Your neighbour's grandson asks you to do the mending on his football kit every week, and after a few months he says, quite reasonably, that he would like a proper invoice to give to his mum for the money. You have always just asked for cash, and you are not sure where to start with something that looks official.
What is an invoice, in plain words?
An invoice is simply a clear, written request for payment that says who did the work, what the work was, how much it costs, and when the money is expected. It is different from just asking for cash because it leaves a proper record for both sides, which matters if the amount is larger or the work happens regularly. A good invoice has the word Invoice at the top, a number so it can be found again later, your name and the client's name, a short description of the job, the total amount, and a date by which you expect to be paid.
Which free tool is easiest?
| What you need | What Jobbit does |
|---|---|
| A properly laid out invoice | Type the client, the job and the amount, it does the layout |
| The right total added up correctly | Works out the total for you, so nothing is miscounted |
| A number so you can find it again | Numbers each invoice automatically, in order |
| A copy you can edit later | Gives you a PDF to send and an editable copy too |
How to do it together in one afternoon
Sit down together and open Jobbit's invoice tool. Type who the invoice is for, a short line about the job, such as "weekly mending, four weeks", and the amount owed. Choose when you would like to be paid, for example within fourteen days. Sign up once with an email address, no bank card needed, and a smart, numbered invoice appears in the chat as a PDF a minute later, ready to print or send by email.
What it costs (nothing) and what to watch out for
Making the invoice is free, using only a little of the free plan's daily credits. The first invoice will have gaps for your address and bank details, so fill those in once and every invoice after that keeps the same layout without asking again. Keep a copy of every invoice you send, in case you need to check it later. The full guide, with the wording for a polite reminder if payment is late, is here: how to write an invoice that gets paid, from Jobbit.
