by service businesses that bill customers based on hourly rates for services such as consultants, graphic designers, website developers, lawyers, auto repair technicians, and so on. On service invoices, the subtotal is a reflection of the billable hours invested.

The pro-forma invoice can be best compared to a quote or estimation. The pro-forma invoice type is often used as a first step in negotiating a payment agreement and is not considered a true invoice, as it does not demand payment.

The commercial invoice is used for customs in instances where goods are being exported across international borders. The commercial invoice contains many of the elements of a standard invoice, in addition to the manufacturing country of the goods, what the items are being used for, the Harmonized System codes (if known), the number of packages and their total weight, and the reason for export.

The recurring invoice typically contains a fixed price and is sent on a monthly basis for rented goods or services such as an apartment, business software, cell phone bills, and so on. Recurring invoices will continue to be sent until the customer's contract or subscription expires.

While creating an invoice might not sound like a big branding opportunity, having a well-designed, professional invoice can make a big difference in the eye’s of your customer -- and help you get paid on time.

Before making any type of payment, customers want to ensure that they are doing business with a credible, trustworthy company. This means your invoices should be error-free with consistent branding and a clear, itemized list of goods or services.

If you need help organizing all of the must-have information that comes on an invoice, download the free invoice templates above.