An invoice template for Canadian service businesses
A clear invoice gets paid faster. In Canada it must also show certain information so business customers can claim their input tax credits. Here is the template, and how to stop doing it on Sunday night.
Invoice template: what to include
1. Your business name and contact details. 2. A unique invoice number and the date. 3. The customer’s name and address. 4. A description of the work or products, with the job date. 5. The amount before tax. 6. Each tax on its own line: GST and PST, HST, or GST and QST depending on the province. 7. Your tax registration numbers if you are registered. 8. The total and payment terms.
Above certain amounts, tax rules require those numbers for the customer to claim credits. The Canada Revenue Agency and your provincial tax authority publish the current details.
Self-employed invoices
If your revenue stays under the small supplier threshold, you do not have to register for GST/HST and your invoice shows none. Once registered, every invoice must show it. When in doubt, your accountant settles it in five minutes.
Online invoicing: the morning invoice
In Crescendo, the invoice goes out the morning of the job with your province’s taxes calculated, and unpaid invoices are followed up automatically. Recurring customers are invoiced for each visit without recreating anything.
Essential $499/month, or Growth $1,999/month with managed ads and Google profile. Prices in CAD, plus GST/HST. See both plans