Offering & Delivering a Professional Invoice

Two of the trickiest things to design is a professional proposal and a professional invoice. An invoice is something that should be used in every business but usually in start ups or one man companies it is something that is overlooked. It will not only allow for you and your client to keep a record of transaction of payment. It will help your company look more professional, help you keep better records and also know who needs to pay as well as who is late with payment.

Setting up an invoice isn't that tricky. It can be very complex in nature or very simple, just remember it is there to keep a record. The goal is to make it as professional as possible. Simple invoices can contain a few details, while more complex ones can be designed to hold more information but can become confusing if not setup properly. Also creating and having a pre-made invoice template will save you alot of time. If you wanted to you could print out multiple copies, stack them in a clean area and when it is time to bill a client enter in their information by hand(writing with a pen) and mail it off to them.

So you may be wondering what an invoice should have on it? Well that is simple. No matter how simple or complex an invoice may be they all usually have the same relative information on them. This is because no matter what business you run there are just some things that stay constant in the business world. So when setting up your invoice there are some things you may want to keep in mind:

-Keep it simple in design -Keep it clear -Make it professional -Keep it clear(Did I repeat myself here?hmmmm. Guess so. I just wanted you to get the point. keep it clear so it is easy to ready)

Your invoice should be set up in three sections.

Section 1: Your Header:

Section 2: Your Body:

Section 3: Your footer.

Not these three sections will contain all the information you will need. Let me break them down for you.

The Header: This should contain your company name, your url and contact information:

Company Name Here. www.CompanyNameHere.com Info@CompanyNameHere.com : 555-555-5555

The Body: This should contain more details for the invoice as to do with payment and due dates. Such as:

Invoice Date: 09/16/05

Project Name: Name Here.

Invoice Name: Name Here.

Payment Portion: Final Payment

Total Amount of Project: $1000

Amount that has been Paid: $500

Amount still owed: $500

Invoice Amount(%): $500(50%)

Payment Options: Credit Card, Paypal, Money Order.

To make payments via credit card or paypal log on to www.youpaymentaddress.com/adad?php0902?/

To make payments via money order please send to the address below: Address here.

Due Date: 09/23/05

The Footer: Should just contain your information and a thank you:

Company Name : Address : Contact Information : Url : That you for doing business with Company Name

Hope this helps. Good luck with your future projects!