Guides

Invoicing guides

One question per page, answered at the top. Written for freelancers and small businesses in the UK and US, where the rules differ enough to matter.

• How should I number my invoices?How to number invoices so they stay sequential and auditable, which formats work, and why you must never delete or reuse a number.
• What do invoice payment terms like Net 30 mean?What Net 30, Net 15, EOM, CIA and 2/10 Net 30 actually mean, which to use, and how payment terms affect when you get paid.
• What is the difference between an invoice and a receipt?An invoice requests payment; a receipt confirms it was made. The practical differences in dates, numbering, VAT and what to keep for tax.
• Can I charge interest on an overdue invoice?What you can legally charge on an overdue invoice, the UK statutory rate and fixed recovery costs, and how to state it so it holds up.
• What information must be included on an invoice?The fields a valid invoice needs, the extra ones VAT-registered businesses must show, and the details that actually get you paid faster.