Blog>Trade>Starting a Business>Using a plumber invoice template to boost your trade business
Last updated: 18 December 2024
Using a plumber invoice template to boost your trade business
Busy plumbers running a trade business want to focus on work opportunities, not sorting out office admin. The answer to billing customers correctly and on time is a plumber invoice template, helping you save time.
The high demand for good plumbers makes it a great time to join this trade profession. Whether you’re starting out or run an established plumber business, there’s lots to think about. Keeping on top of your paperwork can be a real challenge.
If you’re rushed off your feet, the last thing you probably want to think about is invoicing. But you know that billing customers correctly and on time helps cash flow and profitability.
Having a business tool that makes invoicing easier. That's where a free plumber invoice template can save you time.
Automate invoicing with a template
Using a free plumber invoice template (like ours) allows you to devote more time to your business.
If you are setting up a plumber business, it can pay if you get your invoicing right from the start. Whatever type of plumbing service you offer, an automated plumber invoice template should do the business.
A template exists to set the framework, letting you add a few details. If you can automate the process of paperwork, it leaves more time to focus on the important things.
Try our quoting and invoicing tool
Designed for Checkatrade members, it helps take the hassle out of invoicing
The benefits of using a professional trade business invoice
Your plumber invoice isn’t just important for billing customers correctly. It’s an important business document. You’ll need it for preparing your accounts and making sure you pay the right amount of tax.
Here are some of the ways a professional plumber invoice can help boost your trade business:
Let your professionalism shine through
Your invoice is probably one of the few documents customers receive from you. So, you’ll want it to look as good as possible.
An invoice template shows you are:
Professional
Well-organised
Keen to charge your customers correctly
Expecting to be paid on time
Improve your cash flow
If your invoicing is up to date and accurate, then your cash flow forecasting should be too. Improving cash flow is a challenge for most trade businesses.
Your invoices record your income, against which you deduct business expenses to work out your cash flow.
How to improve cash flow for trade businesses
What keeps tradespeople awake at night? Worrying about getting paid on time and settling your bills is probably a contender. Often, it all comes down to cash flow. Poor cash flow can quickly bring down even a successful business. Keep in control It doesn't matter whether you're a small or large
Charge business expenses to customers
It’s not just your labour costs that can go on invoices. Plumbers usually have to buy materials for jobs.
You’ll probably want to charge some or all these costs to customers. Often, plumbers will mark up the cost of materials. This allows you to earn more profit on jobs.
In addition, you might want to spread the cost of maintaining your plumber tools and equipment over several jobs. The same goes for professional costs like plumber insurance.
Include costs you want to charge to customers in your invoice.
Keep accurate business records
Use an invoice template to automatically generate high-quality business paperwork. It helps you keep on track.
Your accountant (if you use one) will welcome having accurate invoices to prepare your business accounts. That could help to reduce their bill to you for preparing your accounts.
You’ll need income and expense information on your tax returns to HMRC. Using a free template gives you greater peace of mind about the information you submit.
If you don’t keep adequate records, you could face a £3,000 HMRC fine.
How to produce a plumber invoice template
Most of us are comfortable dealing with finances online and using apps. The same goes if you run a business.
Of course, you could stick with old-fashioned paper-based invoicing. But it’s not as easy as doing it digitally.
Disadvantages of manual invoicing
Cost of buying invoice pads with duplicates – one for you one for your customer
Keeping a record in a ledger of every invoice and when it was paid
Errors likely which make keeping accurate business records harder for you
Need to store paperwork somewhere secure – it can build up over the years
Alternatively, you can use a plumber invoice template.
Advantages of a free plumber invoice template and tool
You don’t need to feel daunted by switching from manual to digital. Like most software nowadays, invoice template tools are designed to be easy to use.
Hopefully, you’ll quickly pick up the basics. Then you can explore how you can:
Use your business details
Automatically create an invoice from an existing quote
Add your own customer leads
Receive new leads in your local area and quickly add a new quote
Send quotes and invoices directly to customers
Want to learn more? Our tool has been created for use on the go.
Our quoting and invoicing tool - saves time on your admin
With tradespeople estimated to spend around 2.5 hours every week on quoting and invoicing customers, our tool is designed to help streamline your job processes. It's easy to use, and generates both quotes and invoices at the touch of a button. > “Our members often tell us that quoting is a pain
What to include in a plumber invoice template
The great thing about a free plumber invoice template is they are easy to use. They make sure you remember to include all the key things that should appear in an invoice.
Here's a checklist of what goes in a typical trade business invoice:
Invoice number – unique and in sequence
Date
Your trading name, address and contact details
Customer details (of whoever you are invoicing) – their name and address
Description of the work or service you have provided
Dates when the work took place
Amount charged – including your time and any materials they are to pay for
VAT – if you are VAT-registered
Payment terms (see below) – when you expect to be paid
Your trade business account details – for customers to pay you
These are the main components for self-employed sole traders. Other details may be needed on invoices if your trade business is a partnership or limited company.
Try our quoting and invoicing tool
Designed for Checkatrade members, it helps take the hassle out of invoicing
Make sure your plumber invoices get paid
As part of your invoicing, there’s wording you can include to help things run smoother. These will often be referred to as terms & conditions – or "Ts & Cs".
When you want customers to pay you
Terms and conditions tell customers how you work. They help customers understand what you will – and won’t – be doing. Put your payment terms in writing on your invoice.
Options include payment in advance, or when the job is finished, or 30 days from the invoice date. Doing this helps you avoid misunderstandings later on or late payments.
How you want customers to pay
If you're using a free invoice template, then online payments could make sense. You'll probably find that nowadays more customers are comfortable making digital payments.
Taking card payments should make it easier to match money coming in against your invoices.
What happens if customers don't pay
With good customer relationships, you'll hopefully rarely be in the awkward position of having to chase up invoice payments.
But business life isn’t always simple. You may need to chase overdue invoices. Remember, you have certain rights as a tradesperson for getting paid.
Accurate invoices can help if you take legal action against customers or use debt collectors. Your invoices should provide key evidence of what customers owe you.
Finding more leads for your plumber business
It's not just our free plumber invoice template that can boost your trade business. Joining Checkatrade is a great way to get more sales leads.
We can support you in lots of other ways. They include:
Exclusive offers and discounts with suppliers like Tradepoint and Wickes
Guaranteed work when booked through us (T&Cs apply)
Dedicated trades apps for job management
What do you need to become Checkatrade approved?
Find out what checks we carry out, the standards you’ll be asked to meet, what happens once you’re an approved Checkatrade member.
Key takeaways
A free plumber invoice template can take hassle out of an essential business process
It’s easier to keep accurate business records for jobs
You can build your customers’ trust and confidence in you
It looks good to give out professional-looking quotes and invoices
Using invoicing software lets you track late-paying customers
With your invoicing sorted, you can reduce the risk of HMRC fining your trade business for not keeping adequate records
Ready to take your plumbing business to the next level?
Find more leads as a Checkatrade member