Blog>Trade>Starting a Business>How to use a window cleaning invoice template
Last updated: 19 December 2024
How to use a window cleaning invoice template
Using a free window cleaning invoice template helps you see more clearly how your business is doing. This article explains how a window cleaning invoice template keeps office admin under control.
Window cleaning work often means having lots of customers. Regular cleaning rounds could quickly add up to a stack of paperwork for billing customers.
If you don’t keep on top of it, invoicing can become a chore and even hold back your business.
On the other hand, a good invoicing method can improve your cash flow and profitability.
Using business software like a free window cleaning invoice template can make the chore a whole lot easier.
Choose a free window cleaning invoice template
Letting technology do the hard admin work for you is a great way to work more efficiently.
Opting for a free window cleaning invoice template (like ours) therefore makes financial sense. What’s more, it frees you to spend more time doing more work. And that should mean more revenue for you.
When you start your own window cleaning business, getting invoicing up to speed from day one can make a big difference. Once again, sorting out your quoting and invoicing admin from the get-go is one less thing to worry about.
How a window cleaning invoice template can boost your business
Creating a professional-looking invoice shows customers you mean business. But invoices are important for many other reasons. You could say they were the backbone of a well-run business.
These are some of the important ways using a window cleaning invoice template can boost your business:
Look more professional
After your business card, your invoice is possibly the only other thing you may give customers containing your details.
A decent window cleaning invoice helps show you are:
Professional
Well-organised
Keen to charge your customers correctly
Expecting to be paid on time
Try our quoting and invoicing tool
It makes invoicing easier for Checkatrade members
Improve your budgeting
Budgeting can be tricky at the best of times. Having accurate invoicing can be a massive help with your business budgeting.
You can therefore see more clearly what money is coming into your business. And tracking invoices can mean you get a better idea of what expenditure you can afford.
Smooth your cash flow
Up-to-date and accurate invoicing means your cash flow forecasting should be too. The simple aim of cash flow is to keep it positive. That means income is more than outgoings.
Invoices record your income, so if you know the total there’s less risk of spending when you can’t afford it.
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
As well as your hours, an invoice can record any business expenses you decide to pass on to your customers.
For example, by spreading the cost of materials for cleaning windows across your customers. Where purchases relate to a single job, you might want to charge the full amount to that particular customer.
How you charge expenses to customers is up to you. Window cleaners often mark up the cost of materials. That way, you earn more profit on jobs.
Maintain accurate business records
An invoice template means it is relatively simple to create high-quality business paperwork. It helps you keep on track.
Accurate invoices will be welcomed by your accountant, if you use one. They might bill you less for preparing your accounts as they had less work to do on them.
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.
Remember, that if you don’t keep adequate records, HMRC could fine you up to £3,000.
Switching from paper to digital
We’re talking digital here. You may prefer the old-fashioned invoice pad and handwritten documents.
But it’s certainly worth taking the hassle out of invoicing by putting your finances online and using apps.
Disadvantages of hand-written invoices
Cost of buying invoice pads with duplicates – one for you one for your customer
Having to keep 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
Advantages of a free window cleaner invoice template and tool
Relying on software for something as important as invoicing may sound a bit daunting. But it needn’t be. You don't have to be tech-savvy.
Like most software nowadays, invoice template tools should be easy to use. Most apps are pretty intuitive, making them easy to understand and use. A window cleaning invoice template and quoting tool allows you to:
Add your business details
Create an invoice from an existing quote automatically
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 goes in a window cleaning invoice?
As we’ve said, a window cleaning invoice can make a trade professional's life easier. A template automatically reminds you to include all the key details every time you prepare 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. If your trade business is a partnership or limited company, other details may be required.
Try our quoting and invoicing tool
It makes invoicing easier for Checkatrade members
Get your invoices paid on time
A window cleaning invoice template makes sure you bill customers in a timely fashion. Getting them to pay you on time is another thing altogether.
As part of your invoicing, there’s wording you can include to help things run smoother. These are often called terms & conditions – or Ts & Cs.
They cover lots of things that help you run your business better. This includes putting in writing how you want your invoices paid.
Say how you want to be paid
Terms and conditions tell customers how you work. They help customers understand what you will – and won’t – be doing. State how customers can pay in your Ts & Cs.
Doing so can avoid misunderstandings later on or late payments.
Be clear about when you expect to be paid
If you're using a free invoice template, then online payments could make sense. You'll probably find that most customers are comfortable making digital payments.
Taking card payments usually transfers the money quickly into your bank account. That should make it easier for you to match money coming in against your invoices.
What happens if customers are late payers?
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. If that’s ever the case, you have certain rights as a tradesperson for getting paid.
Knowing your invoicing is accurate by using a template should help if you’re forced to take legal action or use debt collectors.
Find more leads with Checkatrade
You’ll need a steady flow of work to invoice and we can help here, too. Our free window cleaning invoice template is just the start. Joining Checkatrade is a great way to grow your trade business.
As well as finding sales leads, we can support you in lots of other ways. They include:
Exclusive offers and discounts with suppliers like Tradepoint and Wickes
Reduced cost of workwear and branding
Guaranteed work when booked through us (T&Cs apply)
Dedicated trades apps for job management
What do you need to become Checkatrade approved?
Becoming a Checkatrade member comes with a whole host of benefits, but the biggest has to be gaining our seal of approval. Homeowners tend to expect a commitment to quality when it comes to the Checkatrade tick, which can help you to win more business. Here are the checks you'll need to pass to join our directory.
Key takeaways
A free window cleaning invoice template can help you run your trade business more efficiently and profitably
Accurate invoices help give customers confidence in your business
A window cleaning invoice template allows you to keep an eye on late-paying customers and know when to chase them for payment
Maintaining a complete set of invoices with a template is useful when calculating your business revenue and what business tax you may owe
Ready to take your window cleaning business to the next level?
Find more leads as a Checkatrade member
