Clear communication is one of the most important things for a business owner to master, particularly regarding finances.
This is definitely true for the owners of service-based businesses, in which time and expertise are provided to clients in exchange for payment.
In this article, we share our top tips on how to write an invoice for services rendered. We include:
By the end of this guide, you’ll have all the tools you need to create well-structured, attractive invoices for your clients.
P.S. If you don't want to read through it all, you can also take a look at all our invoice templates and send them with Bonsai in a few minutes!
Let’s dive in!
Service-based businesses provide services rather than goods for their clients. This encompasses a huge range of companies, including (among others):
Service-based businesses consist of individuals or teams of people providing their time and expertise to cater to the needs of their clients. Instead of being paid based on products provided, these businesses are paid for services rendered.
Due to the lack of tangible goods, documentation in the form of invoices is particularly important. It not only helps to establish clear expectations, but it also opens the way for the development of strong, transparent, and mutually beneficial relationships with your clients.
Each encounter, driven by a well-structured service invoice, displays service providers’ professionalism and commitment, fostering a culture of trust, satisfaction, and long-term involvement.
If you’re running a service-based business, you must know how to write an invoice for a service.
Service invoices usually contain a breakdown of:
Creating one of these invoices sounds easy, but there’s more work to it than you might think!
Not only do you need to include all the necessary information, it needs to look appealing so that it reflects well on your company. There’s also a ton of follow-up — you’ll need to keep track of payments, answer queries, and deal with disputes and late fees.
To make the process a whole lot easier, businesses can use a services invoice example like a template to ensure everything necessary is included. This gets rid of worries that you’ve missed something important and lets you effortlessly create a record of the transaction between your business and the client.
These transaction records are essential when it comes to tax time, and also help avoid drawn-out disputes.
If your invoice is precise and professional, the client will feel confident they fully understand exactly what they’re paying for. It also means if there’s anything on the invoice that they disagree with, they’ll be able to query it immediately, and any confusion can be quickly and easily cleared up.
Following these seven tips can significantly improve and streamline the process of billing for services rendered, making sure you maintain a good cash flow and great relationships with your customers.
To save yourself a ton of time and hassle, consider using an invoice template for services rendered, like one of the templates on offer from Bonsai.
All of our templates are fully editable with the ability to add custom branding (such as your logo or brand colors), so you can instill confidence in your clients while encouraging prompt payment!
Ensure your contact information is easily visible on your invoice for services. It should include:
Your business name needs to be at the top — if you’re a solo operator, just include your own name. This is also the place to include your company logo, to ensure your branding is easily seen. If you have a business statement, put that directly below your name.
Ensure you include all the details of the client you are billing.
To ensure you and your client can easily track your transactions, ensure each invoice is assigned a unique number. This makes identifying payments easier and also simplifies things in the event of a dispute.
Dating your invoice for services rendered is also essential as it creates a timeline for payment, and sets the invoice apart from others you may have sent to the same client.
Your client wants to see exactly what services they are being billed for. In this section, you need to break down:
Table formatting is a good option for this section, as it clarifies the specific price for each service.
To avoid any confusion, you need to have clarity surrounding the different prices for each service. For example, a plumbing company may charge different rates for the hours worked by a fully skilled tradesman compared to an apprentice.
Ensure the rate for each service is clearly and transparently stated, as well as the quantity or hours provided. Make sure you clearly display and emphasize the total amount that is due.
Set payment expectations by clearly stating when the payment for services is due.
Make sure you clearly state any terms of payment, such as late payment fees to encourage the client to pay promptly.
Your services rendered invoice should also include the payment methods you accept — this could include credit card, check, cash payment, or online banking payment.
This ensures your client has all the necessary information to pay you promptly and streamlines the transaction process.
If you have a preferred payment method, state this clearly to encourage your client to use that method. If you include a surcharge for certain payment methods, such as credit card payments, ensure that is clearly stated.
Ensuring your invoice for services rendered is well-organized and professional-looking improves your business credibility — this is particularly important if you’re just starting out!
An ambiguous invoice with amateur graphic design is a surefire way to make your business look unprofessional!
No matter which type of service you’re offering, using a clear, organized format to display your services rendered is one of the best things you can do for your business. It ensures all the important details are provided, which makes billing and payment easier for both you and your clients — using a template can streamline this process even further!
There are a few different examples of invoices for services rendered by businesses. Bonsai has several free templates available that are suitable for these types of businesses.
Examples of businesses that might use a services rendered invoice are:
An invoice for legal services needs to include a clear breakdown of the different types of legal services rendered. This can include consultation, research, and document preparation, among other services. Each of these may incur a different cost.
The invoice may also include different hourly rates for different legal professionals, such as lawyers vs. paralegals.
Invoices for training or coaching services typically need to include a breakdown of the number of sessions and the hours of training provided. If there are any additional costs, such as materials, these also need to be included.
Invoices for design businesses may include a breakdown of how many hours were spent on each part of the project. Different parts may incur different rates, such as the consultation phase, the concept development, the design work, and revisions.
For all of these businesses, Bonsai has free templates available that make invoicing so much easier than doing it all yourself!
Our free Professional Services Rendered Template is a great basic template for service-based businesses — it’s completely customizable and editable, so you can include your own company branding.
We also have a free Service Invoice Template that is perfect for all types of freelance businesses, such as virtual assistants, photographers, copywriters, transcription services, and graphic designers, among others.
This invoice is available as a Word document, so it’s straightforward to edit and use.
For independent contractors or firms that offer specialized services, our free Services Rendered Invoice Template is the perfect option. You want your business to appear sleek, professional, and well-organized, and using an invoice template is a great way to convey professionalism without having to craft the invoice yourself!
If your business is fully online, a Digital Invoice Template is ideal for keeping things fuss-free and simplified. Our template saves time and energy and encourages prompt payment. It also looks professional and inspires confidence from your clients!
Sleek, professional invoices are crucial for the success of service-based businesses. By following our tips, you can ensure you have a clear, professional approach towards all your invoices, which inspires trust and encourages timely payments.
No matter what industry you’re in, a well-designed services rendered invoice demonstrates a high level of professionalism, as well as serving as a record of transactions.
To take professionalism up a notch and save time, using one of the templates provided by Bonsai is a must. We can help you make the entire process more streamlined and provide a clear, accurate record of your transactions, and you can even send your finalized PDF contracts to your clients directly through Bonsai for them to e-sign!
So, why not sign up for Bonsai for free today and try out for yourself? You and your clients are sure to love our service!
The ideal invoice format is clear, and organized, and contains all essential details. This includes your business’s name and contact info, unique invoice numbers, and clear payment information. A professional template is invaluable for ensuring you include all the necessary information.
Invoicing software is the ideal solution for businesses or freelancers who are looking to speed up the invoicing process. Bonsai templates help you maintain a professional look in all your communications, as well as speed up the process and ensure all necessary information is included.
Yes, a services rendered invoice differs from a product invoice, as you need to ensure the individual price of the services is clearly explained. A product invoice tends to be a little more straightforward — you just need to list the individual unit price and the number of items purchased, as well as the total
Explore effective techniques for accurate accounts payable forecasting, essential for managing cash flow, vendor relations, and financial obligations
Discover efficient invoice tracking solutions and access free templates to streamline your billing process, improve accuracy, and save time on financial management.
Revamp your agency's invoice creation process with our top 10 tips for improvement.
