There is a considerable amount of effort and commitment required to build and send invoices. This task can be quite burdensome. However, this excessive burden and daunting workload can be reduced by using templates. Google Docs is simple to use for invoicing, and will help you do so effortlessly without having to manually write them from the ground up. All you need to do is choose a template that works best for your project from the wide variety available, and then enter your details.
This article explores Google Docs invoice template tips, and the approaches that are most worth looking at.
What’s an invoice?
An invoice is a report that is intended to:
- detail the services/products delivered to a customer by a service provider or a company
- commit the customer to compensate for the services/products delivered
Invoices are an essential component of a company or business. An invoice shows the customer that the bill is due, how much they owe, and what services you have rendered.
Benefits of using invoice templates in Google Docs
- You’ll send out invoices to your customers very swiftly.
- It saves time, is free, and can easily be accessed with an internet connection.
- The templates can have their default styles revamped to suit your requirements.
- It helps you keep your invoices transparent and credible.
- It communicates the information about your job to your clients, and can provide the cost you intend for the completed work.
Sample invoice template Google Docs
We have put together Google Docs invoice templates that you can conveniently choose from and customize to meet your specific needs.
Professional invoice template Google Docs
Are you looking for a fast way to submit a bill? Make sure you have custom invoices on hand that you can quickly access and send out when the occasion arises. Different elements of an invoice are included with this prototype.
Hourly invoice template Google Docs
If you charge your customers fees based on an hourly rate, then this design is perfect for you. Personalize and finish this format to achieve your goals.
Freelance invoice template Google Docs
The best thing about freelancing is that you can issue an invoice easily and be paid immediately, which is better than negotiating with a big firm. The concept below contains features that are suitable for this type of use.
Alternatively to making templates in Google Docs, you can find solutions helping to create professional invoices for freelancers like Indy or similar tools.
Commercial invoice template Google Docs
A commercial invoice is a document issued by a business detailing the descriptions of all its dealings with a customer. It is usually sent before transactions actually occur.
Contractor invoice template Google Docs
Drafting invoices can be very time-consuming. With this design, your life will be much easier, since you don’t have to deal with invoicing the small, boring details all the way through.
Why do you need a Google Docs invoice template?
Google Docs is a free word processor that allows you to do almost anything in it (create, edit, write, etc.) and collaborate in real time with anyone you want. It’s accessible as a browser-based app, a mobile app for Android, iOS, Windows, BlackBerry, and a desktop app on Google’s Chrome OS. It supports both online as well as offline access.
It also includes Google Forms, Google Sheets, and Google Slides. By the way, check an awesome set of templates for Google Slides.
Google Docs can make your work easier by providing templates that are specifically designed for resumes, invoices, reports, etc., which can reduce the amount of time you spend building them.
Invoice templates in Google Docs are essential for speedy and hassle-free transactions in your business dealings. They are stored in the cloud so that you can easily access them and immediately present them to the customer with a premade calculation of how much they need to pay.
How to make an invoice template in Google Docs
If the invoices we provided are not quite the right fit for your project, you can easily build a custom template that’s suitable for your needs. Generating invoices is very simple and easy to do. Just follow these steps:
- Set up a Google account if you don’t already have one
- Go to Google Docs
- Browse through the Template Gallery
- Pick the desired invoice style
- Save the template to your Google Drive
- Tweak the invoice and add what you want
- If needed, download the template in the format you want
- Submit the invoice to your customers
Tips for creating your basic invoice template in Google Docs
- Define the way payments are to be made: Let your clients know that you take payment in many different ways.
- Choose a versatile payment method: Select payment methods or strategies that are more the most customer-friendly.
- Explain your rates: To explain your fees and delivery options to your customers, create a one-page complete service description and provide an overview of the services and fees.
- Sell your brand with your invoice: Think about invoices as a convincing selling tactic rather than merely a method to guarantee you are paid.
- Issue invoices promptly: Invoices should be submitted quickly because time is of the essence when it comes to preparing them. Send your invoices as soon as you have finished each part of your project.
What should be included in a Google Docs invoice?
To look more professional and efficient, these features below should be included in your invoices.
- Your full name and address.
- Your company logo or symbol is particularly significant and valuable.
- Discounts offered to the customer with a description of the offer, so that they realize they’re getting a good price.
- Describe the supplies or materials, including the amount and cost per item.
- Calculate how much money you will charge as the net amount plus taxation.
- The details of your client’s contact address, including the name of your billing contact.
- Specific invoice amounts should be very clear.
- The due date of payment.
Optional features that can be added:
- A column for job responsibilities, total working time, salary scale, and other job details.
- As this is a cumulative sum, it excludes all income tax.
- Details on the payment conditions approved.
- Invoice deadlines.
For other optional and advanced features, check these elements of an invoice.
How to find a simple Google Docs invoice template
- In order to access templates for invoices, it is necessary to go to Google Docs => you will need to sign in to your Google account or create an account if you don’t have one. You can log in by entering your credentials on your desktop or mobile device, and then you are all set!
