Invoice Form

An invoice template is used for quickly and easily creating an invoice when a sale of a service or good is completed. This form documents the good(s) or service(s) sold, how many, the price per unit, and the total amount due. It also lists the date by which the invoice should be paid. An invoice is addressed to the buyer, but also includes the seller's information. It also includes how payments may be made.

What is an Invoice? 

An invoice is a document issued to a buyer by a seller, indicating the sale or rental of goods and/or services. The components of a professional invoice can vary by transaction. An invoice for products being delivered, for example, includes shipping details, while an invoice for services or non-delivered products does not. A rental invoice generally includes a section stating the duration(s) for the rental period(s) (you get the idea).

Invoices are usually heavily formatted documents. Rather than listing things to include, we’ve drawn up a sample invoice, which is pictured below. Sections that are not self-explanatory are defined in the list that follows. Note: The sample invoice template includes sections for shipping information; however, this would not appear on every blank invoice template.

Purchase Order vs. Invoice

A purchase order indicates the type, quantity of product and services being sold by a supplier, including an agreed upon price. A purchase order is created before an invoice because it defines the contract of the sale. An invoice, therefore, is created after the purchase order.

Definitions - Invoice Terms

  1. Number, generally sequential, used to identify the invoice.

  2. Number, also usually sequential, used to track the order. Multiple invoice numbers are sometimes  assigned to a single order number, as some products, such as certain pharmaceuticals, legally require a separate invoice.

  3. This only needs to be included if products are being shipped. Be sure that you clarify who is receiving the order. If, for example, Bill Bazooka were buying these ornaments for his aunt and having them shipped directly to her, her address would be the one in this box. Again, this part is only necessary if products are shipped.

  4. Specify: land, air, or sea.

  5. Brief description of the product, allowing handlers to confirm that it is the correct item.

  6. Price per item (or unit price), before any applicable tax.

  7. Total cost of all items on this line, before tax.

  8. Some US shippers do not include tax on invoices. In the case of interstate shipments, sales tax does not apply. However, there is a replacement for it known as a "use" tax, but the details of this vary by state. Review your state's website for laws regarding tax on shipments.  If you don't include tax is on your invoice, leave out the subtotal and tax columns.

  9. Total cost of all items on that line, including any tax.

  10. Total sum owed by buyer.

  11. Terms of payment, meaning cash, credit, check, etc.

  12. Date by which payment is due. Write this date VERY CLEARLY,  IN BOLD IF YOU WISH, SO THAT THERE CAN BE NO CONFUSION.

What Is a general Invoice?

An invoice is a business document used during the sales process. It lists services or goods being purchased, how many are purchased, the unit price of each, the total as well as the taxes applied. It acts as documentation for both the business making the sale as well as the individual or business making the purchase. 

When Do You Need an Invoice?

You need an invoice any time you’re making a sale to an individual or a business. In addition to documenting the services or goods provided as well as the price, an invoice also explains the terms of the sale. It explains how payments may be made and provides the buyer with a due date for their payment. 

Who Needs an Invoice?

Both buyers and sellers of goods and services need an invoice. For the buyer, it documents the order placed with the seller, the prices, the total, and information about providing payment. For sellers, it acts as proof of an order made as well as documenting the goods and services provided to the buyer.

What Does an Invoice Include?

An invoice includes specific information that allows both the buyer (sometimes known as the client or customer) and the seller to document the agreement and purchase. It has the following information:

  • Customer or client information. This is information about the buyer. The buyer may be an individual or a business. This section includes the name and full billing address of the client. The billing address may be separate from the address that will receive the goods or services. The address that will receive the goods or services is known as the shipping address. If it is different than the billing address, you should include both the billing and shipping addresses and ensure that they are clearly labeled. Other helpful information includes work phone number (including extension, if necessary), cell phone number, and email address. For businesses, it may also be helpful to include the name of the appointed contact person who placed the order. 

  • The seller’s information. As mentioned earlier, the seller may be an individual or a business. You’ll need the seller’s name or business name as well as the full physical address. Then, you’ll include the phone number and email address. 

  • Invoice number and invoice date. The invoice date documents the actual date the buyer and seller entered into the agreement. The invoice number is, most often, a sequential number used by the seller as a means to research and track information related to the order. 

  • Due date. The due date is the date on which payment must be made. It might be five days after the invoice was sent. It might be 30 days. It might be considered due upon receipt. Depending on the seller, they may have some customers who are required to pay at the end of the month and some that are required to pay five days after the receipt was created. 

