Invoicing guides

Short, practical answers to the questions every freelancer and small business runs into when billing clients, with examples you can copy and templates to start from.

What to Include on an Invoice: A Checklist for Every Country - Every invoice needs a few core details: who it’s from, who it’s to, a unique number, a date, what you supplied, what it costs and how to pay. Some countries add their own requirements on top, especially if you charge VAT or GST. Here’s the full checklist.
Invoice Payment Terms Explained, With Wording You Can Use - Payment terms tell your client when and how to pay. The most common are “Due on receipt”, “Net 15” and “Net 30”, meaning payment within that many days of the invoice date. Choosing the right terms, and writing them clearly, is one of the simplest ways to get paid on time.
Payment reminder email templates: when to send them and what to say - The best payment reminders are planned before an invoice is late. Send a short nudge a few days before the due date, another on the day, then follow up at 3, 7 and 14 days overdue with a firmer tone each time. Below are five templates you can copy, edit and send today.
How to Number Invoices: Simple Schemes That Stay Organised - Give every invoice a unique number that follows on from the last one, such as 001, 002, 003. You can add a prefix, the year or a client code, but the sequence must never repeat. Here’s how to pick a scheme, handle cancelled invoices and stay on the right side of tax rules.
Proforma invoice vs tax invoice vs commercial invoice vs quote - A quote or estimate offers a price, a proforma invoice previews the final bill before the sale is confirmed, and a tax invoice is the real demand for payment that counts in your accounts. A commercial invoice is the customs document for exporting goods. Here’s when to use each.
Invoice vs receipt: what’s the difference and when to use each - An invoice asks for payment; a receipt confirms that payment has been made. You send an invoice before you’re paid and a receipt afterwards. Bills and statements sit alongside them: a bill is often just another word for an invoice, and a statement summarises an account over time.