I’ve been doing handwritten invoices for years, but lately, I’m dropping the ball on tracking payments. It’s getting messy, especially with more clients coming in.
Anyone else stick to paper invoices? How do you stay on top of who’s paid and who hasn’t without going digital?
A simple spreadsheet might help. List clients, invoice numbers, and due dates.
Mark paid ones in green, overdue in red. Easy to update and scan.
Keeps things organized without going fully digital. You can print it monthly if you prefer paper copies.
Paper invoices are fine if they work for you. But you need a system. Get a big desk calendar. Write invoice numbers and amounts on due dates. Cross off when paid. Hang it where you’ll see it daily.
Keep invoices in two piles: paid and unpaid. Move them over when you get the money. Use paperclips to group by client.
If you’re missing payments, call clients. Most forget, they don’t dodge. A quick reminder usually does the trick.
Bottom line: find what works and stick to it. Just make sure you’re getting paid.
I get it. Paper’s simple. Maybe try a wall calendar? Mark due dates and payments there. Quick glance tells you who owes what. Worked for me before I switched to phone apps.
I’ve been there with handwritten invoices. Here’s what saved me:
Got a big whiteboard. Split it into columns: Sent, 1-30 Days, 31-60 Days, 60+ Days.
Write client names and amounts with dry-erase markers. Move them across as time passes.
Erase when paid. Super visual, can’t miss who owes what.
For backup, I snap a pic with my phone every week. Helps if I need to check old stuff.
This worked great until I hit about 30 regular clients. Then it got messy and I finally caved and went digital.
But for now, give the whiteboard a shot. It’s low-tech but does the job.
I just use a notebook and write stuff down. Works okay most of the time. Sometimes I forget though.
Sticking with paper? Respect. But yeah, tracking can be a pain. Here’s what I do:
The ledger’s just a notebook where I jot down invoice numbers, dates, and amounts. Red pen for unpaid, green for paid.
For filing, I’ve got two folders - one for unpaid, one for paid. Move 'em over when the money comes in.
It’s not perfect, but it works for now. Honestly though, I’m thinking about making the switch to digital soon.