Getting paid
What to include on an invoice (so you get paid faster)
A clear invoice gets paid faster than a vague one. Clients pay quickly when there's nothing to question and it's obvious how to pay. Here's the complete checklist.
The essentials
- Your business name and contact details — so the client knows exactly who to pay and how to reach you.
- The client's name and address — addressed to the right person or department.
- A unique invoice number — for easy reference on both sides.
- The invoice date — and the due date, so the deadline is unmistakable.
- Itemised list of goods or services — each with a description, quantity, and price.
- Subtotal, tax, and total due — clearly separated, with the final amount easy to spot.
- Payment terms and methods — when it's due and how to pay (bank transfer, card, etc.).
Small touches that speed up payment
Make the total obvious. Put the amount due in bold near the bottom. A busy client should see what they owe in one glance.
Keep terms short. Net 14 gets you paid roughly two weeks sooner than Net 30, and most clients don't mind.
Include your payment details on the invoice itself. If a client has to email you to ask how to pay, that's a delay you created. List your bank details or a payment link right there.
Add a gentle late-fee note. "A 2% monthly fee applies to overdue balances" nudges people to prioritise your invoice without being aggressive.
Make it look professional
A clean, consistent layout signals that you're organised and serious — which subtly encourages prompt payment. Our free invoice generator includes every item on this checklist by default and exports a tidy PDF in seconds.