Invoicing is one of the most critical areas of any business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without a proper invoice system, you can\u2019t track your income, your payments, and how well your business is doing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But that\u2019s not to say you need to get a complicated accounting system or to pay an accountant to sort your invoicing out for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s entirely possible to create your own system and invoices using free software from Google Workspace<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Google Docs has an array of templates and options for creating a great professional invoice for your business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Using this software gives you a lot of flexibility<\/a> in your invoicing system, allowing you to work out the best setup for your way of working. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also get invoices that look professional and have all the information needed to get paid on time, every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how you can get started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first step is to set up an account with Google. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is completely free, although Google does offer a great business suite that gives you personalized URLs for your email addresses and access to more features.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n You could also start with a free plan<\/a> and expand into the business suite as your needs grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another thing to note is that you don\u2019t need to use the email address you create for your Google account for any official communication, even if you are using Google Docs for your invoices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the invoice is created, you can download it to your computer and send it to customers from any email address.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, you want to head over to Google Drive. This is your online storage place for documents, images, media, and other files. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also create a new Google Docs document from here.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s possible to set up your Google Drive so that you can access it offline so that you can edit documents without an internet connection. The Drive will then sync the next time you connect to the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go to the + button in the top left-hand corner and click on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you select Google Docs from the list without clicking on the arrow next to the name, you\u2019ll navigate to a new tab with a new, clean document. Instead, click on the arrow and select \u201cFrom a template\u201d. Here, you\u2019ll get a list of options for templates before you head into the document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019re in the template gallery, you\u2019ll see an array of options ranging from resumes to business letters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can sift through the gallery using the search function, using the word \u201cinvoice\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Search through the options that come up to find one that works for your business and is close to your company branding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s possible to select one to enlarge it and see what you\u2019re dealing with, and then click the back button if you would like to try another one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve found the right option, it\u2019s time to make the adjustments to personalize the invoice to match your business branding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Add in your company details, your logo<\/a>, and your brand coloring. You can change the fonts and rearrange the fields and format slightly if you need to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the top left corner, you\u2019ll see an option to rename this document. It\u2019s best to call it something like \u201cInvoice Template\u201d so that you can find it easily in the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The document will be automatically saved to your Google Drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Each time you want to create a new invoice, all you need to do is right-click on the Doc in Drive, click on \u201cMake a copy\u201d, and then work in that copy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Just be sure to rename the copy something that makes sense for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An important part of your system is how you identify your invoices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This isn\u2019t strictly part of creating a template for invoices, but it\u2019s all part of the information you assign to each invoice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s good to number the invoices so that you can track your invoice history easily. <\/p>\n\n\n\nCreate A Google Account<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Open Google Drive And A New Doc<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Select A Template And Save It<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Create A Unique Identifier System<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n