What is an invoice?

Invoices are a critical part of any business operation. They act as a standard accepted document detailing products and services supplied, as well as agreed prices.

But what are invoices, and what is invoicing? It’s important to understand exactly what an invoice is, and how a professional invoice should look. Creating correct and professional invoices can also make a big difference to getting paid on time. This can be especially important with international customers.

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📝 This article will take a look at:
What is an invoice? How do invoices work, and what is the purpose of invoicing? Common types of invoice Invoice example Invoice requirements Using invoicing software to speed up payments How to invoice your international customers What to consider when invoicing in a foreign currency Expert Insight from EFK CompuBooks Receive international payments on time, without the high fees - Choose Wise

This piece has been written in collaboration with Esther Friedberg Karp, an esteemed bookkeeper and QuickBooks ProAdvisor.

What is an invoice?

A basic invoice definition is an itemized list of goods shipped or services provided, usually specifying the price and the terms of sale. It is sent from a business to a customer, establishing an obligation for the customer to pay.¹

But what exactly is an invoice?

An invoice is a document that specifies, for a particular period, any products sold or services provided to a customer.

It acts as a notification that the customer should pay for these products or services. The invoice will detail the amount to pay, a timeframe for payment, and, if applicable, any amounts already received for this sale.

Invoices are essential in business accounting. They not only inform customers what they owe, but they also act as a method of tracking sales and inventory, sales forecasting, and tax records.

What is the difference between an invoice and a bill?

An invoice and a bill are essentially the same, seen from different perspectives. An invoice is sent from the supplier to the customer. Once the customer receives the invoice, it becomes a bill that they must pay.

For example, in QuickBooks, the term ‘invoice’ is used when accounts receivable is affected, e.g. for sales. The term ‘bill’ is used when accounts payable is affected, e.g. for purchases.

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The origins of the word ‘invoice’ also demonstrate this. It comes from the French word ‘envoyer’ meaning ‘to send.’ ²

Is an invoice a receipt?

An invoice is different from a receipt.

An invoice is a statement of products and services provided and a request for payment for them.

A receipt provides proof of payment. It will detail the products and services received and paid for, and the method of payment. And if you need to send receipts to your clients, get your free receipt templates from Wise.

How do invoices work, and what is the purpose of invoicing?

What is an invoice used for?

The main role of an invoice is to provide a record of sales of products and/or services. This will formalize any previous dealings and act as a notification for the customer to pay.

But invoices also serve several other useful purposes, including:

• Accounting and record-keeping. Invoices track all revenue coming into the business. This helps record and track cash flow.

• Inventory tracking, forecasting, and marketing. Invoices contribute to tracking how much stock is available. Past data can help predict future requirements or plan effective marketing strategies.

• Legal protection. An invoice formalizes any agreements with a customer. As such, it provides a record of prices agreed and timeline in the event of disputes.

• Sales taxes. If sales taxes are to be charged on any portion of the sale, the invoice indicates the sales tax jurisdiction and amount

• Tax record. It is an IRS requirement in the US (and with similar tax authorities in many other countries) to keep records for annual filings. Invoices provide a record of business activity and transactions.

What is an invoice payment?

Invoice payments are submitted by customers to pay for products and services. Invoice management involves sending invoices to customers, and managing payments of invoices received.

Good organization, reminders, and the use of software can help with timely payments.

Get international invoices paid faster with Wise

Common types of invoice

There is no fixed standard for an invoice. Companies often use different styles and content.

There are, however, several common types of invoice that you may come across, with differing uses. These include:

Invoice type	Use case
Commercial invoice	This is used in international trade (such as when importing goods into the US). It should specify the parties involved, a description of the goods and their value, country of origin, and taxes/duties. It should also meet specific customs requirements.
Pro forma invoice	Provides an estimate or quotation before goods or services are purchased. This demonstrates a commitment to a certain price, but the invoice is not yet due for payment.
Timesheet	A timesheet-style invoice is used to bill a customer based on hours worked rather than goods or services provided.
Past due or memo invoice	This is a reminder invoice sent if a customer is late in paying.
Recurring invoice	This type of invoice is used for ongoing payments, such as rental contracts or ongoing services. It may be sent every month, quarter, or year, for example.

Invoice example

Although there is no fixed standard, there is certain information that any invoice should contain.

It can also be useful to use an invoice template to keep a consistent, professional, and branded style.

