subject: Blank Invoice Use for Small Businesses [print this page] Blank Invoice Use for Small Businesses Blank Invoice Use for Small Businesses
While operating your small business you may notice that it is necessary to keep track of goods or services that you have sold. A blank invoice is a good tool to utilize if you are operating a small business because these general forms will allow you to keep track of orders that have been placed and also of items that have been sold and paid for. A blank invoice also offers you the option of customization: a company logo or name can be stamped on to the page, usually there is an empty space provided for this purpose in the top right corner of a blank invoice.
What a Blank Invoice Records
The blank invoice will start with the necessary word "Invoice" printed in bold lettering on the top of the page. Then you will see a series of rows with one blank column to the right of each. Your blank invoice should contain the invoice number, date, order number, terms, company or person, address, state, zip code, phone number, fax number, and contact name. Below this list will be a table with five columns entitled 1) item, 2) description, 3) quantity, 4) unit price and 5) amount. This table is an easy way to prepare an itemized description of transactions. At the bottom of the table will be a box for the sub-total, that is the total cost prior to the addition of appropriate taxes and fees. Finally, you will have a box meant for the total cost of the service called "Grand Total." The form should also have a small box to the bottom left for comments about the transaction. In it you may need to provide special instructions that the client has given you, for example. The blank invoice is often a computer-generated form of which many copies can be printed. Using this type of invoice will lead to a professional and organized looking invoice. The blank invoice is especially useful if you offer services that can be paid later or in installments. Each blank invoice provides a box entitled "terms," this is where you will indicate the payment agreement that you and your client have agreed upon.
When you are running a small business it will become necessary to have an efficient way to record all of the transactions and orders that you will make and receive. With a blank invoice, you will be able to use one general form and customize it for each client and each order. This will stream line how you run your business. Clients will know exactly what they are paying for and what they owe or have paid you. A blank invoice is very easy to use and simple to understand.
