Tips for more accurate and effective billing
Posted: Mon Jan 06, 2025 5:45 am
Whether you have a one-time job, are self-employed or an entrepreneur, you need to know how to invoice your clients in a simple and effective way. If you are here, it is probably because you are not very clear on how to do it, because before becoming an entrepreneur you were an employee, and invoices were a formality that was far from you. Until now.
Entrepreneurship requires organization, and invoicing is one of the most important aspects within this necessary order. It is important not to underestimate the art of invoicing, because it is an aspect in which first-time entrepreneurs, especially those who do not have online invoicing tools such as Holded, make the most mistakes.
So, in order to help you, we will highlight some of the aspects to take into account when preparing and structuring invoices:
The work, always well aimed
The best way to ensure that you are france number data billing what you should is to record the time worked and the resources invested in a client's project, regardless of the type of work.
To do this, you can use specific tools that offer fields in which to record each task or, more simply, use classic spreadsheets to record the hours and days of work.
Set the periodicity
How often do you plan to invoice? Weekly? Biweekly? Monthly? Negotiate with the client when you will invoice them and how often. Once you have agreed, try to stick to that schedule because that way the client will be able to automate their payments as well. The more regular the invoices, the more organized your invoices will be.
Terms of payment
Payment terms should also be discussed in the initial conversation with the client. How the invoice will be paid and in what instalments. Will it be paid with PayPal ? By bank transfer? Within 30 days? Within 90 days?
Above all, keep this basic rule in mind: the easier you make it for the customer in terms of payment, the quicker they will find a way to pay the outstanding invoice.
Respect, education and firmness
It often happens that you have to go and ask the client for the money. It is an unpleasant task, of course. But if you are embarrassed to go through this process, remember that the clients are not doing you a favor by paying you that money: you did a job, now it is their responsibility and they must pay you for that work. Period. Try to keep up appearances and approach the client with respect and education, but do not forgive invoices for fear of inconveniencing them, because their obligation is to pay without you having to go after them. If you have to go and ask for the money, it is because they have skipped that obligation.
The work is complete: it's time to issue the invoice
Never try to collect the invoice in advance, because it will not work and the only thing you can achieve by doing so is losing the client. If you want to collect payment for a job, no matter how much of a hurry you are in, wait until you have completed it completely and the client is satisfied.
Entrepreneurship requires organization, and invoicing is one of the most important aspects within this necessary order. It is important not to underestimate the art of invoicing, because it is an aspect in which first-time entrepreneurs, especially those who do not have online invoicing tools such as Holded, make the most mistakes.
So, in order to help you, we will highlight some of the aspects to take into account when preparing and structuring invoices:
The work, always well aimed
The best way to ensure that you are france number data billing what you should is to record the time worked and the resources invested in a client's project, regardless of the type of work.
To do this, you can use specific tools that offer fields in which to record each task or, more simply, use classic spreadsheets to record the hours and days of work.
Set the periodicity
How often do you plan to invoice? Weekly? Biweekly? Monthly? Negotiate with the client when you will invoice them and how often. Once you have agreed, try to stick to that schedule because that way the client will be able to automate their payments as well. The more regular the invoices, the more organized your invoices will be.
Terms of payment
Payment terms should also be discussed in the initial conversation with the client. How the invoice will be paid and in what instalments. Will it be paid with PayPal ? By bank transfer? Within 30 days? Within 90 days?
Above all, keep this basic rule in mind: the easier you make it for the customer in terms of payment, the quicker they will find a way to pay the outstanding invoice.
Respect, education and firmness
It often happens that you have to go and ask the client for the money. It is an unpleasant task, of course. But if you are embarrassed to go through this process, remember that the clients are not doing you a favor by paying you that money: you did a job, now it is their responsibility and they must pay you for that work. Period. Try to keep up appearances and approach the client with respect and education, but do not forgive invoices for fear of inconveniencing them, because their obligation is to pay without you having to go after them. If you have to go and ask for the money, it is because they have skipped that obligation.
The work is complete: it's time to issue the invoice
Never try to collect the invoice in advance, because it will not work and the only thing you can achieve by doing so is losing the client. If you want to collect payment for a job, no matter how much of a hurry you are in, wait until you have completed it completely and the client is satisfied.