Invoice Sample

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lucky1974

Senior Member
Location
Michigan
Hi, I am getting ready to have some invoice's made that have 2-3 copy's with them. I amnow write up 2 and give customer one, real waste of time. I just want to see what others are putting on theirs. Just don't want to waste money on them and later have to have them redone because i missed some thing. If someone has one they are willing to let me see i would be VERY appreciative. If possible PM me with the info. Thanks Jason
 

jmsbrush

Senior Member
Location
Central Florida
I know in our state everything has to have our license number on it.
Mine pretty much has everything on there, Fax, telephone,logo,address. Things of that nature.
 

PCN

Senior Member
Location
New England
We use Quickbooks Pro, great program for invoicing, bookeeping etc... You can customize your invoice to be as detailed or vague as you want.

For on the spot billing we use a standard service invoice from NEBS, Then just enter that info into the Quickbooks program back at the shop.

Basically you want to show hourly rate, hours worked, specific task(s) performed, items installed, price per item, sales tax.

And the biggest one at the bottom PAYMENT DUE ON RECEIPT. :D
 

bradleyelectric

Senior Member
Location
forest hill, md
We use Quickbooks Pro, great program for invoicing, bookeeping etc... You can customize your invoice to be as detailed or vague as you want.

For on the spot billing we use a standard service invoice from NEBS, Then just enter that info into the Quickbooks program back at the shop.

Basically you want to show hourly rate, hours worked, specific task(s) performed, items installed, price per item, sales tax.

And the biggest one at the bottom PAYMENT DUE ON RECEIPT. :D

No no, do not show hourly rate, hours worked, items installed, or price per item!! That only leads to scrutiny and limits the amount you can charge.

Logo and complete contact information. Unique selling proposition. Area to list detailed services performed. Total invoice amount, warranty information. Terms
 

PCN

Senior Member
Location
New England
No no, do not show hourly rate, hours worked, items installed, or price per item!! That only leads to scrutiny and limits the amount you can charge.

Logo and complete contact information. Unique selling proposition. Area to list detailed services performed. Total invoice amount, warranty information. Terms

If your doing a T & M job how can you not show that? I'd be hesitant to pay if my plumber came to my house and gave me a bill for $500.00 for a service call with no breakout of parts, rates etc.... If he just said "had to replace your pump $500.00." Not good enough for me.

If it's contract work that's different, or if you tell someone $2000.00 flatrate for a sevice upgrade.

If your honest let em scutinize all day. :D
 

lucky1974

Senior Member
Location
Michigan
Acually guys i was looking more for the legal needs. This is what i have on there scrutinize and please add what you think i should have added.Also what should i pay for 500-1000 carbon invoices, any good place to go. I have not done any pricing yet because i wanted to make sure i only had to do them once.I have company name and all my licensing info on top.



For any and all work to be performed it is agreed that the customer will pay 50% down upon agreement to hire, and the entire remaining balance upon completion of the performed task(s). Electrician will reserve the right to pursue legal action for any failure to pay for completed work in a timely manner.

This bid for electrical work is only an estimate. Although every reasonable effort will be made to complete the work for the estimated price, fluctuations in materials costs will sometimes occur. Furthermore, Electrician will not be held responsible for any loss of income or costs incurred by the customer due to unforeseeable delays in the work performed. This bid covers only the specific electrical work outlined above. Additional work may be needed to correct any NEC or local code violations discovered while performing the above task(s).

It will also be agreed that the customer will not hold the electrician responsible for accidental damage caused to the property as a result of obtaining access to or exposing electrical wiring or systems. The electrician will not be held responsible for any installation, removal, replacement, or repairs to any non-electrical items, including but not limited to the following: furniture, flooring, drywall, carpeting, art, millwork, siding, trim, moldings, windows, cabinets, plumbing, sprinkler systems, roofing, flashing, painting, gutters and downspouts, brick, insulation, and building framing. By signing below you agree to accept the terms above. This proposal can be withdrawn if not accepted within ______days
 

bobbyho

Senior Member
Lucky, I would be careful about talking about changes in material prices. This can have an adverse effect. If someone knows that copper is going down, they may call you out on it. Today's customer have unlimited access to prices via the internet and you will stumble across this person at some point if not already. Additionally, in regards to the delays caused by others (contractors, designers, lighting suppliers) make sure they know that if you are scheduled to come out and they are not ready you will charge them a particular hourly rate and that this is done by an additional work order. I also let them know that they have to get back in line and don't automatically get the first available day just because their delay is finally resolved. The old saying "Your lack of planning is not my emergency" Sounds mean but it is the reality.
 

bradleyelectric

Senior Member
Location
forest hill, md
If your honest let em scutinize all day. :D

If I handed you a bill for $500. I honesty just handed you a bill for $500. No joke. If your plumber just handed you a bill for $500. to replace a pump, apperantly that is what he charges to change the pump. When I pay a fuel bill, it does not include how much was for the raw fuel, how much was for a refining facility, how much was labor, how much was executive junket. Wal mart doesn't break out how much they paid for an item and how much is labor. If customers complain about your bill raise your price. It'll give you a better class of customers.
 

