In one line
An invoice that lists the work as separate lines with quantities and rates rather than one total.
Also called a detailed invoice, or a broken-down invoice.
What it means in practice
Itemising is what makes an invoice checkable. A client can accept or query a single line without holding up the whole payment, which is exactly what you want when one fitting is in dispute.
It also protects the price. Three lines that add to $1,800 read as work done; one line that says $1,800 reads as a number to negotiate.
Covered in full in the guide to make an invoice.
Example. Consumer unit replacement $650, four sockets at $55, two hours of testing at $95.
Where it shows up on the paperwork
The body of the invoice: one row per piece of work, each with a description, a quantity, a rate and a line total, adding up to the subtotal.
What goes wrong
- Itemising your internal steps rather than the client's outcomes, which invites a line-by-line negotiation.
- Hiding materials inside labour, so a client who queries the rate is really querying the materials.
- One line for everything, which turns the whole invoice into a single yes or no.
The tools for this
Related terms
- Line itemOne row on a document: what it is, how many, at what rate, and what that comes to.
- Unit priceThe price of one of something: one door, one metre, one hour, one visit.
- InvoiceA document that asks a client for payment for work already delivered.
Common questions
Should every invoice be itemised?
Any invoice a client might query, which is most of them. A repeat client on a fixed monthly fee is the exception, and even then the line should say what period it covers.
How detailed should the lines be?
Detailed enough that the client can accept most of the invoice while asking about one thing. That is usually the level your trade bills in: per door, per metre, per hour, per visit.