A painting invoice is a billing document detailing the specific painting services provided to a client. When creating an invoice, it’s important to use clear, organized, and easy-to-understand descriptions so your clients know exactly where their money is going.
A professional painting invoice will not only make it easier for you to bill your clients accurately, but it will also make your company look more professional and keep your clients satisfied.
Here, we will learn how to create an invoice for a painting business.
Items to Include on an Invoice
A professional house painting invoice is a must-have for any contractor looking to stay on top of their finances and client accounts. Not only does it ease the stress of tracking your income and services rendered, but it can also serve as a great tool to monitor the growth of your business.
A great painter’s invoice template typically includes the following items.
Header With the Basics
The header is an important part of your invoice because it contains the details about your business, the client, and the invoice. Adding your company logo to the header makes your invoice look more professional and adds a personalized feel to the document.
The header includes your company name, address, contact information, issuance date, and invoice number. It also includes the customer’s name, billing address, email, and phone number. As part of the header, you must also include the project name and project address, as well as the start date and completion dates.
Project Overview
This is an optional part of a house painting invoice, but it can make it look more professional and improve customer relationships. Just beneath the header section, briefly and clearly explain the project your customer has and provide a solution to solve their specific issues.
Line-Item Description
This section contains the details of all the services you offered during the job. In the description column, briefly explain the job done. In the rates column, add your charge per hour for each service, which may vary depending on the service.
The subtotal column contains the total charge for each individual service. Depending on the job, you can add additional columns such as “Measurement” for the areas covered and “Components” for parts of the premises worked on. When filling out our invoice, keep this section straightforward so your customers can understand at a glance how much is being charged for what.
Invoices for interior painting may differ slightly from those for exterior paintings because the latter often involves washing and priming the outside of a home. Since no two painting jobs are exactly the same, this section should be adapted to best describe each painting job.
Total Cost
Just below the line-item description section is where you calculate the total cost charged for the job. If there are additional taxes and fees, clearly state them along with the total cost.
Additional Information
At the end of the invoice, you should include all the available payment options and terms for your contract. If there are extra charges, service fees, warranties, or late payment fees, briefly state them.
If your business offers a warranty, include it when sending the invoice to your customer. With software like Invoice Ninja, you can electronically create a professional house painting invoice.
Best Practices for House Painting Invoices
Now you know what is included in a house painting invoice. Here are some additional tips to write a painting invoice:
- Provide customers with several contact channels in case they have questions about the invoice.
- Make it easy for your customers to make payments by providing multiple payment options with a focus on electronic methods.
- Utilize professional and easy-to-read invoice templates like the ones available on Invoice Ninja.
- Check to confirm that your invoice meets all the conditions contained in the client’s initial agreement.
- Always list additional costs, such as late fees and taxes, separately.
When Is the Best Time to Send an Invoice?
It is best to send an invoice soon after successfully completing the painting job. It is perfectly acceptable to send an invoice within twenty-four to forty-eight hours after finishing the project. You can also send the client a receipt for their records showing that the bill is paid.
After sending an invoice to your customer, ensure your customer makes payment in full. Most painters receive their payments within a week of finishing. However, the actual due date of an invoice is normally thirty days after the issuance date. When you receive payment, always retain a copy of the invoice for tax purposes and tracking your business’s cash flow.
Final Thoughts
When you add a new coat of paint to a home, make sure you keep these invoicing tips in mind so you bill your clients quickly and accurately. If you need an already prepared, but easily customizable free template, Invoice Ninja has what you need!