Every small business needs the same invoice backbone: branding, sequential number, itemized lines, tax where applicable, and terms with a real date. This template is the general-purpose version — upload the logo, set your tax rate once, and the tool remembers your details for every future invoice.
If your work matches a specialized template — trades, freelance, consulting, cleaning — start there instead: the prefills carry industry-specific terms that this general version keeps neutral.
The five details that get invoices paid faster
A due *date* rather than bare “net 14”; the payment method with details on the invoice itself; a contact for questions (queries that can’t find an email become silent non-payments); the customer’s PO number if one exists; and an invoice number the payment can reference. All five have homes in this template.
Send invoices the day the work completes — invoice age at sending is the strongest predictor of payment lag a small business controls.
Housekeeping that compounds
One numbering sequence, no gaps, no restarts — it’s the spine of your bookkeeping and the first thing an accountant or auditor reconstructs. The History panel keeps every document with a status (draft/sent/paid), giving you a receivables list without software.
Set the tax field to your actual obligation: sales tax where registered, VAT/GST if applicable, zero if not. Collecting tax you shouldn’t — or missing tax you must — costs more to unwind than to get right once.
Download this document in an editable format
Use the generator above, then choose Word or Excel in the download menu. The file is created locally from the current document.
Frequently asked questions
What must a small business invoice include?
Business identity, customer, unique sequential number, issue date, itemized description, amounts, tax where applicable, total, and payment terms. Registered-entity numbers (company/VAT) where your jurisdiction requires them.
Net 14 or net 30?
Net 14 for small-business and consumer clients; net 30 where corporate AP demands it. Shorter terms with a stated late policy measurably shrink average days-to-paid.
Do I need invoicing software?
At low volume, no — this generator plus disciplined numbering and PDF filing covers invoicing. Graduate to software when you need automated reminders, reconciliation with your bank feed, or multi-user access.
How do I handle deposits?
Invoice the deposit as its own document, then show it under “Amount paid” on the final invoice so the balance line is unambiguous. Never net deposits invisibly into lower line prices.