💡For free invoice templates that you can use – see this Wise guide.

Invoice requirements

As seen on the example template, invoice requirements (including international invoices) include:

• Business contact information
• Customer’s contact information
• Invoice ID/number
• Invoice date
• Payment terms and deadlines
• Itemized list of services
• The amount due
• The currency in which the invoice should be paid
• Country of origin/ destination
• Any taxes/duties that apply

What is an invoice number?

An invoice number, or invoice ID, is a unique identifier assigned to each invoice. This is important for both supplier and customer as it helps track and record invoices.

There are different ways to assign invoice numbers. The important thing is to make sure that the same invoice number is not assigned more than once.

There are several common numbering methods:

• You can assign invoice numbers sequentially. Each invoice is assigned the next number in the sequence (usually starting from 1).
• Assigning chronologically involves adding the date at the start of the invoice number. This is followed by a unique, likely sequential, number. This helps in sorting and storing invoices by date
• Customer IDs or project IDs can also be added at the start. Each customer, or project, has a unique ID (this can be alphanumeric) followed by an invoice number.

What is an invoice address?

There are two important addresses required when providing an invoice for shipped goods. The first is the billing address, and the second is the delivery address. It is important to bear in mind that they might not be the same.

• The billing address is the registered address of the company or customer. This must be correct for record-keeping and tax purposes.

• The shipping address is where the goods are delivered. This could be a different company office address, a home address, or even another customer address.

What is an invoice date?

The date of an invoice is essential information. It is important for accurate record-keeping as well as tax and accounting requirements.

An invoice is usually dated at the date goods are shipped, or service is provided. The payment date is then set relative to this invoice date.³

Using invoicing software to speed up payments

Invoicing software can also be used to automate and keep track of invoice processing. Such software makes it easier for companies to prepare, manage, and store invoices.

If you wish to use an invoice template, you may be able to create one or upload your existing one within the invoicing software. The invoicing software will then add the essential details to each invoice to ensure that no manual mistakes are made.

It can also make it easier for customers to pay, as such software products often support several payment methods.

For example, you can add your Wise Business USD bank details to your invoice template to get paid with ease.

Making things simpler for customers can help you get paid faster, which can in turn improve your cash flow.

🔍 Did you know?
Research shows that companies are 30% more likely to get paid if they offer easy online invoice payment.⁵

There are several great invoicing software options, including:

Software	Key features
Xero	This is a subscription-based service with real-time management and reconciliation of invoices. It features tools for managing inventory and expenses, and for creating quotes. It is also a great option for international invoicing as it can be linked to a Wise account to keep track of overseas payments.
QuickBooks Online	Comprehensive option with invoice and tax management support. Offers a range of subscriptions for different-sized businesses. Also a good option for international invoicing, with the ability to connect with a Wise account.
FreshBooks	Yearly or monthly subscription-based service Integrates with over 100 apps to streamline business Includes a request deposit feature to get paid upfront

💡 You can also check out the full guide to invoicing software options to compare the top choices.

Track your bills automatically with QuickBooks and Wise

If you have international bills to pay, not only can you pay them at the real mid-market rate with Wise, but now you can also sync Wise with QuickBooks.

• You can see your unpaid bills in real time and pay them seamlessly from your ‘Bills’ page on Wise.
• Your bill payments and any other Wise transactions will be synced, matched and categorised in QuickBooks for simple reconciliation.
• Once connected, all bills you create in QuickBooks Online will automatically sync in real time to Wise, where you can choose which ones to pay.

Sound amazing? See for yourself how much time and hassle you can save.

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How to invoice your international customers

When invoicing internationally, different currencies can cause some headaches.

If the invoice is paid in the wrong currency, the bank will likely charge a conversion fee. With invoice and accounting software, you can add your Wise account details to the invoice to get paid in the currency of choice without the high fees.

Ways to send an invoice

Invoices can be sent on paper or electronically - Wise offers invoice templates for this in several formats.

Some companies may prefer paper invoices - but there are limitations to this method. These limitations are especially important to bear in mind when invoicing international customers.

• Paper invoices can be harder to track and keep records of. They are also more expensive to send to customers, as you need to pay for the office supplies and postage. Postal services take time and the invoice could get lost along the way.

• Electronic invoices solve many of these problems. They can be stored and searched for digitally, and there is no postal service or office supplies expense or delay.