  • Invoice terms. Invoice terms generally state “net 5,” “net 10,” “net 30,” etc. Some, though, may have terms known as “pro forma.” Pro forma means when the matter is concluded. Pro forma invoices are due not at the time of ordering, but after the invoice was filled by the seller.  

  • A list of goods and/or services being provided to the seller. Every good or item is listed on its own individual line. The description may include identifying language such as the name of the good or service, a parts number that helps the seller track inventory, and other identifying information. The total number of each item or good on the invoice should be listed. For example, brown widgets is the item and the quantity is seven. Then, provide the individual unit price. The quantity multiplied by the individual price is then totaled at the end of the row. 

  • Taxes and discounts. If you are required to charge tax, you can enter it as a percentage toward the bottom of the invoice. That amount will be added to the subtotal after subtracting any discount provided. If a discount is given, the discount is listed toward the bottom of the invoice. The discount could be a percentage or a dollar amount. The total of the discount is subtracted from the subtotal. 

You can also upload a logo or create a nice header image to make the invoice more noticeable and attractive to the customer.

How Do You Send an Invoice?

There are three basic ways to provide the customer with the invoice.

  • First, if the customer orders the goods and services from the buyer in person, the invoice can be given to the customer at that time.

  • The second basic way to deliver the invoice is to send it via postal mail. It’s important to keep in mind that this could slow down when you receive the payment. It may also get lost in the mail.

  • The third basic method to provide the invoice is digitally. It can be delivered via email, chatbot, or through your invoicing system. It’s very common for users of online accounting applications to combine methods. They may give the customer the invoice in person and then email them a copy of it. 

Some of the most trusted online invoicing software include:

The Ins and Outs of an Invoice

By FormSwift Editorial Team
March 29, 2021

Introduction

Here is your MVP guide to navigating and understanding an invoice. Whether you're a large or small business who wants to improve your company's invoice skills, or you are preparing to write your first invoice, you’ll learn invaluable tips, tricks, and tools to help you better understand, and better craft a proper invoice while catching common errors that may appear. Soon, you'll be able to send invoices at the drop of a hat! Before we go over how to spot potential mistakes and common errors in invoices, let’s review how one works, as well as some of the legal considerations.

How Does Invoicing Work?

When you've asked an individual, vendor, or supplier to provide products or services for you, it is reasonable for that person to bill you for the money that you owe. This can occur informally with a handshake and verbal agreement, but it's a smart move to ask for a written billing form. It's not uncommon for people to use an invoice because it documents the product or service that has been provided by the supplier. A supplier can be just about any individual, group of individuals, or vendor.

From the viewpoint of the client or customer, invoicing is not a difficult process at all. In fact, the customer can simply leave it up to the provider of the product or service to create and issue this type of form. Upon receipt of the form, the customer will naturally want to examine it for accuracy and completeness. If the document is deemed to be correct and complete, then the customer simply needs to remit payment according to the payment instructions provided on the form. The customer should retain the form for his or her records, as it might come in handy when tax season, or if any payment conflicts arise.

In contrast, the process is a bit more involved from the supplier's standpoint. Nevertheless, it should not be extremely difficult for individuals, vendors, and other providers to learn how invoicing works. In actuality, the process begins before the actual document is created. The supplier is responsible for keeping track of all products sold and services rendered to any given client or customer, and doing so will make the billing process much easier. Therefore, suppliers should begin by keeping written (or computerized) records of:

  • All provided products and services provided

  • Whom they were provided to

  • When they were provided

  • The quantities or amounts in which they were provided  

This information will need to be transferred to the final document when it comes time to bill the customer.

After a pre-established amount of time has passed (e.g. one month) or a pre-set quantity of a product or service has been provided, it's time for the supplier to write up the billing form. The aforementioned information, including data on what was provided and when, all needs to be clearly enumerated on the form. For example, let's say a bottled water supplier ships water to your home on a regular basis. In this case, it would make sense for that supplier to send you a monthly form indicating the quantity of water that was shipped and when it was shipped. In all cases, the accuracy of information is of paramount importance, as customer disputes could escalate into legal problems. Also, any invoice will need to include instructions for the customer on where and how to remit payment for the products and/or services provided.

When it comes time to create an invoice form, it is possible to pay a professional printing company to write up a document for you. Another option is to attempt to construct the form yourself from scratch, though this might present a challenge for anyone unfamiliar with this type of document. A perfect solution for do-it-yourselfers is to search the internet for a sample invoice. Looking at a sample invoice template can make it much easier to see what this type of document looks like and how to create an invoice for one's own business. Try a document search on Google, Bing, Yahoo, or another well-known search engine for best results.

