Invoicing

First rule is to get the invoice itself right as this document is your route to cash.

Invoices – what they must include

You must clearly display the word ‘invoice’ on the document. An invoice must include:

• A unique identification number / invoice number
• Your company name, address and contact information
• The company name and address of the customer you’re invoicing
• A clear description of what you’re charging for
• The date the goods or service were provided (supply date)
• The date of the invoice
• The amount(s) being charged
• VAT amount if applicable
• The total amount owed

Sole trader invoices

If you’re a sole trader, the invoice must also include:

• Your name and any business or trading name being used
• An address where any legal documents can be delivered to you if you are using a business name

Limited company invoices

If your company is a limited company, you must include the full company name as it appears on the certificate of incorporation.

If you decide to put names of your directors on your invoices, you must include the names of all directors.

VAT invoices

When invoicing, you must use VAT invoices if you are VAT registered. These include more information than non-VAT invoices, specifically the rate of VAT charged and your VAT registration number.

Invoicing System

The invoice document is one thing, equally important is the system you use for invoicing. The invoice system can be manual, computerised or driven from a spreadsheet but good practice dictates that:

• Always invoice when a job is completed or goods delivered, do not leave it to ‘batch invoice’ at a specific time of the month.
• Institute a failsafe check, you should not be able to despatch a product without an invoice being created first.
• Always put payment terms and expected payment date on your invoice to help debtor management.
• Match your payments against the invoices on receipt.
• Actively use an aged debtor report to look at old unpaid invoices.

Ensure you are sending your invoices to the right place and the right person in a company or payment will be delayed.

Invoicing advice from Yorkshire Powerhouse

Have you any questions?

Here at Yorkshire Powerhouse, we’re happy to help as much as possible – is there anything else we can do to help you, do you have any further questions or can we help introduce you to an expert – please let us know: