Due date: the date by which payment should be made.

Using three placements for the numbers will ensure they sort in date order. For the BBC you could use BBC001 and BBC002. A common method is to prefix invoices with letters that indicate the client.įor example: If you provided services for IBM and the BBC, for IBM you could use IBM001 and IBM002, etc. Although is called a number it can include letters.

VAT registration number (if VAT registered)Įach of your invoices should have a unique invoice number.

Company telephone number and email address.

The following information should be included on all your invoices: These are all included on our invoice templates at the bottom of this page. Here is a list of the legal requirements for invoices in the UK. If you are just starting out and haven't yet chosen your accountant them please consider our chosen accounting partner who we recommend for providing specialist accounting services for contractors and small business. One of these steps will be to set up your accounts online using one of the popular cloud based systems like FreeAgent or Xero. Your chosen accountant will be able to guide you through our 10 easy steps to setting up your company and getting started. Most contractors will choose an accounting firm who specialises in the contracting industry - see our 10 tips for choosing an accountant.

Gone are the days when you need to use spreadsheets or type invoices out in Word. Whilst we have provided you with templates in Word and Excel below, the accounting system you use should do all of this automatically for you. If the client or agency refuses to pay then you have to follow the correct late invoice payment process to collect your debts and the money owed to you.

And if you don't get paid then you will need to chase payment. Once you've then sent the invoice you will then have to wait normally up to 30 days to get paid.

This guide explains exactly how to prepare an invoice with an example, together with links to our free and fully editable invoice templates in both Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel format. If you are using a limited company as your payment structure you will need to send invoices to your clients for the services you have provided, normally on a monthly basis, and sometimes weekly.

Invoice sample word