Just lost a client because they couldn’t make sense of my invoice. Apparently, it was too complicated. Now I’m on the hunt for a template that’s clear and straightforward.
Anyone else deal with this? What’s worked for you in terms of keeping invoices simple yet professional?
Just use pen and paper. Write job hours and price.
Clients get that. Never had trouble with it.
Simple’s the way to go. List the job, hours, and price. That’s it.
I use a basic Excel sheet. One column for the work, one for hours, one for the rate, one for the total.
At the bottom, put the grand total in big numbers. Can’t miss it.
Throw in a line for each item describing what you did to jog their memory.
Before you send it, have your kid look at it. If they get it, the client will too.
Been doing this for years. Never had a client confused or complain. They pay on time because they know exactly what they’re paying for.
Losing a client over an invoice? That’s rough. Been there.
Here’s what works for me:
I use Google Sheets. It’s free and does the job.
Pro tip: Before sending, show it to someone who doesn’t know your business. If they get it, your client will too.
Remember, an invoice isn’t about showing off. It’s about getting paid. Keep it simple, stupid.
Been there, done that. Lost a big client a few years back because of a confusing invoice. It was a wake-up call.
Here’s what I do now:
Keep it super simple. Just list the service, hours, and cost.
Use plain language. No fancy terms.
Add a short description for each item. Helps clients remember what they’re paying for.
Put the total amount due in big, bold numbers at the bottom.
Include clear payment instructions.
I use a basic Word template. Nothing fancy, but clients get it. Haven’t had issues since.
Remember, if they can’t understand it, they might not pay it. Keep it simple, keep it clear.
I just use a basic Word doc. List the job, hours, and price. Keep it simple.
Clients don’t care about fancy stuff. They just want to know what they’re paying for.
If it looks confusing, scrap it and start over.
I’ve had good luck with a bare-bones invoice layout. Just list the job, hours, and total due.
Add a short note for each line item to jog their memory. Put the grand total in large text at the bottom.
I use a basic spreadsheet template. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done and clients understand it. The key is keeping things clear and simple.