Create a free invoice
Fill in the details and the invoice builds itself. Add line items, a due date and how you'd like to be paid, then download or print it. Nothing is saved.
A complete invoice names who is billing, who is billed, the work, the cost and the due date. Each line is quantity times price, the lines make a subtotal, and tax applies to that subtotal. Write the due date as a real date rather than “net 30”.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|
How this works
What has to be on an invoice?
At a minimum: your business name and contact details, the customer's name and billing address, a unique invoice number, the date you issued it, a description of what you delivered, the amount due, and the date it is due. Sales tax goes on its own line where it applies, so the customer can see what is tax and what is work. Payment instructions belong on the invoice as well, meaning the account, link or address you want the money sent to. Some states and many larger customers also expect specific details such as a license number or a purchase order, so ask what your biggest clients need before the first invoice goes out.
How should I number my invoices?
Pick one sequence and stay with it. A running number with a prefix, like INV-0042, is enough for most businesses and sorts cleanly in a folder or a spreadsheet. Some owners add the year or a short customer code, which helps when you are hunting for one invoice two years later. Don't reuse a number and don't skip around, because gaps and duplicates are what make a conversation about an unpaid bill harder than it needs to be. If you have been invoicing without numbers, start a sequence from today rather than trying to backfill.
How soon should I send an invoice after the work is done?
The same day where you can, and no later than the end of that week. Invoices that arrive while the work is fresh tend to clear approval faster, because the person signing off still remembers the job. Waiting also pushes your due date back by exactly as long as you waited, so slow invoicing costs you cash directly. If a job runs across several weeks, invoice in stages at agreed milestones instead of holding everything to the end. The habit worth building is sending the invoice before you leave the site or close the file.
Questions people ask
Is this invoice generator really free?
Yes. There's no account, no email address required, and no limit on how many invoices you create. Nothing you type is kept once you close the page, so download or print the finished invoice before you navigate away.
Do I need to charge sales tax?
That depends on your state and on whether what you sell is taxable there, and the rules often differ for goods and for services. If you aren't registered to collect sales tax, leave the rate at 0. Your state's revenue department publishes what applies, and your accountant can confirm it for your situation.
What payment terms should I use?
Net 30 is common with business customers, while shorter terms are normal for smaller jobs and consumer work, and due on receipt is reasonable for one-off services. Whichever you choose, agree it before the work starts and put a calendar due date on the invoice rather than a phrase. Shorter terms only help if the invoice itself goes out promptly.
Can I add a late fee?
You can charge one if you agreed it with the customer in advance, in a quote, contract or set of terms they accepted, and if it is allowed where you operate, since some states limit what you can charge. Put the rate in the notes field so it appears on the invoice itself. Check your state's rules or ask your attorney before you set a number.
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This is an estimate to help you think, not financial, tax or legal advice. Finli is not a bank and does not lend. Your own numbers, and your banker, beat any calculator.