Make an invoice without spreadsheets

Most people start invoicing in a spreadsheet, then discover the problems: the formulas break when a row is inserted, the totals disagree with the tax line, and exporting to PDF produces something that looks like a spreadsheet. An invoice maker removes all three problems by treating the document as a document rather than a grid.

Every total on this page is recalculated as you type, including per-line tax rates and a discount applied proportionally across lines, so the subtotal, tax and grand total can never drift apart.

What makes an invoice look professional

Clients pay documents that look like they came from a business. Three things do most of the work: a logo in the header, consistent typography, and a clearly separated total.

• Put the amount due where the eye lands first — top right or bottom right
• State the due date as a date, not as "net 30"
• Give every line a description a stranger could understand
• Include your payment details on the invoice itself, not in the email
• Keep one template and use it for every client

Making changes after you send

If you spot a mistake after sending, do not quietly edit and resend under the same number. Issue a credit note or a corrected invoice with a new number and reference the original. Auditors look for exactly this, and clients' accounting systems often refuse a second file with a number they have already booked.