How to Make a Professional Invoice for Your eCommerce Store: Step-By-Step Guide

  • Aug 20, 2024
  • | 276

These days, as per the rapid rise in eCommerce Website Design Price, the need to prepare a professional invoice is also becoming very important. For this, people don’t have the appropriate & good knowledge to even implement it. So, to make the process convenient, we are here with this blog. Through this, you will get to know and walk through the step-by-step process of creating a professional invoice for your eCommerce store.

So, without taking more time & further delay, let’s have a look at the information to know more:

Why Are Professional Invoices Important?

In order to embark on the invoice creation journey, it is fundamental to first grasp the essence of why these professional invoices need to be so:

  1. Legal Requirement: In many countries, businesses are required by law to issue an invoice. It is a document proving that the transaction took place, and it is necessary for accounting and tax purposes.
  2. Ensures Timely Payment: An invoice that is professional and straightforward helps in clearing out any misunderstandings and thus, ensures that your clients know the exact amount they owe and when the payment is due.
  3. Reflects Your Brand: Usually, an invoice is the last thing you provide to a customer, so it should be professional and represent your business brand.
  4. Facilitates Record-Keeping: A correct output shows your sales transactions, which is a big deal for financial reports and analysis.

Step 1: Choose the Right Invoicing Tool

The first pillar of making an invoice is choosing the right invoicing tool. Multiple e-commerce-tailored invoicing solutions are available, for instance:

  1. QuickBooks: Targeted at small to medium-sized enterprises, QuickBooks assists the user in choosing a template, calculating the tax rate automatically, and integrating with other business tools.
  2. FreshBooks: With a reputation for simplicity, FreshBooks is a highly effective accounting solution adapted for freelancers and small companies. It has the following features: time tracking, expense management, and recurring invoices.
  3. Wave: A free plan for small businesses, Wave has all the necessary features for managing invoices as well as accounting and scanning receipts.

Be sure to explore the characteristics of the invoicing tool available in the market and determine your own specific requirements, as well as the number of transactions to be processed and any preferences for seamless integration with your eCommerce platform.

Step 2: Add Your Business Information

The next step is to insert the business information into the invoice. This typically includes:

  1. Business Name and Logo: Make sure your business name is visible at the invoice's top and that your logo is added (business name). Your logo will help you take your brand to the next level of professionalism.
  2. Contact Information: List your business address, phone number, and email address. It not only makes communication easier, but it also really helps to make the invoice look legitimate.
  3. Tax Identification Number (TIN): Where applicable, provide your TIN or GST number to that effect to obey local tax regulations.

Step 3: Add the Customer’s Information

Providing your customers' details neatly is the key to the invoice's delivery and processing. This section should include:

  1. Customer's Name or Business Name: Make the name of the individual or the company you will invoice clear.
  2. Billing Address: Be sure to provide the customer's full billing address. In case it is different from the shipping address, make sure both are listed to avoid confusion.
  3. Contact Information: Adding your customer's phone number and email address helps with any future communication.

Step 4: Generate a Unique Invoice Number

Creating a definite invoice number will help both of you trace the transaction. The code could be a straightforward numerical sequence, like 001, 002, 003, or an alphabetic and numeric combination, such as INV-1001 or INV-1002.

Getting an invoicing tool that your customers get or having a consistent organized system to avoid any duplicates is the key to ensuring that these numbers are generated automatically.

Step 5: Indicate the Date of the Invoice and the Due Date

The invoice date refers to the moment invoice creation is complete, and the due date is the time frame within which the payment should be made. Most businesses set the due date anywhere from 14 to 30 days after the invoice date, depending on their payment terms.

Being explicit about the due date is crucial to steer clear of any disputes or delays in payment. You can also mention any late payment fees or discounts for early payment, if applicable.

Step 6: List the Products or Services Provided

This section is the core of your invoice, detailing what the customer is being charged for. It should include:

  • Item Description: This is the important step under which it is imperative to clearly describe about almost each product or service offered.
  • Quantity: Mention the quantity of each item sold.
  • Unit Price: State the price per unit of each product or service.
  • Total Price: Multiply the unit price by the quantity to get the total for each item.

It’s important that this section is clear and detailed, so the customer knows exactly what they are paying for.

Conclusion

This is not it; there are many more steps involved in this process, and if you need help, you can get in touch with us. It’s because creating a professional invoice for your eCommerce store is not just about getting paid; it’s about reinforcing your brand, maintaining accurate records, and providing excellent customer service.

So, take proper help from us & have the best of everything so that you don’t have to stress about anything at all.

Also Read: What are The Benefits of Hiring an eCommerce Development Agency?