18+ Invoice Examples & Templates in Excel

Invoice and receipts are constantly used interchangeably when dealing with business matters. However, the two differ greatly in their function in the sales transaction. While the receipt is issued after the completion of the transaction and when both parties have done performing their respective obligations as a seller and buyer, the invoice is issued by the seller to the buyer demanding or requesting payment for the goods or services.

To know more about invoices, discussed below are the basics that you must know. Additionally, presented in the next section are invoice templates and examples that will surely help you in your business deals.

Elements of a Good Invoice

Technically, there are no legal guidelines for an invoice, but including the elements below will ensure that your invoice is handled properly and paid promptly.

1. Business information: Typically, the business information is placed either at the top or at the bottom of the invoice. This includes the company name, address, and contact information.

2. Header: The header “Invoice” must be present in your document to avoid confusion especially when you are dealing with a pile of indistinguishable documents.

3. Date: This pertains to the date of the issuance of the invoice which is usually placed on top of the sheet.

4. Unique number: Every invoice must have a unique identifier or number to easily track and record the transaction.

5. Goods and services: The goods and services must be specifically stated in the document. The information regarding goods and services that must be included are name, date, rate, and quantity of the goods or services provided. You may also include price modifications, item descriptions, or other information that the customer must know. You may also see purchase invoice examples.

6. Terms of payment: The terms of payment depends on the industry your business is into, the preference of your company, and your relationship with the customer. You must also state the penalties or late fees and other charges in case the terms are not met.

7. Taxes, fees, and other charges: A separate line item must be included in the invoice in case there are any handling fees, taxes, and other charges related to the transaction which need to be levied.

8. Total amount: The grand total of the invoice must be rendered in bold, in larger font size, or in any other ways to make it stand out and easily recognizable.

9. Add-ons: There are add-ons that you can include apart from the elements mentioned above. Among those that are commonly incorporated in a voucher are message field and space for client’s tax identification number (TIN). The message field can be used when you want to include personal notes and thanks to your customer. The client’s TIN is used by some businesses to file their invoices. You may also see sales invoice examples.

14+ Invoice Templates and Examples

Basic Invoice Template

Creative Agency Invoice

Makeup Artist Invoice

Event Planner Invoice

SEO Invoice

Advertising Agency Invoice

Wedding Planner Invoice

Advertising Consultant Invoice

Hostel Invoice

Grand Hotel Invoice

Ice Cream Invoice

Graphic Design Invoice Template

Jewelry Store Invoice Template

Freelancer Invoice Template

Free Contract Invoice Template

Simple Invoice

Proforma Invoice

Revised Shelter Invoice

Ministry of Education Tax Invoice

Invoice Tracking Spreadsheet

Types of Invoices

Below are the different types of invoices according to their own purpose.

• Pro forma invoice: This serves more like a pre-invoice and not a demand for payment. A pro forma invoice is typically sent to a customer before the completion of the work and represents a commitment to provide something.
• Interim invoice: This is sent to the customer as you complete a large project as it breaks down the value of a large project into various multiple payments in order to help the company manage the cash flows for large jobs.
• Final invoice: This type of business invoice is sent to the customer after you complete the transaction, hence its name. This provides an itemized list of the goods or services provided and is considered as a demand for payment.
• Past due invoice: For customers who do not pay on time, a past due invoice can be sent to these customers reminding them that their payment due dates have passed.
• Recurring invoice: For ongoing services, you can use recurring invoices to prompt and bill your customers. Examples of recurring transactions are monthly rental and gym membership.

Invoice FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding an invoice and their answers.

What are the components of an invoice payment term?

The terms of payment of an invoice must outline how, when, and by what method a customer provides payment to the seller. It must stipulate if an advance payment or deposit is needed, the details of the payment plan, and the list of the accepted payment methods, such as debit card, credit card, check, or cash.

What are the ways to avoid late invoice payments?

Cash flow is such a pain point in many businesses. Hence, it needs to have a clear workflow for invoices. The first thing that you can do is check if the payments are processed while the deadline is approaching. Another way is to make your payment processes easier for your customers, and build wait times in your invoices. You must consider the credit card processing times as well as holidays and deposit clearance periods. Lastly, you can also send a gentle reminder or follow-up. Hence, it is important that you have a primary point of contact with your customers. You may also see professional invoice examples.

What are the common invoicing mistakes that businesses must know and avoid?

The primary invoice mistake that is very common to businesses is forgetting logical details. Your invoice must contain all the necessary elements presented above. It is important that you give your customers a clear set of instructions to follow in order for them to easily make their payment. Another mistake that you must avoid is under-communicating with your customer’s finance team especially when the person you are dealing with is just a representative of their company. Thirdly, many companies are not automating their finance workflows, making it prone to error and time-consuming. Lastly, not having a backup plan is another mistake that you must avoid. You must have a backup plan in case a customer delays or fails to pay on time in order to keep your business stable.