Whether you’re a freelancer or running a small business, sending invoices will be part of your day-to-day.
Using Google Docs to create an invoice is a relatively cheap, accessible choice — so let’s take a closer look at how to do it!
In this post, we’ll explore:
Let’s get started!
An invoice is a document that a seller sends to a client or buyer after a service or product is provided.
Essentially, an invoice outlines payment that’s due and includes information about how much needs to be paid, what goods or services were provided, when the payment is required, and how to pay the amount.
Invoices provide a record showing that goods or services were provided to a customer. In many situations, businesses are legally required to issue invoices to keep track of sales and for tax purposes.
Invoices are crucial for monitoring cash flow and revenue! They can also provide legal protection in case of disputes or issues of late payments or nonpayments.
Issuing an invoice shows that you are a legitimate, professional business and lends credibility to your brand.
There are multiple ways you could generate an invoice for your business, and one of the easiest is to create a free invoice using Google Docs. Follow these steps to get started:
Navigate to the Google Docs webpage. If you already have a Google account, you should be redirected to your list of documents.
If not, you can sign into Google Docs using your Google account. You’ll be prompted to create an account if you don’t have one yet. Don’t worry – this only takes a few minutes!
Once you’ve accessed Google Docs, follow these instructions to choose your template:
While Google Docs has a nice variety of templates, know that you can also import another template to use instead. Try this customizable one from Bonsai!
Once your template is ready, you can let your creativity or personality shine through by customizing the template to reflect your brand.
It’s not a proper invoice if it doesn’t display your company logo – especially since it’s one of the first things your client will see! For this, make sure you already have your company logo saved somewhere on your computer.
On Google Docs, locate “Insert” from the menu bar running just beneath the file title. Hover over “Image” and select “Upload from computer”. Feel free to resize the logo or move it to different parts of the template!
The location of the placeholder address will differ depending on the template you’re working on. However, it’s usually at the top of the invoice template.
Simply delete the placeholder address and replace it with your business’s real address.
A proper invoice will also includes a section for client details. Manually enter or copy and paste your client’s name, address, and any other necessary details here.
At its core, an invoice is an itemized list of all the products and services you’ll provide to your client.
It’s comprised of different sections that are organized and itemized to give everyone a clear picture of the transaction. For the client, in particular, it also easily shows how much they need to pay you.
As the name suggests, the “Description” column is reserved for brief details about the goods or services the client has received.
For example, if you charge a labor fee, it’s important to let your client know what exactly this fee covers. This can include aspects such as cleanup, installation, and so on!
Since an invoice is an itemized list of the products and services your client has received, it’s also essential to list the quantity of each!
Quantity can either be the number of products you have provided to your client or the number of hours you have worked. This will depend entirely on the nature of the product or service.
The price is what you charge for each individual unit of product or hour of service, multiplied by the quantity.
Make sure to fill out the price for each product or service and check that the template calculated the total price automatically. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to compute this manually!
You’ll also need to fill in any sections that cover taxes, shipping, or any additional charges for your client. Before sending it their way, double-check the invoice one more time to see if the final total is correct and reflects all charges.
Happy with the invoice now? It’s time to save and export it!
While working on Google Docs, you’ll notice that the document automatically saves any changes you make.
However, when sending invoices to a client, it’s good practice to send Portable Document Files (PDF) as they’re compact and aren’t as editable as an ordinary document file.
To send your Google Docs invoice as a PDF:
All in all, Google Docs is a reliable, free platform that allows freelancers and business owners to design their own invoices. For the most part, it’s a decent tool that’ll churn out ready-to-send invoices in minutes.
However, if you’re a larger business working with multiple clients or find yourself spending hours just to prepare invoices, you may want something that’s just a little more efficient.
Luckily, we have you covered here at Bonsai! Our powerful platform provides you with a comprehensive invoicing solution that streamlines the entire process.
And because it takes just a fraction of the time compared to using Google Docs, you’ll be able to focus on actually running your business.
When you sign up for Bonsai, you’ll get:
No more stress over figuring out who hasn’t paid yet and whose payment deadlines are fast approaching.
Bonsai allows you to set automated reminders so that your clients are aware of when they need to pay!
Sure, Google Docs invoices work fine, but they can quickly look stale and feel like a one-size-fits-all solution.
Bonsai knows that payments aren’t always straightforward, so there are plenty of solutions on offer to help you figure out what works best for you.
Bonsai even supports partial payments so clients can pay part of their invoice upfront and give you peace of mind!
You can also set up a retainer agreement and define a long-term partnership with clients.
One thing you may have noticed with working on Google Docs is that the number of templates are pretty limited.
In comparison, Bonsai has a massive range of invoice templates available so you’ll always be able to find something suits your needs best!
Whether you’re a consultant or a wedding photographer, you’ll be spoiled for choice with number of professional templates available — ready to be the perfect fit for your brand.
If you don’t want to leave the familiarity of Google Docs, Bonsai even has a free customizable template for the platform. Browse around and you’re guaranteed to find the right template for you!
Google Docs is a good choice when you’re just starting out, but its limitations make it a lot more cumbersome when you begin to expand.
Fortunately, Bonsai offers the basics of Google Docs and builds them into something even greater with a platform that makes the invoicing process smoother, automated, and more efficient.
Still not sure? Not to worry — Bonsai offers a free, 7-day trial and gives you risk-free access to virtually everything you could ever need. Try it today!
Are you looking for the best online invoice generator? In this article, we dive into why online invoice generators are essential – and the best ones available in 2023!
Looking for the best invoicing software for your small business? Learn how Bonsai is able to streamline invoicing, payments, and financial insights in this post!
Did you know you can create professional-looking invoices with Excel? No? Come and learn with us how to make an invoice in Excel using this ultimate guide.
