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A general contractor in a white hard hat leaning over building plans in a timber-framed house

Built for general contractors

Free general contractor invoice template for labor, materials, deposits and progress payments.

Keep every project organized with professional, easy-to-use invoices, estimates and change orders.

Create a contractor invoice

One job. One clear record.

  1. Scope
  2. Estimate
  3. Deposit
  4. Change order
  5. Invoice
  6. Receipt

Template studio

Professional templates built for the project.

All 10 general contractor invoice designs

Browse more designs in the general contractor quote templates and general contractor estimate templates.

Keep every payment tied to the job.

Send a professional invoice with a single payment code, then record each milestone from deposit to final balance.

Invoice

Invoice #: INV-1001
Due: May 15, 2024

Bill ToRiverside Residence
123 Maple Ave
Austin, TX 78704

Scan to pay
Total Due$24,200.00
  1. 1Deposit
  2. 2Progress
  3. 3Final

Price every phase with confidence.

Practical guidance for real jobs

Common line items

  • Demolition and prep
  • Labor (in-house or subs)
  • Materials and supplies
  • Permits and inspections

What to include

  • Clear scope of work
  • Property address
  • Phase or milestone
  • Payment terms

Change-order ready

  • Describe the extra work
  • Get client approval
  • Include cost and timeline impact
  • Keep it tied to the original job

Know what has been approved, sent and paid.

  1. Approved
  2. Sent
  3. Viewed
  4. Paid

Contractor resources

Answers to common questions.

Questions contractors ask about invoicing

What should a contractor invoice include?

The job-site address and your license number, the contract sum with the amount billed to date and this draw, any retainage held, and approved change orders on lines of their own. Keep labor apart from materials and equipment, note the lien waiver that goes with the payment, and print the due date. With that set, an owner, lender or bookkeeper can approve the draw without calling you.

How much should I charge for site preparation and set-up?

It depends on what the site needs before work starts: protecting floors and finishes in an occupied home, temporary fencing or barriers, access for deliveries and equipment, portable toilets, and how far the site is from your yard. An empty shell needs far less than a lived-in kitchen. The generator opens that line at $450.00 so the page is not blank; replace it with your own figure for this job.

Is this template for construction contractors or independent contractors?

This page is set up for construction and general contractors: site work, labor by the day, materials, draws, retainage and change orders. If you are an independent contractor in the 1099 sense, billing a company for your time or a project, the freelancer template fits better, with hourly or project lines and no job-site details. Both open in the same generator, so you can switch trade at any time.

How does retainage work on a contractor invoice?

The owner holds back part of each draw until the job is complete, as security that punch-list items get finished. Show the gross amount earned this period, subtract retainage on its own line, and keep a running total of what is held. When the work is accepted, send a final invoice that bills the retained balance. Contracts set the amount and some states cap it, so check yours. More on retainage.

When should I bill during a construction job?

The contract usually sets the rhythm: monthly draws, or a draw when each stage such as foundation, framing or rough-in passes inspection. Many contractors also take a deposit before mobilizing, so materials are not bought on their own credit, but some states limit home improvement deposits, so check the rule where you work. Bill each draw promptly with its percentage complete. See progress billing.

What can I do if a draw goes unpaid?

Start with the paperwork: confirm the invoice reached whoever approves payment and that the signed lien waiver and change orders went with it. Most states give contractors mechanics lien rights on the property they improved, but they come with strict notice and filing deadlines, some starting from your first day on site, so learn your state's rules early. Many contracts also allow you to stop work after nonpayment; read yours before you do.

Do contractors charge sales tax on invoices?

It varies by state. In some states the contractor pays tax when buying materials and charges the owner none; in others you collect tax on the materials, or on the whole bill, and repair work can be taxed differently from new construction or a capital improvement. Keep labor and materials on separate lines so either approach works, and confirm the rules with your state revenue department.

Can customers pay an invoice online?

Yes, through your own payment link. Add a PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, Wise or Stripe link and the invoice carries it as a link and a QR code. The customer pays you directly; InvoiceTools never handles the money.

Building plans, a tape measure, a pencil and safety glasses on a workbench

General contractors nationwide

Build the job. Bill it clearly.

Create a contractor invoice

What to include in a contractor invoice

  • License number and job site. Your contractor license number and the job-site address, which owners, lenders and title companies often check before they release payment on a construction job.
  • Contract sum and draw number. The original contract amount, the total billed to date and which draw this is, so the owner can see progress against the whole job.
  • Work completed this period. The stage or percentage finished on each part of the job since the last invoice, matched to the schedule of values the owner signed.
  • Retainage held. The amount the owner is holding back on this draw and the running total held, so the final invoice releases the correct balance.
  • Approved change orders. Each signed change order with its number, description and price, kept apart from the base contract so extras are not argued about at the end.
  • Materials and equipment rental. Lumber, concrete, fixtures and rented equipment shown apart from labor, since many states tax construction materials differently from the work itself.
  • Lien waiver with the draw. A note of the conditional lien waiver sent with this payment request, because many owners and lenders will not release funds without one.
  • Payment terms and due date. When the draw is due and how to pay, written out, because contractor invoices often pass through an owner, a lender and an accounts desk.

Made for the way contractors work

  • The lines every job starts with

    Site set-up, labor by the day, materials, equipment rental. Pick contractor and they are on the page with starting rates.

  • Change orders on the document

    The extra that was agreed on site, written on the invoice with its own figure, is what keeps the final bill from becoming a dispute.

  • Photograph the work, sign the scope

    Progress photos and a signed scope are worth more than any conversation when a client questions the final bill.

  • Paid on each draw

    A payment link on each draw request means the money moves when the stage is signed off, rather than at the end.

  • Monthly draws, planned once

    Same owner, same monthly draw. Plan the run once with the recurring invoice planner, then send each invoice on its date.

  • The quote becomes the invoice

    Priced at the bid, billed at completion, from the same lines. Nobody is comparing two different documents.