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If you own a plumbing business, you need to provide your customers with invoices. Properly formatted invoices ensure that you get paid and that financial reporting requirements are met. Skynova's invoice template lets you create customized plumbing invoices easily and quickly.
Using our invoice template can be incredibly beneficial to your plumbing business. It can be time-consuming to customize an invoice template in Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel, but you can easily edit your invoice within our system onsite. You can also send the finished invoice directly to your customer, or download a PDF of the invoice to print or send later. If you're a plumber, check out the template we've made below just for your business:
Administrative work like invoicing probably isn't your favorite part of the job. After all, you got into plumbing to work with your hands, not shuffle paperwork, right? Instituting a clear, consistent invoicing process is crucial to your plumbing company's success, however.
Prompt invoicing ensures that you are paid for your work in a timely fashion. A record of invoices also lets you keep track of due dates and missed payments. Additionally, invoices provide valuable documentation for your bookkeeping and tax filing. Last but not least, your customers will also appreciate having a clear overview of what services and materials they are paying for.
There's no disputing the value of a good invoicing system. Skynova's free invoice templates make invoicing more efficient. You can spend less time creating and sending invoices and more time focusing on the core elements of your plumbing business.
Want to create a professional plumbing invoice like the one pictured above? Just follow the steps below to customize our plumbing invoice template and make it your own.
Every invoice you create needs to specify the sender (that's you) and the recipient (the customer in question). For the sender, make sure to include your company's full registered business name. If you are a sole proprietorship operating under your own name, just enter your name instead of a company name. Make sure to use your full legal name as it appears on government documents like tax returns. If you go by a nickname and are worried the customer won't recognize your formal moniker, you can note this in parenthesis, like so: "Legal Name (‘Nickname')."
Take the same consideration when entering the customer's name: Are you billing a business or a person? Enter the name accordingly. Next, add your and your customer's addresses in the appropriate fields ("Your address" and "Customer address"). In addition to including your plumbing company's street address, include relevant contact information like a business email and phone number. If a customer has questions about the business invoice, they will know how to reach you.
An invoice needs to have a unique identifying number. This helps you keep track of your billing. It's much faster to track an invoice based on a simple number than by a customer name or services performed. Since you'll likely have repeat customers and will perform many similar services for different customers over and over, a one-of-a-kind identification number is a must.
The Skynova free plumbing invoice templates let you enter any combination of letters and numbers into the invoice ID field. That said, it's best to establish a consistent system of numbering invoices. Don't opt for random combinations but create a systematic approach. For example, your very first invoice could be labeled "Invoice 001," the second one "Invoice 002," and so on. Skynova increments your invoices by one as you create them so you never duplicate a number.
Decide in advance how you will determine invoice dates. In most cases, service providers like plumbers date the invoice on the day that the document is created (likely after the services have already been completed). If you complete some plumbing work on a weekend but don't get around to creating your Skynova invoice until Monday, it's common practice to date the invoice to that Monday.
In addition to dating the invoice, you need to provide your customer with instructions as to when payment is due. Standard payment periods include 14 or 30 days. 30-day payments are also known as a "Net 30", meaning 30 calendar days (versus business days). It's best to clarify such pay-by timeframes before starting any plumbing work. The type of payment timeframe you choose is up to you. The bottom line is that you should be transparent about when you expect to be paid. This will prevent frustration on your side by decreasing the likelihood of having to chase payments.
As a plumber, you will regularly incur material costs on the job. "Materials" are distinct from the tools you invest in once and use over and over again. Materials refer to items like plumbing fixtures and pipes. These are goods you procure specifically for the plumbing job at hand.
Defining material costs also helps customers to see exactly what they are being charged for. Communicate material costs to your customers in advance and get their input as needed. For example, if you are installing a new toilet for a customer, they may have unique preferences, such as an energy-efficient model that saves on water use with each flush. You can propose quality products based on your expertise and give them a range of price points to choose from. You can then order the item and install it.
