Blank Invoice FAQs
1) What is a blank invoice?
A blank invoice is a document a business uses to request payment for goods or services. It doesn’t contain specific transaction details, but serves as a template that users can fill out for each payment request — so businesses can quickly create and send professional invoices that include all the necessary information.
2) What are the different invoice formats?
Businesses may use several different invoice formats, depending on their specific needs and the nature of their work. Here are a few examples:
- Standard invoice: This invoice is the most common. It provides essential information such as the names and contact information of the business and client, products or services rendered, and payment due dates.
- Commercial invoice: Primarily used in international trade, this document includes details required for customs clearance.
- Pro forma invoice: This is a preliminary bill of sale sent to buyers prior to a shipment or delivery of goods.
- Credit invoice: This invoice is appropriate to use when providing refunds or discounts to customers.
- Debit invoice: Businesses can use the debit invoice to inform the client of a price increase on a product or service and charge them for the difference.
- Timesheet: Consultants or freelancers who charge by the hour use timesheets to clearly show how they use their time while doing work for a client.
- Mixed invoice: This format includes both credit and debit charges.
- Electronic invoices: These are invoices delivered via email or another digital format.
3) What should a blank invoice template include?
- Company contact info: The business name, address, phone number, and email let the client know who the invoice is from and where to direct queries.
- Client/customer detail: This includes information about the invoice recipient, such as their name, address, and contact information.
- Products/services purchased: This is where you can provide a detailed list of what you’re billing the client for, including quantities, descriptions, and prices.
- Time until payment is due: This is where you can indicate when you expect to receive payment.
- Payments accepted: This is where you can detail the various forms of payment you’ll accept, whether it’s cash, check, credit card, or online payment systems like PayPal.
- Corrections: This space or section allows you to account for any modifications, adjustments, or corrections to the invoice.
4) When is an invoice due?
The seller sets the due date of an invoice based on their terms of service. A standard term is “due upon receipt,” where payment is expected immediately. Other common terms are “net 30,” “net 60,” etc., which means the invoice is due 30, 60, etc. days from the invoice date.
5) How do you fill out a blank invoice?
Filling out a blank invoice involves these steps:
- Entering your company’s contact details
- Adding the client’s contact details
- Listing the products or services provided, along with quantities and prices
- Calculating the total amount due, including tax, if applicable
- Indicating the due date for payment
- Detailing the acceptable payment methods
- Reviewing the invoice for accuracy before sending it to the client
Jotform offers a number of templates that speed up the invoice creation process and promote consistency. Additionally, you can share the invoice from the platform itself, streamlining your delivery process.
6) Where do you send an invoice?
After you fill out the invoice details, you send it to the person or entity responsible for making the payment — typically the company’s finance or accounts payable department. Depending on your business’s standard practices and the recipient’s preferences, you can send the invoice by mail, email, fax, or through a digital invoicing system.