When the customer pays the bill, the process is complete and hopefully, both the supplier and the customer are satisfied. When done correctly, invoicing is an uncomplicated process that will become automatic after a while. Look at a few samples, try it for yourself, and learn from your mistakes; with these steps, you'll be sure to master the invoicing process.

Creating an Invoice with Excel

Basic, sales, and service invoices can be created with Microsoft Excel. Sales invoice templates list purchases individually and automatically calculate totals and any unique discounts. Service invoice templates list quantities and individual labor and sales costs. The templates can be customized with personal information or a business name/logo and emailed to the customer.

To create an invoice template with Excel:

Open Microsoft Excel. Click on the ‘File’ tab. Select ‘New’ from the drop-down and then select the ‘Blank Workbook’ for a new Excel sheet.

Remove the gridlines by clicking on the ‘View’ tab and unchecking ‘Gridlines’ in the ‘Show/Hide’ section.

Insert your personal information or business name/logo and label the invoice as appropriate. Then enter your personal or business contact information, buyer details, purchase order number, invoice number and date, due date, and other important details and line items, including payment terms/conditions, a description of the goods or services sold, and a signature section.

Calculate the subtotal of the sale and add sales tax to find the total amount to be billed.

Sources:                                       

Creating an Invoice with Microsoft Word

Basic, sales, and service invoices can be created with Microsoft Word. Sales invoice templates should list purchases individually, showing totals and any unique discounts. Service invoice templates should list quantities and individual labor and sales costs. The templates can be customized with personal information or a business name/logo and emailed to the customer.

To create an invoice template with Microsoft Word:

Open Microsoft Word to have a new (blank) document.

Go to the ‘Insert’ tab and select ‘Table’ from the selection below. Select the number of rows and columns as needed.

Adjust the column size for the details to be included in each column by clicking on the ‘Layout’ tab and changing the size in the ‘Width’ section.

Insert your personal information or business name/logo and label the invoice as appropriate. Then enter your personal or business contact information, buyer details, purchase order number, invoice number and date, due date, and other important details and line items, including payment terms/conditions, a description of the goods or services sold, and a signature section.

Calculate the subtotal of the sale and add sales tax to find the total amount to be billed.

Sources:                                         

Creating an Invoice with Google Docs & Google Sheets

Basic, sales, and service invoices can be created with Google Docs & Google Sheets. Sales invoice templates list purchases individually and automatically calculate totals and any unique discounts. Service invoice templates list quantities and individual labor and sales costs. The templates can be customized with personal information or a business name/logo and emailed to the customer.

To create an invoice template with Google Docs:

Create or log in to your Google Account.

Open the Template Gallery in Google Docs. Type in “invoice” and hit enter to search and choose the invoice template that suits your needs. Name it by clicking on the Title box on the document and save it to Google Drive.

To make a new invoice in Google Docs, open your blank invoice template, click File, and then select Make a Copy from the menu. 

After making a copy of the blank invoice template, label and edit the document to reflect the details of the transaction, including your personal information or business name/logo, your personal or business contact information, buyer details, purchase order number, invoice number and date, due date, and other important details and line items, such as the subtotal of the sale, the sales tax, the total amount billed, the payment terms/conditions, a description of the goods or services sold, and a signature section.

Share the invoice with the client or download the document as a PDF and attach it to an email to be sent to the client.

To create an invoice template with Google Sheets:

Open Google Sheets. Click on the ‘File’ tab. Select ‘New’ from the drop-down and then select the ‘Blank Workbook’ for a new Google sheet.

Remove the gridlines by clicking on the ‘View’ tab and unchecking ‘Gridlines’ in the ‘Show/Hide’ section.

Insert your personal information or business name/logo and label the invoice as appropriate. Then enter your personal or business contact information, buyer details, purchase order number, invoice number and date, due date, and other important details and line items, including payment terms/conditions, a description of the goods or services sold, and a signature section.

Calculate the subtotal of the sale and add sales tax to find the total amount to be billed.

Sources:                                                                                              

Invoice FAQs

What is invoicing?

Invoicing is a method sole proprietors, business owners, and freelancers use to formally ask for payment for goods or services sold. Invoices generally contain a list of the goods or services sold and their respective costs.

What is an invoice?

An invoice is a record of the items or services provided to a customer and a means for collecting payment from them.

