Whether you provide your home services independently, on a contract basis, or own a trades and home services company, having a strong invoicing process is vital to keep your business going. When it's time to get paid, you want to send professional invoices that reflect your hard work and help you get your money faster.
However, you don't always have the time to sit down and create a flawless invoice. But don't worry, we're here to help you create the perfect trades and home service invoice template so you can quickly add your client-specific details for each job. This will ensure consistency in your billing process and reduce the risk of errors.
Let's go over the vital elements you should cover on your invoice template.
Note: Find the ideal invoice template for your company using Bonsai's all-in-one product suite. We have the best tools for small businesses to help you create and send professional invoices in no time. You don't need any other invoice software, Bonsai has your back!
Elements of a Trades and Home Services Invoice Template
When creating your trades and home services invoice template, remember all the details must be covered in a clear and simple way to make it as easy as possible for your clients to understand the charges. It's also important to include all necessary business-related information in place so your accounting records are always on point.
For a perfect invoice template include the following essential elements.
Business Information
Start your home services invoice template with a section for your business information. Include your full name (or company name), address, phone number, e-mail and website. If you offer any specialized services such as certified inspections, smart home equipment, energy monitoring, junk removal, etc.
You can create more professional-looking invoices by adding your company logo, any industry-related imagery or other branding elements you consider appropriate. This will also make your invoice unique and your customers will easily recognize it.
Client Information
Next, add a section for your customer's information starting with the full name (or business name if applicable), phone number, billing address and email so you can send invoices online. If you maintain a database you can also include the client ID and order number which can help with payment tracking.
Invoice Number and Date
It's important to assign a unique invoice number to all of your invoices to keep your paperwork well organized and easily refer back to the invoices in case of clarifications or refunds needed. This can also prevent delays in payments as your clients may return unnumbered invoices (especially large companies who also need to keep clean accounting records). Don't forget to add the date when the invoice was sent out so you can determine payment due dates and apply the corresponding fees to overdue accounts.
Services Provided
Make sure your invoice template has enough space for an itemized list of the home services provided along with a short description, unit price and total cost. If you charge on an hourly basis, include the amount of hours per service, hourly rate and the total labor cost. Add extra lines to separately mention any extra fees, materials or products (emergency or out-of-hours service, post-service clean up, etc...), and costs of each.
Totals
For the totals section of your home services invoice template, add at least three lines so you can separately show the total price of services before tax (subtotal) then add any applicable taxes and provide the total amount due. If you're applying a discount for a recurring customer, referrals, etc., this is the idea section to highlight it by subtracting the discounted amount from the subtotal before you add taxes. Don't forget to provide a short description as well so your customers can easily identify the discount.
Payment Details
You want to provide clear and easy-to-follow payment instructions that can help you get paid faster and avoid wasting time on clarifications. Make sure to list all of your accepted payment methods such as credit/debit cards, checks, cash, ACH transfers or online payments, along with the corresponding payment links, account numbers and mailing address.
Additionally, disclose your payment terms mentioning when the invoice is due, applicable late fees, payment arrangements available and any incentives or discounts you may offer for clients to pay early.
Invoice Notes
Finally, leave a small section at the bottom of your home services invoice template to leave a personal note thanking your customers for choosing your company. This simple addition will convey a professional yet caring image helping you strengthen the relationship with your clients and possibly generating more business from them.
Alternatively you can use this section to mention any other services you offer or ask for good reviews and referrals. You're already taking the time to send out a document right? Use any extra space you have to your advantage.
Use Our Free Invoice Templates for Your Trades and Home Services
You already have a lot of your plate making sure all projects are a success, and your clients are happy with your services. Probably another time-consuming task like creating your own invoice template is the last thing you want to take care of. Luckily you don't have to. Instead, simply download Bonsai's free home services invoice template which you can quickly customize and fill-in with project-specific information to bill your clients with minimal efforts.
Once you sign up for your free account (no credit card required), personalize your invoice template, and save it in your preferred file format (google docs, excel, google sheets, etc...) to bill all of your clients. Our free invoice template also allows you to integrate multiple payment methods and even link your business checking account so you can instantly access your funds when invoices are paid online.
But why stop there? Bonsai also offers you the ultimate invoicing and accounting software to help you run your business and handle your finances like a pro. With our administrative tools you can automatically send payment reminders, apply late fees, track your expenses, get tax estimates and much more. Start today and save time so you can focus on your passion, not your paperwork.
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