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6 Common Mistakes Contractors Make while Invoicing

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Jordan
6 Common Mistakes Contractors Make while Invoicing

Cashflow is the king for any business. It is the lifeblood and the complement to your business growth. But do you know what ensures super-fast cash flow in business? Invoices!

An invoicing strategy is an essential need of any business, regardless of its size, type, and industry. It can vary depending on the business. For example, a small company selling products may invoice daily in bulk, while a large service company may send fewer invoices periodically because it is working on larger projects. Daily or periodically, we all deal with invoices. But as contractors, we always overlook some of the mistakes we make in our invoices.

Contractors are a particularly difficult niche market when it comes to invoicing. We all know that contractors invoice by the job, which leads to many inconsistencies. They are therefore prone to making a number of mistakes that lead to obstacles later on. 

Here are some of the invoicing mistakes made by entrepreneurs:

1. Unprofessional invoices

Unprofessional invoicing, regardless of the industry, is a no-no! It leads to a bad reputation. In today's highly competitive market, professionalism is what makes you stand out.

Invoices are one of the most formal communications you send to your customers and any mistakes here can have major consequences. Many of us don't know exactly how to create an invoice. This is precisely where we make most mistakes.

Here's a quick guide on how you can create a perfectly professional contractor invoice: A contractor invoice should include:

>Date

>Customer information

>Billing address

>List of products/services

>Due date

>Payment details

>Notes

Paper invoices have become obsolete, independent contractors' invoices are now created from pre-designed templates on contractor invoicing software or applications.

These pre-designed templates not only make invoicing easier but also guide you in creating professional and aesthetically strong invoices to improve your billing game.

2. Inconsistent pricing schemes

Pricing for product-based businesses is simple. You set prices for each period and then send out invoices by simply calculating volumes.

But as an entrepreneur, you are in a service-based business and pricing is inconsistent. These fluctuations depend on external factors, over which you have no control. It is therefore complex to set a single price. Inform your clients in advance or establish prices before each project, keeping in mind the needs and requirements of a particular project.

For example: If you are working on the interiors of two clients, the prices will change for both depending on the area, needs and quality requirements of each.

3. Ineffective employee training

Half-baked knowledge is dangerous! Similarly, untrained or partially trained employees, when left on the battlefield, are likely to fall short. If employees are not sufficiently trained, they will be inclined to make more mistakes and errors. If they don't know how important it is for the company to maintain consistency in invoicing, they will never focus on maintaining professionalism.

Train your employees and inform them about your business, its needs and the professionalism you are aiming for.

4. Inability to save invoicing

Suppose after a month, one of your customers comes back to you about a confusion in the amount of the invoice, how will you clear the doubts if you don't have copies of all the invoices sent?

To avoid this kind of problem, always keep copies of invoices sent to customers. A contractor invoicing software automatically saves all copies of your contractors' invoices in the cloud for future reference.

The automation of the contractor billing software automatically saves communications and invoices, saving you the manual hassle.

5. Underestimating payment terms

Clearly defining payment terms and due dates is one of the first steps to ensuring a steady cash flow in the business. Many entrepreneurs include only one policy for all, namely a 30-day payment policy. But understand that every customer is different. Therefore, establish unique payment policies for all.

Include notes for individual payments in each invoice so that your customer remembers their final payment.

6. Lack of follow-up

Your work doesn't stop when you send the invoice. Your billing process is always ongoing until the final payment is settled. The post-invoice process, known as follow-up, begins shortly after three days after the invoice is sent. It continues until you do not receive an invoice. It is always useful to send a gentle automatic reminder first. In your contractor invoice software, set automatic payment reminders for your customers to be sent at a certain frequency.

An automatic reminder is the most professional approach to requesting contributions. Most businesses around the world opt for this method. Not only does it improve your billing game, but it also leaves an impression of professionalism with customers. As a result, the company's cash flow is faster.

Note: If you are a freelancer or do not have a registered billing address, you can use the business addresses in your invoices to make them look more professional.

How does a contractor invoicing software/application help businesses?

A contractor billing software like Invoicera has become the need of the hour for contractor businesses. A contractor invoice app, apart from its basic invoicing operation, also helps you manage your entire business operations. The application allows you to :

>Contractor invoices

>Quotes

>Multi-company configuration

>3-level security

>Customised workflow management

>Automated invoicing

>Cash flow management

>Financial management

>Attach invoice templates

 

 

 

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