PCN

Senior Member
Location
New England
jWhen I pay a fuel bill, it does not include how much was for the raw fuel, how much was for a refining facility, how much was labor, how much was executive junket. Wal mart doesn't break out how much they paid for an item and how much is labor. .

Right, but we are talking about the service industry. Two totaly different worlds.

If you break your tractor while poping a wheelie, your not sure what's wrong with it and bring it to the local tractor repair guy and he fixes it. Then he gives you a bill for $1000.00 with no explanation what so ever of time or parts you just say "ok bud" here's a $1000.00. No questions asked. Your ok with "that's what I charge for fixing tractors sir"
You have more faith in humanity than I do.
 

bradleyelectric

Senior Member
Location
forest hill, md
Most of my customers wear Gucci and Armani. :D

That doesn't make them a better class of anything. Why would a service business act as if it wasn't as good as any other business?

In the picture I am tractor pulling with an 8N ford with the 4 cylinder swapped out for a V8 flathead. If you can get the tractor balanced just right it will lift the front wheels off the ground about a foot and carry it about like that. It puts just the right amount of pressure on the rear wheels for best traction. The tractor was only traveling a couple miles an hour in the picture, but it will do a heck of a burnout and do about 45 miles an hour in road gear.

We made the engine swap in a friend of mines barn. It took the better part of a year and a lot of fabricating. If the frontend came down hard it wouldn't be hard to figure out what was broken and bolt the new pieces on unless it broke the carriage. Not much chance of that happening.

A better example would be the guy that fixes my Mercedes and trucks. I don't fool with them much. I take them to Mikey and he does whatever needs to be done. Sometimes he doesn't have the bill figured up when we go to pick them up and we take them anyway. When he hands me a bill I pay it. What is important to me is they are in proper operating order and he will be there the next time I need something, not how much a spark plug or air filter costs from him.
 

tonyou812

Senior Member
Location
North New Jersey
Most of my customers dont really care about the breakdown. I usually just write what I did and how much it cost. But than again Im a flat rate price guy. But if they ever ask me for one I can accomodate.
 

bradleyelectric

Senior Member
Location
forest hill, md
Most of my customers dont really care about the breakdown. I usually just write what I did and how much it cost. But than again Im a flat rate price guy. But if they ever ask me for one I can accomodate.

I also just write down what I did and a total cost. I used to do a total breakdown but don't anymore.

What would your breakdown look like?
 
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...Also what should i pay for 500-1000 carbon invoices, any good place to go...

I just got some done at Minuteman press. They're fast, and the quality is good.

I paid $170 for 250 carbonless... but they're full color... and man do the look GOOD! Makes you HAPPY to be invoiced by me!
I think the price was somewhere around $70 for the same in B&W...

Again, prices decrease as quantities increase.
 

bradleyelectric

Senior Member
Location
forest hill, md
I just got some done at Minuteman press. They're fast, and the quality is good.

I paid $170 for 250 carbonless... but they're full color... and man do the look GOOD! Makes you HAPPY to be invoiced by me!
I think the price was somewhere around $70 for the same in B&W...

Again, prices decrease as quantities increase.

I also had mine done at Minuteman. The 1 in my town is owned by someone I've known since we were 5 yo. Mine are black and white though. Don't remember the price but do remember they seemed reasonable. They are 2 part carbonless.
 

WJR

Member
Lucky 1974,

You?re on the right track with wanting to be very specific in your proposals. Try not to leave any gray area at all. The more specific you can be, the better.

The problem with printing up proposals with boiler plate verbiage is that the information has a tendency to vary from project to project. You might want to consider putting together a master proposal in Microsoft word that contains all possibilities.

You might want to consider including the following sections:

* Opening paragraph: Lucky Electrical respectfully submits this proposal in conjunction with electrical work???

* Scope of work

* Blueprint information

* The date that the prices are valid till

* Is the bid based on Per Plan, Value Engineered, etc.

* Inclusions and qualifications: What exactly is included or excluded. This would also include your legal verbiage.

* Light Fixture inclusions

* Proposal acceptance where you and your customer can sign.

* Include your company information in the footer.


If you have everything in the master proposal, simply can make a copy of the master proposal for each project and then just delete the verbiage that you don?t need for that project.

I know this seems like a lot but I?ve found that customers like detailed proposals. By submitting highly detailed proposals, you're able to generate a certain amount of credibility. Your customers will feel a certain comfort level that you?re on top of your game and that you have everything covered. Sometimes perception means a lot. If you can sell confidence, you don?t always have to be the low bid.

I have attached some screen shots that show some examples of different inclusions and qualifications. I have also attached a sample proposal in PDF that you might be able to get some ideas from.

Good luck!
 
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