--- title: "Contractor Invoice Template (Copy and Paste) | GBPN" description: "A simple contractor invoice template you can copy, plus what every invoice needs, payment terms that work, and a polite reminder text for late payers." canonical: "https://gbpn.com/blog/contractor-invoice-template/" --- > This is the plain-text Markdown version of [the canonical page](https://gbpn.com/blog/contractor-invoice-template/). [Blog](https://gbpn.com/blog/) /[Bookkeeping & Money](https://gbpn.com/blog/category/bookkeeping/) [Bookkeeping & Money](https://gbpn.com/blog/category/bookkeeping/) # Contractor Invoice Template: What to Include So You Get Paid Faster A simple contractor invoice template you can copy, plus what every invoice needs, payment terms that work, and a polite reminder text for late payers. GB The GBPN team · October 15, 2026 · 4 min read On this page 1. [What every contractor invoice needs](#what-every-contractor-invoice-needs) 2. [Contractor invoice template](#contractor-invoice-template) 3. [And a quick estimate template](#and-a-quick-estimate-template) 4. [Payment terms that actually work](#payment-terms-that-actually-work) 5. [A polite reminder for late payers](#a-polite-reminder-for-late-payers) 6. [Keep track of what’s paid](#keep-track-of-whats-paid) 7. [Put a real business number on every invoice](#put-a-real-business-number-on-every-invoice) 8. [FAQ](#faq) The job’s done. The customer’s happy. And three weeks later, you’re still waiting to get paid because the “invoice” was a number you said out loud in their driveway. A clear invoice gets you paid faster. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to have the right stuff on it. ## What every contractor invoice needs 1. **Your business name, address, phone, and email.** Use your business number, not your personal cell. 2. **The word “Invoice” and an invoice number.** Number them in order (1001, 1002…). It makes tracking easy. 3. **Invoice date and due date.** 4. **Customer name and job address.** 5. **What you did,** line by line. Labor and materials separate. 6. **Subtotal, tax (if your state taxes your services or materials), and total.** 7. **Payment terms** and how to pay. 8. **A thank-you line.** It’s small, but people notice. If a customer or general contractor needs your tax ID, they’ll usually send you a W-9 to fill out separately. Using an [EIN](https://gbpn.com/blog/how-to-get-an-ein/) there keeps your Social Security number private. ## Contractor invoice template Copy this into a doc, your notes app, or invoicing software and fill in the brackets. > “INVOICE #\[1001\] > \[Your Business Name\] · \[Business Phone\] · \[Email\] · \[Address\] > Date: \[MM/DD/YYYY\] · Due: \[MM/DD/YYYY\] > Bill to: \[Customer Name\], \[Job Address\] > Labor: \[Description\], \[hours\] hrs x $\[rate\] = $\[amount\] > Materials: \[Description\], $\[amount\] > Subtotal: $\[amount\] · Tax: $\[amount\] · Total due: $\[amount\] > Payment: \[Check payable to Business Name / card / payment app\]. Due within \[7/14/30\] days. > Thank you for your business!” ## And a quick estimate template An estimate sets expectations before the job, so the invoice isn’t a surprise. > “ESTIMATE for \[Customer Name\], \[Job Address\] > From \[Your Business Name\] · \[Business Phone\] > Work: \[What you’ll do, in plain words\] > Price: $\[amount\] (\[labor + materials, or flat price\]) > Good for \[30\] days. Deposit: \[amount or none\]. Balance due on completion. > Anything extra we find will be discussed with you before we do it.” That last line saves a lot of arguments. ## Payment terms that actually work - **Due on completion** for small residential jobs. Hand them the invoice when you finish. - **Net 7 or Net 14** for repeat customers you trust. - **Deposit up front** for big jobs or special-order materials. Many contractors ask for a deposit before ordering anything custom. - **Make paying easy.