How do you send an invoice?

A digital invoice is sent directly to a customer via email.

How do you manage invoices?

The best way to manage invoices is with an online invoice system that allows you to send invoices from your computer or mobile device to customers who can then pay you directly; you can keep track of who has paid and who has not on your dashboard. 

How do you select the right invoice system?

Your invoicing software should allow you to conveniently and rapidly send/monitor invoices and receive payment.

Who Should Use an Invoice Template?

Small business owners, sole proprietors, and freelancers should use invoice templates for efficiency and faster payment. 

What are the benefits of using an invoice template?

Invoice templates save time, are easy to use, and help assure quick payment.

Why is it Important to Send Professional Invoices?

Professional invoices allow you to monitor paid and pending invoices and legally bind both parties.

Sources:  

Best Practices for Effective Invoicing

Here is a list of our best practices for invoicing:

  1. Send quotes whenever possible: quotes will frame customer expectations regarding cost and outline preferred methods of payment, payment schedule, etc.

    • You may even consider requiring a customer to sign a written quote before you complete their order.

  2. Offer early timely and/or payment discounts: if there are financial incentives behind on-time or early payment, customers are more likely to pay on time.

    • Be careful, however, not to offer too generous of a discount. Be sure any discount you offer still leaves you with an acceptable profit margin.

    • A shorter payment schedule may also incentivize customers to pay sooner.

  3. Send reminders: establish an automated invoicing process that reminds your customers of upcoming payments.  

  4. Automate invoices: an automated invoicing process makes payment easier for customers which makes it more likely you receive payment on time.

    • Provide multiple payment options--in office, online, by check, etc.--based on your customers’ needs.

    • Utilize software that will automate for you, like Quickbooks, FreshBooks, Xero, etc. Manual data entry is not only slower, it also leaves more room for error.

      • Make sure your automated invoices are properly formatted and Include your company’s logo.

Invoicing Practices for Freelancers: Common Mistakes

Freelancers deal with unique invoicing procedures. As a result, they are susceptible to their own set of common mistakes, including:

  1. Sending the invoice to the wrong person or department

  2. Failure to properly itemize the invoice

  3. Failure to include payment due dates

  4. Failure to specify payment terms (partial payment/installments, due dates, etc.)

  5. Failure to clearly state invoice amount/amount due

  6. Failure to restate contract terms (including returns and refund policies)

  7. Failure to specify acceptable forms of payment (acceptable currencies, check, money order, online, partial payment/installments etc.)

  8. Adding unspecified fees or penalties that were not previously communicated

Some freelancers deal with clients overseas. If this is the case, it is important to remember to send a clear invoice with all the aforementioned information in a language the client will understand. Typically in the United States and other countries throughout the world, an invoice in English is widely accepted. However, in certain countries where English is not widely used, it's important to have the invoice translated to the client's language. This can avoid delays in payment due to communication challenges.

Billing Mistakes in Consumer Invoices

As a consumer, the invoices you receive may be erroneous. It is important, therefore, to understand the recourse available to you should such a situation arise.

How to dispute a credit card charge

If you are issued what you believe to be an erroneous credit card charge, begin by determining whether the charge is an error or a fraudulent charge.

  • Were you charged the wrong amount for a service you received, or did you not make the purchase at all?

From there, notify the merchant. You can do this in person or call/email the vendor and send copies of relevant receipts/documents to show that detail the erroneous charge.

Next, contact the credit card company. If the merchant is unable/unwilling to reverse the charge, contact the credit card company directly about the charge.

  • Generally, you can submit disputes online or on your card app.

Common billing mistakes made by legal professionals

Legal professionals are notorious for issuing erroneous invoices. Therefore, here are the most common billing mistakes to look out for:

  1. Vague billing descriptions: A bill should contain tasks with specific descriptions and a detailed accounting of the time/date during when the task was performed.

  2. Padding time: padding refers to when a service provider claims it took longer than it actually did to complete a task in order to bill for more money.

  3. Interoffice expenses that affect the law firm’s overhead: clients should refuse to pay for these expenses, which include:

  4. Vague billing descriptions: A bill should contain tasks with specific descriptions and a detailed accounting of the time/date during when the task was performed.

  5. Padding time: padding refers to when a service provider claims it took longer than it actually did to complete a task in order to bill for more money.

  6. Interoffice expenses that affect the law firm’s overhead: clients should refuse to pay for these expenses, which include:

    • Training costs: it is not your obligation to pay for inexperience.

