Invoicing guides.
Plain-English answers to the questions every business asks about invoices, terms and late payments.
Invoicing basics
- What is an invoice?A plain-language definition of an invoice, the common types you'll come across, and the details that make one hold up in your records.5 min readRead
- Invoice vs receipt: what is the difference?An invoice asks for payment. A receipt proves it happened. Here's how the two differ and when your business needs each one.5 min readRead
- Invoice numbering: formats and examplesChoose an invoice numbering system that stays clean as you grow, with examples of each format and the rules that keep your records easy to audit.5 min readRead
- What is a proforma invoice?What a proforma invoice is, when it's used in international trade and deposit billing, and how it compares to a commercial invoice and an estimate.5 min readRead
- Invoice vs bill: is there a difference?Seller says invoice, buyer says bill. Here's when the two words mean the same thing, when they don't, and what to call the document you send.5 min readRead
- Credit note vs debit note: what's the difference?Both adjust an invoice after it's sent, in opposite directions. Here's who issues each one, how buyer and seller record them, and when to use which.5 min readRead
Getting paid
- Invoice payment terms explainedWhat Net 30, EOM, and 2/10 Net 30 actually mean, how late fees work, and how to pick terms that suit your cash flow and your clients.6 min readRead
- How to get paid fasterNine practical changes, from deposits to reminders, that shorten the time between finishing the work and seeing the money.5 min readRead
- Payment reminder email templatesCopy-and-paste reminder emails for before the due date, the day it's due, one week and one month overdue, and a final notice.6 min readRead
Estimates & quotes
- How to write an estimateEstimates, quotes, and bids explained, plus what to include, how to price with confidence, and how to turn an approved estimate into an invoice.6 min readRead
- Estimate vs quote: what's the difference?An estimate is your best guess. A quote is a promise. Here's how to choose between them, word them clearly, and handle a price that needs to change.5 min readRead
Running your business
- How to invoice as a freelancerHow to set up invoicing as a freelancer, from choosing hourly, project, or retainer pricing to deposits, contracts, and setting money aside for taxes.5 min readRead
- Packing slip vs packing list: what's the difference?One goes inside the box for the customer. The other travels with the freight for carriers and customs. Here's how to tell them apart and when you need each.5 min readRead
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