Self Employed
One of the great things about freelancing is the freedom you get to organize your work day the way you want to. But, you also can't rely on a steady paycheck and have to bill clients and hope they pay on time. These invoicing tips for freelancers will help you get you paid sooner.
Invoicing tip: Consider using accounting software
Whether you are an occasional freelancer or at the helm of a growing business startup, accounting software like Freshbooks and Sage 50 can help you stay on top of your billing game. Freshbooks starts at just $15 per month. It says it will help you look more professional and get paid faster. Among other things, this app lets you customize your invoices with logos and colours. You can use Freshbooks to accept online payments, set invoice due dates, send late payment reminders and charge late fees. All of these features can help you automate your billing process. And when you use a service like Freshbooks, you can claim your membership as a business expense!
Create your own invoices
If you don't feel like shelling out $15 a month for an invoicing application, you can always write your own invoices using a word processor like MS Office. Make sure to include your name and address at the top of the bill. You will need to include your sales tax numbers on every invoice. This only applies if you're registered with the CRA. If drawing tables aren't your forte, try using one of the invoicing templates that are available in Word. To do this, simply select the option to open a new document from a template. You'll find an invoice template in there and many of these are very professional-looking.
