Which Document Do You Need?
Most billing confusion comes from using the wrong document at the wrong stage of a job. The sequence is usually estimate first, then invoice, then receipt, with a credit note only if something needs correcting afterwards.
Invoice Generator
Use it when: You have completed work or delivered goods and want to be paid.
Creates a formal request for payment with a unique invoice number, itemized lines, tax, and due date. This is the document your bookkeeping is built on.
Estimate Maker
Use it when: A client wants to know what a job will cost before you start.
Produces a non-binding cost approximation with a validity window and optional signature line. Convert it to an invoice once the work is approved.
Sales Receipt Generator
Use it when: A customer has already paid and needs proof.
Records payment after the fact, including method and date. Not a request for money, which is what separates it from an invoice.
Credit Memo Maker
Use it when: You need to reduce what a customer owes on an invoice already sent.
Issues a credit note against the original invoice after a return, overcharge, or correction, leaving the original record intact for audit.
The Normal Order of a Job
- Estimate — you price the work and the client approves the scope before anything starts.
- Invoice — the work is done, and you formally request payment with terms attached.
- Receipt — the client pays, and you confirm the payment for both sets of records.
- Credit note — only if you overcharged, the client returned something, or a correction is needed.
Skipping the estimate is the single most common cause of scope disputes. Editing a sent invoice instead of issuing a credit note is the most common cause of messy books.
Invoice Guides by Trade
What belongs on an invoice varies by trade. These guides cover the line items, fees, and compliance details specific to each.
Pricing & Financial Calculators
Work out what to charge before you write the estimate.
Why These Tools Are Free
Every document is generated in your own browser. Nothing is uploaded, no account is created, and no data is stored on a server, which means there is no hosting cost to pass on to you. Your business details, client information, and figures never leave your device.