    • Duplicate billing

    • Block billing that is not properly itemized

Common Billing Mistakes: Medical Bills

Inaccurate medical bills are often upsetting for patients, who are not only dealing with health and economic concerns but must now spend considerable time on the phone with their insurance provider trying to rectify the error.

As a patient, there are things you can do to minimize the chance of a billing error. This includes:

  • Researching the medical services you will be provided and the associated costs.

    • Childbirth, for example, comes with a range of costs that include hospital stays, an anesthesiologist, tests, etc.

    • You may, therefore, be improperly billed for any of these charges.

    • If, for example, you are billed for an out of network anesthesiologist and epidural, do not pay. Instead, contact the hospital administration. As long as you chose a hospital in your insurance network, you should not have to pay for any out of network services or procedures.

Common medical billing errors

The most common scenarios that may include medical billing errors are:

  1. Balance billing: a healthcare provider bills a patient for the difference between what their health insurance covers and what the amount charged by the provider.

    • State law determined the legality of balance billing procedures and guidelines.

  2. Diagnosis and treatment code mismatch: when issuing a medical bill, the diagnosis and treatment code must match. If they do not, the insurance company will reject the claim leaving the patient responsible for all charges.

  3. Failure to verify insurance coverage: If a patient receives medical treatment that is not covered by their insurance provider, the provider will reject the claim and the patient is responsible for the full cost.

  4. Unbundling: refers to scenarios in which a series of services fall under a single billing code and therefore should be billed together, but are charged separately. This typically increases the overall bill substantially.

  5. Duplicate billing: billing a patient for the same service more than once. This can also include billing a patient for multiple “first days” (the most expensive) in the hospital, even if the total days billed is correct.

  6. Incorrect information: including misspellings or other typos.

  7. Medical necessity: if a physician fails to give accurate information to the coder. This can lead to miscoding which may cause the insurance company to reject the claim as a “lack of medical necessity.”

  8. Upcoding: charging a patient for more extensive services than those actually provided. This can happen accidentally or knowingly if a provider misconstrues the procedures performed (which is illegal)

  9. Undercoding: a patient is not charged for all procedures completed. This is illegal and may be considered fraud.

How to spot a medical billing error

There are numerous possibilities for billing errors. Here are some tips for identifying the most common ones. Look out for the following:

  • Typos: including incorrect billing codes, misspelling of your name/address/policy, etc.

  • Double billing: charged multiple times for the same service

  • Canceled tests: make sure you took all tests you were charged for. It is common for doctors to order tests but decides later not to administer them.

  • Work not performed: make sure you are not charged for services that you never received.

  • Upcoding: make sure you are not charged an inflated amount for medication/supplies

  • Incorrect stay length: if you stayed in a hospital, make sure the number of days billed is correct

    • In general, you will be charged for the day you are admitted, but not the day you are discharged.

  • Room charges: ensure you are not charged for a room that you did not occupy (like a private room)

  • Operating room fees: make sure you are not charged for more time than you were in the operating room. You can check this by comparing the charge with the records of the anesthesiologist

We also recommend you consult and utilize a transparency resource, which will give you an idea of the rate of procedures, tests, etc. and should be provided by your insurer. If your insurance doesn’t provide one, use the Healthcare Blue Book.

Negotiating medical bills and making corrections

If you are faced with an improper bill, here’s how you should proceed:

  1. Familiarize yourself with your insurance coverage. If you are charged for something covered, you have a good shot at receiving a refund or having the charges reversed.  

  2. Request an itemized receipt for every medical procedure/test/service you received.

    • If you spot medical codes you don’t recognize, you can do a google search of “CPT” followed by the code number for an explanation.

  3. Call the doctor/hospital’s billing office: they are ultimately responsible for correcting the mistakes.

  4. Call the patient advocacy phone number of your insurance company if the office refuses to work with you.

    • When you call either of these numbers, make sure to keep a log of the date/time and name of the person you talked to.

  5. If you have billing code errors on your invoice, request that your healthcare provider re-submit a claim to the insurance with the correct information

  6. Don’t be afraid to ask for discounts

  7. Hire a medical billing advocate if you are unable to resolve the dispute on your own

Conclusion

Invoicing is an essential process of just about all businesses. However, invoicing is rife with errors. As a consumer, you must make sure you are not incorrectly charged for services provided. We hope this guide provides you with a set of tools and strategies for determining if you have been improperly billed.

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Sample Invoice

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Sample Invoice

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