Free Contractor Invoice

Bill for construction work with a contractor invoice template that works.

Stop struggling with generic forms. A proper contractor invoice handles progress billing, separates labour from materials, and tracks retention held back by clients. Build your document now using our free invoice generator with no signup required.

  • Track variation orders separately
  • Show clear progress billing stages
  • Calculate retention amounts automatically

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Progress billing stages

Bill against completed project milestones. Show the total contract value alongside the exact percentage of work finished in this specific period to keep clients informed.

Handle contract retention

Clients often hold back a percentage of the total fee until project completion. Clearly state this retainage amount on your invoice to avoid payment disputes.

Variation order tracking

When the client changes the scope, the price changes. Keep approved variation orders separate from the original contract sum so the baseline remains perfectly clear.

Labour and materials split

Separate your material costs from your labour charges. This transparency helps clients understand exactly what they are paying for and makes your pricing look professional.

Send via WhatsApp

Do not wait until you are back at the office. Generate your invoice on site and send a direct link to your client via WhatsApp.

Track unpaid invoices

Keep a close eye on which clients owe you money. A proper system tracks partial payments, deposits, and outstanding balances across all your active sites.

Required Invoice Details

What every contractor invoice actually needs to show

A generic bill of sale will not work for construction or trade work. Your invoice must reflect the reality of the site. Start with the original contract sum, then clearly list the percentage of work completed to date. You must separate labour costs from building materials. If the client holds back a retention amount to cover potential defects, show it as its own deduction line so the invoice states both what was earned and what is payable now. Whether retention reduces the taxable value of the supply or is simply a withholding of payment is set by your own tax authority, so check that before you decide where the line sits relative to tax. Finally, always include your specific payment terms and bank details so the client knows exactly how to settle the account.

  • Total original contract sum and current completion percentage
  • Clear split between labour hours and material costs
  • Retention amount held back until final project handover
  • Approved variation orders listed as separate line items
Paper & Pen

الفواتير

4 فواتير · مايو 2026

فاتورة جديدة
العميل التاريخ المبلغ الحالة
Northwind Trading Co. 12 مايو 2026 $4,820.50 مدفوعة
Harbour Point Ltd 09 مايو 2026 $12,500.75 متأخرة
Cedar Clinic Group 05 مايو 2026 $2,140.25 مدفوعة
Studio Meridian 02 مايو 2026 $863.40 مسودة
الإجمالي $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

Invoices

4 invoices · May 2026

New invoice
Customer Date Amount Status
Northwind Trading Co. 12 May 2026 $4,820.50 Paid
Harbour Point Ltd 09 May 2026 $12,500.75 Overdue
Cedar Clinic Group 05 May 2026 $2,140.25 Paid
Studio Meridian 02 May 2026 $863.40 Draft
Total $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

चालान

4 चालान · मई 2026

नया चालान
ग्राहक तारीख राशि स्थिति
Northwind Trading Co. 12 मई 2026 $4,820.50 भुगतान हुआ
Harbour Point Ltd 09 मई 2026 $12,500.75 बकाया
Cedar Clinic Group 05 मई 2026 $2,140.25 भुगतान हुआ
Studio Meridian 02 मई 2026 $863.40 ड्राफ़्ट
कुल $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

চালান

4 চালান · মে 2026

নতুন চালান
ক্রেতা তারিখ পরিমাণ অবস্থা
Northwind Trading Co. 12 মে 2026 $4,820.50 পরিশোধিত
Harbour Point Ltd 09 মে 2026 $12,500.75 বকেয়া
Cedar Clinic Group 05 মে 2026 $2,140.25 পরিশোধিত
Studio Meridian 02 মে 2026 $863.40 খসড়া
সর্বমোট $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

انوائسز

4 انوائسز · مئی 2026

نئی انوائس
کسٹمر تاریخ رقم حالت
Northwind Trading Co. 12 مئی 2026 $4,820.50 ادا شدہ
Harbour Point Ltd 09 مئی 2026 $12,500.75 واجب الادا
Cedar Clinic Group 05 مئی 2026 $2,140.25 ادا شدہ
Studio Meridian 02 مئی 2026 $863.40 مسودہ
کل $20,324.90

Pricing And Billing

Managing progress billing and variation orders

Large jobs are rarely billed all at once. Contractors rely on progress billing, invoicing for completed stages of work at the end of each month. This keeps cash flowing to pay suppliers and crew. The biggest complication is a variation order. When a client asks for extra work or different materials, the contract sum changes. You must invoice a signed variation separately from the original contract value. Mixing them together makes it impossible to track the original agreement, leading to confusion and delayed payments when the quantity surveyor reviews your submission.

  • Bill monthly based on the percentage of completed work
  • Never mix variation orders with the original contract sum
  • Require a signature on all variations before invoicing
  • Keep material receipts organised to justify cost increases
Paper & Pen

الفواتير

4 فواتير · مايو 2026

فاتورة جديدة
العميل التاريخ المبلغ الحالة
Northwind Trading Co. 12 مايو 2026 $4,820.50 مدفوعة
Harbour Point Ltd 09 مايو 2026 $12,500.75 متأخرة
Cedar Clinic Group 05 مايو 2026 $2,140.25 مدفوعة
Studio Meridian 02 مايو 2026 $863.40 مسودة
الإجمالي $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

Invoices

4 invoices · May 2026

New invoice
Customer Date Amount Status
Northwind Trading Co. 12 May 2026 $4,820.50 Paid
Harbour Point Ltd 09 May 2026 $12,500.75 Overdue
Cedar Clinic Group 05 May 2026 $2,140.25 Paid
Studio Meridian 02 May 2026 $863.40 Draft
Total $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

