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Invoicing

What should go on a contractor's invoice?

By Wild & Resourceful · October 27, 2026 · 3 min read

Short answer: your business details, the client's details, a unique invoice number, the issue date, an exact due date, a clear list of what you're charging, the total due, and how to pay. Add deposit and balance details if the job has them.

The basics

  1. Your business info at the top: name, phone, email, and address.
  2. The client's name and address, so the invoice reaches the right person.
  3. A unique invoice number. Number them in order so you can find any invoice later.
  4. The issue date (the day you send it) and the due date.
  5. Itemized charges: a description, quantity, rate, and the line total for each item.
  6. The total amount due, easy to spot.
  7. Payment terms and methods: how and when to pay, and any deposit already paid or balance remaining.
  8. Notes, if you need them, such as a thank-you or a reminder of the agreed terms.

Write the due date out

"Net 15," "net 30," and "due upon receipt" are common, but several invoice guides recommend also writing the exact date, like "Due by November 30." A specific date is easier to remember, and it leaves less room for arguments.

Keep a copy of everything

Save each invoice, paid or not, in an organized place, such as one folder per client. They support your records at tax time. Ask your accountant how long to keep them, since that depends on your situation.

Do you need accounting software? Not just to send an invoice. A simple tool that makes a clean invoice can be enough to get started. Accounting software does more, like tracking income and expenses. Whatever you use, keep your records, and ask a tax professional about the rest. This is general information, not tax advice.

If you want a simple invoice tool

This one opens in your browser, saves only on your own device, and exports to PDF. It is not accounting software, and it says so up front.

Simple Invoice Maker for Contractors

$24, ZIP with an HTML tool and a 3-page guide. For contractors who want a clean invoice without another app. No app, no subscription. Not accounting software.

See it on Gumroad

More blogs to read

Sources

Checked October 27, 2026. Rules and numbers change, so confirm anything important on the source page.

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