Skynova service invoice templates let you include an itemized list of materials used (so-called "line items"). First, describe the item (e.g., stainless steel faucet). Then, define the Quantity (how many you bought to do the job) and the Unit Price (the cost for just one item). The Skynova system automatically tallies up the total expense, multiplying the Quantity by the Unit Price and giving you a total material price for that line item.
As a plumber, you don't just charge for materials. You also charge for services. Your service fee schedule is up to you to determine. Again, however, it's important to be clear upfront about service fees so customers know what to expect and aren't blindsided by their invoice. If you charge a certain amount of money per hour, communicate this before you start the project and provide an estimate of how long the project will take.
For an hourly plumbing service invoice, first select "Hours" under "Item." Then, provide a description of the services performed, whether it's fixing a clogged toilet, replacing a burst pipe, or installing a new sink. Under "Unit Price," input your hourly rate. Under "Quantity," define the number of hours you spent providing that service (as you work, make sure to note your arrival and departure times at the worksite and save this information for invoicing later). The template then automatically calculates the grand total.
Alternatively, you can choose to charge on a per-service basis. After an initial assessment, you can provide a fixed-price quote to your customer so they know what to expect. You can input such a flat rate using the Skynova invoice template by selecting "Product" (instead of "Hours") under the "Item" drop-down. Then, describe the service performed and enter the flat rate.
You may choose to provide customers with discounts. This can help foster loyalty to your plumbing company, secure repeat customers, and boost your reputation. You might provide a percentage off your labor to an existing customer who referred a new customer to you, for example, or offer a newbie discount to a first-time customer.
The Skynova service invoice template makes it easy to incorporate discounts with your line items. First, click on "Discount" from the "Item" drop-down list. Next, describe the discount. Finally, enter the amount of the discount under "Unit Price." This amount will automatically be calculated as a negative number (e.g., "-25.00") and subtracted from the invoice's total amount.
Make sure to specify why the discount was provided and how much it was for. This provides clarity and also prevents confusion in case of future business. You can add this to the Notes section (see point 8). You don't want a customer left wondering why a service they paid for on one occasion cost less than the same service provided on a subsequent occasion.
If you feel that the line items (materials and services) in your invoice require additional explanation, you can add this under the "Notes" section of the plumbing invoice template. Keep in mind that your customers may not understand technical plumbing terms. If you've used technical lingo when entering line items, this is your chance to clarify. Simply explain what services you performed in layman's terms to avoid confusion.
You can also make use of this extra space to add some personality to your invoice. Including a customized note that expresses appreciation for the customer's business is a great way to foster a positive working relationship. This is a great way to nurture loyalty among customers and win repeat customers.
The Skynova invoice creator will make it easier and faster for you to create professional invoices for your plumbing business. Successfully collecting on your invoices is another challenge, however. Here are some tips for how to overcome the most common invoicing hurdles faced by plumbers.
When you add up the materials plus service costs, plumbing projects can become expensive. Make clarity and transparency top priorities when communicating with customers about pricing. Skynova also gives you cost estimate and price quote templates. Using these will ensure that your invoice and your quote or estimate line up in terms of figures and have a cohesive appearance.
Make sure to educate your customers about elements you can't predict. For example, if you're hired to replace a toilet but find that the existing pipes connecting the toilet fixture are rusted through, you will also have to replace those old pipes. Plumbing is hidden in walls and under floorboards, so unforeseen costs like this can and do arise. Be clear about such possibilities from the start.
Chasing payments may feel aggressive but sometimes it has to be done. You can track invoices via your Skynova account to see if you're still owed money. If a customer hasn't paid within the timeframe specified on the invoice, send them a courteous reminder and reattach the original invoice for reference. You never know if someone has lost the document in the shuffle of everyday paperwork. If there is no payment within a week, follow up with a phone call.
Maintaining a plumbing business requires attention not only to your handiwork but also to your finances. Skynova makes it easier to get paid with adaptable plumbing invoice forms. Our platform can also handle all types of billing and accounting needs, allowing you to store contacts, manage work order invoices, and more. Get a look at all of our features and products to see how we can help you simplify your business.