** The more ways people can pay you, the faster they usually do. Card, check, and a payment app cover most people. Some states have rules about contractor deposits and what your contracts must say. This isn’t legal advice, so check your state’s contractor licensing board. ## A polite reminder for late payers Most late payers just forgot. A short, friendly text usually does it. > “Hi \[Name\], this is \[Your Name\] with \[Business Name\]. Just a friendly reminder that invoice #\[1001\] for $\[amount\] was due on \[date\]. You can pay by \[method\]. Let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!” If it’s still unpaid a week later: > “Hi \[Name\], following up on invoice #\[1001\] for $\[amount\], now \[X\] days past due. Can you let me know when I should expect payment? Happy to resend the invoice.” Send these from your business number so customers recognize who it’s from. ## Keep track of what’s paid Invoices only help if you know which ones are still open. Even a simple spreadsheet works: invoice number, customer, amount, date sent, date paid. Our [bookkeeping guide](https://gbpn.com/blog/bookkeeping-for-small-business/) has a 15-minute weekly routine that covers it. And make sure payments land in a [business bank account](https://gbpn.com/blog/business-bank-account-for-llc/), not your personal one. ## Put a real business number on every invoice Your invoice, your truck, and your Google listing should all have the same number, and it shouldn’t be your personal cell. **GBPN** gives you a business number that rings the phone you already carry, for **$30 a month total, taxes and fees included.** Text payment reminders and job updates from the business number, and calls announce themselves as business before you answer. A real person sets it up with you. **30-day money-back guarantee.** ### [See available business numbers](https://gbpn.com/get-started/?source=blog-contractor-invoice-template) ## FAQ **What should a contractor invoice include?** Your business info, an invoice number, dates, the customer and job address, labor and materials, totals, payment terms, and how to pay. **What’s the difference between an estimate and an invoice?** An estimate is the price before the work. An invoice is the bill after the work, asking for payment. **Should I charge a deposit?** Many contractors do for larger jobs or special-order materials. Check your state’s rules on deposits. **Do I need invoicing software?** Not to start. A template works fine. Software helps once you’re sending lots of invoices or want online payments. **How do I number my invoices?** Pick a starting number and go up by one each time. Never reuse a number. GB Written by the GBPN team We're a family-owned company that has set up business phone numbers for small businesses since 2017. We write these guides from what we hear from owners every day. Copy link [Email](mailto:?subject=Contractor%20Invoice%20Template%3A%20What%20to%20Include%20So%20You%20Get%20Paid%20Faster&body=https%3A%2F%2Fgbpn.com%2Fblog%2Fcontractor-invoice-template%2F) Share On this page 1. [What every contractor invoice needs](#what-every-contractor-invoice-needs) 2. [Contractor invoice template](#contractor-invoice-template) 3. [And a quick estimate template](#and-a-quick-estimate-template) 4. [Payment terms that actually work](#payment-terms-that-actually-work) 5. [A polite reminder for late payers](#a-polite-reminder-for-late-payers) 6. [Keep track of what’s paid](#keep-track-of-whats-paid) 7. [Put a real business number on every invoice](#put-a-real-business-number-on-every-invoice) 8. [FAQ](#faq) GBPN A business number on the phone you already have. $30/mo total Taxes included. Set up for you. - ✓ We record your greeting - ✓ Business hours and voicemail to text - ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee [See available numbers →](https://gbpn.com/get-started/?source=blog-sidebar-contractor-invoice-template) ## Keep reading [All guides →](https://gbpn.com/blog/) - [ Bookkeeping & Money 4 min read ### Business Bank Account for an LLC: What You Need and How to Open One How to open a business bank account for your LLC or sole proprietorship: documents banks ask for, fees to watch, and why keeping money separate matters. Read the guide → ](https://gbpn.com/blog/business-bank-account-for-llc/) - [ Bookkeeping & Money 4 min read ### Bookkeeping for Small Business: A Simple System for Trades Owners Simple bookkeeping for small business owners who'd rather be working: what to track, a 15-minute weekly routine, receipts, and when to hire help. Read the guide → ](https://gbpn.com/blog/bookkeeping-for-small-business/) - [ Starting a Business 5 min read ### LLC vs Sole Proprietor: Which One Makes Sense for a Contractor? LLC or sole proprietor? A plain-English look at liability, taxes, cost, and paperwork for contractors and home-service owners just getting started. Read the guide → ](https://gbpn.com/blog/llc-vs-sole-proprietor/)