It’s tempting to give preference to paid work and put invoicing off. But no work is paid without invoicing, so make it a priority. Pick a day and time of the week to get it done, then lock it into your schedule. If you’re just too busy, hire a bookkeeper to help.
2. Invoice more often, get paid more often
Invoicing can be such a chore that a lot of businesses only do it once a month. This can be counterproductive especially if your billing process is at the end of the month and the work is completed at the beginning of the month giving your customer a few weeks extra to make payment. It compounds the issue especially as most invoices are paid late.
Consider billing weekly or more frequently if you do lots of odd jobs. It prevents a backlog from forming, and it gets your customers on the clock sooner. Money should start flowing into your business more consistently, rather than in drips and drabs.
3. Connect quotes and invoices
It’s a good idea to get quotes signed off before starting work. Use descriptions forms that are in agreement with your invoice so customers can see they’re getting what they paid for. It should help avoid misunderstandings or invoice disputes.
4. Use invoice templates to their fullest potential
Many businesses use invoice templates from spreadsheet software. They can save a lot of time if you:
Save templates (with pre-filled information) for specific types of jobs and customers. Build in formulas that total charges and add taxes for you.
1. Set a billing schedule
It’s tempting to give preference to paid work and put invoicing off. But no work is paid without invoicing, so make it a priority. Pick a day and time of the week to get it done, then lock it into your schedule. If you’re just too busy, hire a bookkeeper to help.
2. Invoice more often, get paid more often
Invoicing can be such a chore that a lot of businesses only do it once a month. This can be counterproductive especially if your billing process is at the end of the month and the work is completed at the beginning of the month giving your customer a few weeks extra to make payment. It compounds the issue especially as most invoices are paid late.
Consider billing weekly or more frequently if you do lots of odd jobs. It prevents a backlog from forming, and it gets your customers on the clock sooner. Money should start flowing into your business more consistently, rather than in drips and drabs.
3. Connect quotes and invoices
It’s a good idea to get quotes signed off before starting work. Use descriptions forms that are in agreement with your invoice so customers can see they’re getting what they paid for. It should help avoid misunderstandings or invoice disputes.
4. Use invoice templates to their fullest potential
Many businesses use invoice templates from spreadsheet software. They can save a lot of time if you:
Save templates (with pre-filled information) for specific types of jobs and customers. Build in formulas that total charges and add taxes for you.