More and more companies are moving to electronic invoices. The global e-invoicing market is expected to grow over 16% a year up to 2027.⁴

💡Like the sound of e-invoicing? There's an app for that 🤓Check out the top ten invoicing apps!

What to consider when invoicing in a foreign currency

When working with international invoices, it’s important to establish clear payment terms. This ensures that both parties are clear on what to expect, when payment is due, and any late fees that may arise.

Importantly, it also sets an agreement for the currency of the invoice.

Invoicing internationally will often involve dealing with different currencies. This comes with several challenges:

It can be costly

Transaction fees and margins added to the exchange rate reduce the amount received. Costs can affect both the seller and the customer.

There are often additional bank fees involved with making a deposit in person, or in making a deposit in foreign funds, especially if the bank's client doesn't maintain an account denominated in that foreign currency.

If the customer arranges to pay by wire, they pay a wire fee to their bank, and the seller pays a fee for receiving a foreign currency wire.

International payments can act as a barrier for customers

Anything that adds complexity will lower the chances of fast and easy invoice payment.

For example, the customer may have to pay by check. The postage can be slow and costly. The customer will also likely have to trudge to the bank and make an old-school deposit in person at a teller. Many banks cannot allow customers to deposit foreign checks using a mobile app.

It is important to consider offering several payment methods to remove these barriers.

Exposure to exchange rate risk

If the exchange rate changes after the invoice date, the business can lose money. The use of a forward exchange contract (FEC) can mitigate this.

An FEC locks down the current exchange rate until the date set by you. This safeguards you from losing money due to exchange rate changes. The downside is that you may also miss out on any positive shift in the rate.⁶

It can also be unnecessarily costly to break the contract (especially if you don't end up needing to lock in a rate for the full amount).

💡 Another way to ensure you get the real, mid-market rate is to use a multi-currency account, such as Wise. With Wise Business, you can have up to 10 local currency account details to get paid without losing money on conversion fees.

International Tax Implications

Businesses also need to take taxes and fees into account.

If buying from, or supplying, customers in the EU or the UK for example, international VAT (Value Added Tax) needs to be included. It may be necessary to register for VAT (or other sales tax) in the country where you are doing business.⁷

⚠️ Check with government agencies of the foreign countries in question, or consult an accountant who specializes in international sales to be sure.

Expert Insight from EFK CompuBooks

Invoicing and getting paid in foreign currency can add costs and lags to the payment process on both the seller's end and on the end of the customer.

Oftentimes, there are additional bank fees involved with making a deposit in person, or in depositing foreign funds, especially if the bank's client doesn't maintain an account denominated in that foreign currency.

And, let's face it: the banks never offer their customers a proper foreign currency exchange rate, as they always take a "piece of the action."

If the customer takes the extra time and arranges to pay by wire, they pay a wire fee to their bank, and the seller pays a fee for receiving a foreign currency wire. In other words, everybody loses except the banks.

	Esther Friedberg Karp, MBA, is an esteemed bookkeeper, QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and founder of CompuBooks.* She has been named twice to the list of Insightful Accountant’s Top 10 QuickBooks ProAdvisors worldwide, with the titles “Top International ProAdvisor” and “Top Trainer/Writer ProAdvisor.”

Receive international payments on time, without the high fees - Choose Wise

Invoicing international customers can be problematic. The extra costs, time, and complexity all need to be considered.

One way to speed up the payment process is to accept payments in the foreign currency of the invoice. This makes it easier for customers to pay you on time. Unfortunately, it can also be costly if you have a traditional bank account.

Luckily, Wise Business offers a multi-currency business account that can hold 10 local currency account details all in one place. Customers can pay in their local currency, which can speed up the invoice payment.

You can add your Wise account details to your invoice and even connect your business tools to Wise, to save you time and money.

Hopefully the next time someone asks 'what is an invoice?’, you'll now have all the answers, and even the tools to show them your own example.

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💡 For all you need to know about invoices, don't forget to read and bookmark the ultimate guide to invoicing from Wise!

Sources:

1. Invoice | Definition of Invoice by Merriam-Webster
2. Wiki: invoice etymology
3. Invoice date financial definition of Invoice date
4. E-invoicing Market to Grow at a CAGR of 16.2% to reach US$ 15.50 Billion from 2020 to 2027
5. 7 Tips for Billing Customers That Will Get You Paid Faster
6. Forward contracts
7. How to Invoice International Customers

All sources checked 18 August 2021.