How to create an invoice
How to create an invoice, step by step
A simple, complete guide to creating a professional invoice: what to include, how to format it, and how to send it and get paid. Then make one in minutes with Invco, from $10 a month.
Updated
- Exactly what every invoice should include
- A 5-step walkthrough you can follow today
- Tips to get invoices paid faster
What must every invoice include?
A professional invoice is a clear request for payment. Whether you write it by hand or generate it automatically, every invoice should contain the same core information so your client knows exactly who to pay, how much, and by when.
- The word “Invoice” and a unique invoice number
- Your business name, address and contact details (and logo, if you have one)
- Your client's name and billing address
- The invoice date and the payment due date
- An itemized list of products or services, with quantity, unit price and line total
- Subtotal, any tax (such as VAT or sales tax), discounts and the final total due
- Payment terms and accepted payment methods or bank details
How do you create an invoice in Invco?
With Invco you can turn that checklist into a branded PDF in minutes, and reuse the same template for every future invoice:
- Create your account and pick a plan.
- Add your business details and logo so every invoice is branded as yours.
- Design a template in the drag-and-drop editor, or upload your existing invoice PDF and Invco detects the fields so your own design is reused.
- Add your client and itemize the work. Invco calculates the subtotal, tax and total for you.
- Send the branded PDF from your own email address, then mark it paid when the money arrives. Overdue invoices are flagged automatically.
How can you get invoices paid faster?
How you build and send an invoice has a real effect on how quickly you get paid. A few small habits make a big difference:
- Set clear, short payment terms (for example, “due within 14 days”) and state them on the invoice.
- Use sequential invoice numbers so both you and your client can reference them easily.
- Send the invoice promptly from your own email address so it looks professional and lands in the right inbox.
- Itemize the work clearly so there are no questions that delay payment.
- Follow up as soon as an invoice is overdue. Invco flags overdue invoices automatically, and with its Claude (MCP) integration you can ask Claude to list them or to create and send the next invoice for you.
Frequently asked questions
What information do I need to create an invoice?
At minimum: a unique invoice number, your business details, your client's details, the invoice date and due date, an itemized list of work with prices, the subtotal, any tax, the total due, and how to pay. Invco's invoice form covers each of these and calculates the totals for you.
How do I number my invoices?
Use a simple, sequential scheme such as INV-0001, INV-0002 and so on. Invco numbers invoices sequentially for each company automatically, so your records stay consistent and every invoice has a unique number.
Do I need accounting software to make an invoice?
No. Invco is online invoicing software that runs in your browser, with nothing to install. You can create, send and track professional invoices without separate accounting software, and keep your accountant for the books.
How much does it cost to send an invoice?
Invco is a paid product, priced by how many companies you run: Starter is $10/month for 1 company, Growth is $20/month for up to 3 companies, Pro is $30/month for up to 8 companies, Scale is $50/month for up to 20 companies, and Unlimited is $100/month with no cap. There are no per-invoice fees, every feature is included from day one, and a charge is fully refundable within 7 days.
Create your first invoice
Create your account in under a minute. Plans start at $10/month with every feature included. Cancel any time, with a full refund within 7 days of a charge.
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