- When you enter Google Docs, you will see your dashboard. This dashboard has sample models that are suitable for various purposes. At the top-right, click Template Gallery to view the templates.
Otherwise, you can click on a blank document, and choose File > New > From template. This takes you to the Template Gallery.
- Next, determine which design to select from. Browse through the various invoice templates to find a version that will complement your organization branding and contains the details that you need. Tap a template to view the content and use it in a new document.
- When you have an invoice design, you can save it to your drive. To do that, choose File > Add shortcut to Drive.
Click on My Drive and proceed to create a folder if you want. If not, click on Add Shortcut to save the file to your Google Drive.
- Remember to change the title of your template to what you want by clicking on the TITLE BOX, which you can find on the left side of the document. You can rename it in your Google Drive as well – whichever way works best for you.
How to download, save and send invoice template Google Docs
- To download your invoice for future reference, choose File > Download As, and pick a format to save in. PDF is an excellent alternative for an invoice, as nothing else will change it. In addition, the invoice will be downloaded to your device. When you make an invoice, register it and send it to your customer.
- When your invoice is completed, email it to your client or share the file through the agreed medium between you and your customer. On the Google Docs interface, there is a “Share” icon displayed in the upper right-hand corner. Click the icon and type the emails of the people you want to share it with. You can also set restrictions according to your preferences.
Read more about how to share a file in Google Docs.
- To share through email, go to File > Email > Email this file, and type the email address of your customer.
Then create a brief message, insert it in the folder, and send it to the correspondent.
How to upload and edit a Google Docs invoice template
Google organization accounts (that do not end in @gmail.com) allow you to add custom invoices to the Template Gallery. If you already have an invoice template, you can add it to the Template Gallery by completing the following steps:
- Click Template Gallery and choose your organisation name.
- Click Submit Template.
- Click Select a document and choose your file.
- (Optional) To submit a copy of the file instead of the original, check the box.
- Select a category for your file.
- Click Submit.
With these steps, you have added a new invoice design to your gallery.
When is the right time to send an invoice made from your Google Docs template to a client?
The right time to send invoices is when it is most convenient for you. Invoices must be valid at the time of buying the item or providing services.
If the project is either long-term or has a high price, you can get their payment up front, or bill proportionally from the overall total. You have to make a profit as well, so you need to make sure the consumer keeps buying from or patronizing your business.
Regardless of the chosen payment terms, ensure there are transparent representations of all fees included in any invoices that you create. Include straightforward details of any fees that are collected such as percentages, discounts, etc.
Tracking and managing your Google Docs service invoice template
Tracking and managing your invoice means keeping good records of estimates and invoices you send out. This is essential, as it helps you estimate your cash flow from month to month. You can use a spreadsheet app, such as Google Sheets or Excel, to manage your invoices. There are also online accounting tools for this purpose, for example Xero, Quickbooks, Zoho, Freshbooks, etc. These tools provide you the flexibility to properly organize your invoices and:
- Track payments: you will always be able to see at a glance whom to follow up with, and you can easily check which customers have made payments and which customers are yet to pay.
- Know what your customer wants: You will know what project your customer is interested in, and what price you quoted to complete the work.
- Track your profits closely: Through this method, you will be able to have a record of how much profit you get from each item of product. This will be handy if you want to concentrate on making steady earnings.
- Send reminders: You can also view overdue invoices and send automatic reminders for unpaid invoices.
- Keep things under control: Can you think how exhilarating this would be? It is the central concept of being coordinated. You concentrate on the job at hand, and you get rid of the details you find unimportant.
To keep all your data in your spreadsheet and for reporting purposes, you can import information from your online tracking tools like Xero and QuickBooks to Google Sheets. This can be easily done with Coupler.io, a Google Sheets integration solution. Here are the guidelines on the workflow:
Other ways to create invoices templates besides Google Docs
Invoice templates in Google Docs are good but slightly outdated. Why? Because you’ll have to enter the data manually every time you need to create an invoice. In this regard, using Google Sheets is much more attractive, because you can automate the invoice creation. It’s especially beneficial if you manage your accounting in Google Sheets! In this case, you need simply a few formulas and Coupler.io to automate the process.
Google Sheets blends the best of several different worlds. This makes it a little bit like Excel, since it can work out complicated fees, it stores the data in the cloud like Google Docs, and it gives you an excellent layout and interface like Word. An additional benefit is that it’s highly customizable, allowing your clients to get a clear picture of what they’re getting in return for their money. You’ll have a creditable, straightforward, simple-to-to-interpret invoice that earns high respect and enhances your proficiency.
Here is a sample of a Google Sheets invoice template.
In one of our next blog posts, we’ll focus on Google Sheets invoice templates and explain how you can automate their creation. We hope that the Google Docs invoice templates were helpful. 🙂 Good luck!