चालान

4 चालान · मई 2026

नया चालान
ग्राहक तारीख राशि स्थिति
Northwind Trading Co. 12 मई 2026 $4,820.50 भुगतान हुआ
Harbour Point Ltd 09 मई 2026 $12,500.75 बकाया
Cedar Clinic Group 05 मई 2026 $2,140.25 भुगतान हुआ
Studio Meridian 02 मई 2026 $863.40 ड्राफ़्ट
कुल $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

চালান

4 চালান · মে 2026

নতুন চালান
ক্রেতা তারিখ পরিমাণ অবস্থা
Northwind Trading Co. 12 মে 2026 $4,820.50 পরিশোধিত
Harbour Point Ltd 09 মে 2026 $12,500.75 বকেয়া
Cedar Clinic Group 05 মে 2026 $2,140.25 পরিশোধিত
Studio Meridian 02 মে 2026 $863.40 খসড়া
সর্বমোট $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

انوائسز

4 انوائسز · مئی 2026

نئی انوائس
کسٹمر تاریخ رقم حالت
Northwind Trading Co. 12 مئی 2026 $4,820.50 ادا شدہ
Harbour Point Ltd 09 مئی 2026 $12,500.75 واجب الادا
Cedar Clinic Group 05 مئی 2026 $2,140.25 ادا شدہ
Studio Meridian 02 مئی 2026 $863.40 مسودہ
کل $20,324.90

Securing Your Money

Deposits, payment terms, and chasing late clients

Cash flow is the lifeblood of any contracting business. You must secure a deposit before buying materials or breaking ground. Clearly state your payment terms on every document, whether that is seven days or thirty days from the issue date. When a client misses a deadline, you need a system to follow up immediately. Send a polite payment reminder the day after the invoice becomes overdue. If you use a proper invoicing tool, you can track which clients have viewed your document and record partial payments as they arrive in your bank.

  • Always collect an upfront deposit for material costs
  • State your exact payment terms clearly on the invoice
  • Send immediate payment reminders when deadlines are missed
  • Log partial payments against the total outstanding balance
Paper & Pen

الفواتير

4 فواتير · مايو 2026

فاتورة جديدة
العميل التاريخ المبلغ الحالة
Northwind Trading Co. 12 مايو 2026 $4,820.50 مدفوعة
Harbour Point Ltd 09 مايو 2026 $12,500.75 متأخرة
Cedar Clinic Group 05 مايو 2026 $2,140.25 مدفوعة
Studio Meridian 02 مايو 2026 $863.40 مسودة
الإجمالي $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

Invoices

4 invoices · May 2026

New invoice
Customer Date Amount Status
Northwind Trading Co. 12 May 2026 $4,820.50 Paid
Harbour Point Ltd 09 May 2026 $12,500.75 Overdue
Cedar Clinic Group 05 May 2026 $2,140.25 Paid
Studio Meridian 02 May 2026 $863.40 Draft
Total $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

चालान

4 चालान · मई 2026

नया चालान
ग्राहक तारीख राशि स्थिति
Northwind Trading Co. 12 मई 2026 $4,820.50 भुगतान हुआ
Harbour Point Ltd 09 मई 2026 $12,500.75 बकाया
Cedar Clinic Group 05 मई 2026 $2,140.25 भुगतान हुआ
Studio Meridian 02 मई 2026 $863.40 ड्राफ़्ट
कुल $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

চালান

4 চালান · মে 2026

নতুন চালান
ক্রেতা তারিখ পরিমাণ অবস্থা
Northwind Trading Co. 12 মে 2026 $4,820.50 পরিশোধিত
Harbour Point Ltd 09 মে 2026 $12,500.75 বকেয়া
Cedar Clinic Group 05 মে 2026 $2,140.25 পরিশোধিত
Studio Meridian 02 মে 2026 $863.40 খসড়া
সর্বমোট $20,324.90
Paper & Pen

انوائسز

4 انوائسز · مئی 2026

نئی انوائس
کسٹمر تاریخ رقم حالت
Northwind Trading Co. 12 مئی 2026 $4,820.50 ادا شدہ
Harbour Point Ltd 09 مئی 2026 $12,500.75 واجب الادا
Cedar Clinic Group 05 مئی 2026 $2,140.25 ادا شدہ
Studio Meridian 02 مئی 2026 $863.40 مسودہ
کل $20,324.90

Questions

Everything you need to know

How do I invoice for a variation order?
You should list an approved variation order as a separate line item or generate a completely separate invoice for it. Do not alter the original contract sum on your main progress invoice. Keeping variations separate ensures the client can easily verify the extra charges against their signed approval forms.
What is retention in a contractor invoice?
Retention, or retainage, is a percentage of the payment held back by the client until the project is fully completed and inspected. It acts as a security deposit against defects. Your invoice must clearly show the gross amount earned, subtract the retention percentage, and display the net amount currently due.
Should I separate materials and labour on my invoice?
Yes, separating materials and labour makes your invoice much easier for the client to understand. It shows exactly where their money is going and prevents disputes over pricing. Transparency builds trust, especially when material costs fluctuate. Some clients also require this split for their own tax and accounting records.
Can I create a contractor invoice for free?
You can use our free invoice generator to create a professional document in minutes. It allows you to add custom line items for labour, materials, and variations. You do not need to sign up for an account. Just fill in your details, add your logo, and download a clean PDF.

Create your free contractor invoice today

Build a professional invoice that handles progress billing, variation orders, and retention without relying on complicated spreadsheets.

Free forever · No credit card required · Add modules anytime