If you are going to base your documents on premade templates, at least make sure that you follow a good example of an invoice instead of the disaster described in this article. You might be surprised at the flexibility and diversity of invoice designs, and entrepreneurs quickly learn that what works for one person will not work for everyone.
Regardless of your specific needs, every freelancer or business owner should avoid a few universal DON’TS of the invoice design world:
1. Missing / Unclear Information
This is so important – just because your invoice template may lack a spot for a piece of information doesn’t mean that you can skip it. Any aged example of an invoice may not include fields for critical elements like email addresses or cell phone numbers but they need to be included regardless.
2. Example of an Invoice with Cluttered Design
Unless you’re a graphic designer keep the eye candy to a minimum. Silly fonts, non-logo images, unnecessary colors, and inappropriate font sizes look absolutely unprofessional. Keep your invoice clean and concise and be mindful of the importance of white space! Don’t let your artistic exploration become an example of an invoice gone wrong.
3. Vague Description of Work Completed
Your clients want to know exactly what they’re paying for. If you charge tax, specify the amount. If you completed work but decided not to charge for it, list it anyways. If you sell your services according to quantity make sure that the units are specified. There is no room for speculation when it comes to getting paid.
4. Lack of Record Number
Always issue your invoices with an identification number so that you can refer to it later without confusing your client. It may be tempting to label your invoices by date only, but keeping a running invoice count with each client makes things so much easier when the time comes to review your records.
5. Missing Payment Options
Again – there is no room for speculation when it comes to getting paid. Let your client know exactly where and how to send the funds, even if you already reached a verbal agreement about payment methods.
Are your invoices free of these rookie mistakes?
If so, great job! If not, you might want to consider doing a revision before your next big billing cycle. There is nothing wrong with having a perfectionist attitude toward financial matters – that’s how great business owners stay on top! With careful editing, even the worst example of an invoice nightmare can become a respectable professional document.
