If you’re just starting your business and you’ve never created an invoice before, here’s how to create an invoice. Once you’ve got the basics down, consider personalizing your invoices.
There’s no reason to feel intimidated. The digital age has made accounting easier, according to UAB, even for small business owners. In this article, we’re going to teach you why making personalized invoices is worth the effort and how do to it. Let’s get started.
Why Make Personalized Invoices?
Advancements in technology have resulted in fundamental changes in how we communicate with customers, and invoicing is no exception. According to the financial experts at Firm of the Future, “As more financial tasks become digitized, empathetic user experiences are critical to deliver a high-quality customer experience.” Fortunately, personalization is becoming easier than ever. For now, personalized invoices might be as close as you can get. You want your business to be memorable, but sending the exact same invoice as every freelancer on the block won’t make you any more memorable than the next. The invoice is how you get paid, and every business owner knows it’s ideal to get paid as fast as possible. With personalized invoices, you’re more likely to stand out and initiate action right away, getting you paid faster. A personalized invoice also shows that you’re on top of your game — it’s more professional and sets you apart from the side-hustlers and one-offs as an actual business owner. This special touch could lead to stronger relationships, more assignments, and referrals.How to Make a Personalized Invoice
Now that you know why personalized invoices matter, here’s how to create them: 1. Show Off Your Brand Your invoice should reflect your brand. One way to do this is by choosing an accounting software that offers customizable templates from Intuit. If you’re a writer, you’d probably choose a different template than a designer would. Likewise, keep your tone consistent. If you’re usually very formal when communicating with your clients, make sure your invoice maintains that tone. It’s also OK to keep your tone more casual if that’s how you usually present yourself. It doesn’t have to be cold just because it’s an invoice. 2. Mention Your Client’s Name Personalization shouldn’t exclusively reflect your brand — it should catch the eye of your client with their name or their business name. 3. Offer Payment Options Not every client will be comfortable with the same forms of payment. Some might prefer a check while others will want to pay you through PayPal. Accommodating their payment preferences could get you paid faster. 4. Itemize Everything You might have discussed what you’re charging for at the beginning of negotiations with this client, but laying it out on the invoice will eliminate any potential confusion. 5. Use the Comments Section The comments section is a great place to mention your client’s name. You can also include a personalized message, but try to stick to one of these suggestions:- Leave a thank you note
- Suggest another project or continued business opportunity
- Provide a useful link
- Offer a referral to someone you trust, if you know your client needs their services