How to create a best practice electrician invoice template for Australia

As a licensed electrician in Australia, you're required to work to the highest standards and your customers will expect the best outcomes. So, it's important that your business paperwork – including your invoices – reflects the high quality of your workmanship, as well as being ATO compliant. 

 

What does a good electrician invoice template look like?

Your invoices (along with all your other stationery) are actually part of your marketing material, as they serve to reinforce the values of your business – while requesting payment, of course. Follow our tips to create an invoice template for your electrical business that looks good, and is ATO compliant – it also may help to get you paid faster. 

 

Overall, keep your invoices clean, smart, simple, easy to read and well branded.

Where can I get an invoice template for my trade?

Invoices sent out by sole traders and small companies in Australia are required to feature certain mandatory information, so make sure the template you choose for your invoicing is correct for Australian businesses.

 

Talk to a designer or print shop about a bespoke invoice design, which could be adapted from your letterhead. Or search online for free downloadable invoice templates in Word or Excel – checking that they are Australian Taxation Office (ATO) compliant.

 

If you use accounting software such as MYOB or Xero, you may be able to use one of their invoice templates, as long as it is appropriate to your trade.

What needs to be on my electrician invoice template?

To comply with Australian Taxation Office requirements, your invoice template should feature the following information and fields:

 

• The title ‘Tax invoice' if you charge GST
• Your business and/or trading name 
• The quantity and description of the services provided 
• Your ABN (Australian business number)
• The date of the invoice
• The GST amount(s) either for each line item or as a whole.

 

You can include the tax as a single amount using words such as ‘Total price includes GST' if your invoice is for a total of less than $1,000 and all items on it are subject to 10% GST. If the invoice is for more than $1,000 the GST amount must be featured beside each item and the buyer or recipient of the services must be identified on the invoice.

 

Not sure if you need to register for GST? You may find the answer in our Business basics for sole traders article.

What could make my invoice template ‘best practice’?

In addition to creating invoices for electrical work that are clear, professional looking and compliant with ATO requirements, you can also incorporate a few things that may help get you paid faster. Here are some tips:

 

• Offer customers a choice of payment methods to make paying you simple (see next section)
• Address your invoices to the most appropriate person to help ensure a speedy approval
• Include your mobile number to address immediate queries that may delay payments
• Specify your payment terms, including the date payment should be made by.

What payment methods could I offer?

Customers like choice, so helping them pay you the way they want to may speed up payments. Options you could feature on your invoices include:

 

• Paying you in person by debit or credit card via the Westpac EFTPOS Air mobile app, which you can have on your compatible smartphone or tablet¹.  You can also use the app to generate and send invoices.
• Bank-to-bank transfer (listing your bank account BSB and account number on your invoices)
• Bank-to-bank transfer using PayID® (featuring just the ABN or mobile number you've registered for the service – so you don't have to share your bank account details)
• Paying by post with a cheque.

 

Or paying you with cash, of course, which you can also track through the EFTPOS Air app.