Plumbing Invoice Template

Invoices can help establish trust through billing transparency. They make cash flow tracking simpler, and they can even save you from having to chase down late payments. In this article, we’ll look at how to create an effective plumbing invoice.

What to Include on the Invoice

If you’re creating a plumbing invoice template for the first time, make sure you at least include the following:

• Your company name and information
• The client name and contact information
• The unique invoice number and the date
• An itemized list of services and their prices
• The total due and the due date

Your invoice should also state your payment terms, which include the amount of time the client has to pay, the payment methods you accept and any late fees or early payment discounts.

Types of Plumbing Invoices to Keep

For many plumbers, no two days on the job are exactly alike. Instead of just creating one standard plumbing invoice, it’s a good idea to have three types:

• Repair Invoice: Documents the issue you found, what you did to repair it and the total cost
• Service Invoice: Used for routine maintenance and service calls
• Installation Invoice: Documents the price of the unit installed, haul-away costs and price of labor

Specialized invoices like these help clients understand exactly what they’re being billed for.

Estimating Labor and Parts

When setting pricing for labor and parts, you should first understand your fully burdened labor rate, which includes employee wages, taxes and insurance. Many plumbers add a 10% to 20% markup to ensure each job is profitable.

Setting Payment Terms

The terms you set are up to you. Many plumbers make payment due upon receipt for smaller jobs and use net 15 or net 30 payment terms for larger jobs.

Your payment terms are an important part of your invoice. You should also outline them when you draft a plumbing service agreement. If a customer fails to pay and you need to send a demand letter or file a lawsuit, having proof that they agreed to your terms can be incredibly helpful.

When to Send the Invoice

It’s generally a good idea to send an invoice immediately after work is done. However, for very large projects, you might send an invoice for a deposit before work begins and then invoice for the remaining balance once work is complete.

Tips to Get Paid Faster

Here are a few tips to help you receive payment faster:

• Send your invoice while on site.
• Offer early payment discounts.
• Set late fees.
• Require deposits for larger jobs.
• Use invoicing software to send payment reminders.

These tips may not only benefit your business. If you draft a plumbing subcontractor agreement, securing payment faster means your subcontractor gets paid quickly, too.

Why It’s Important to Have the Right Invoice and Other Documents

When you have clear and detailed invoices, contracts and other documents, you can dramatically reduce your risk of running into payment disputes. ConsumerShield can help you find out what documents you need to protect your company. Explore our library of legal document templates and guides today.