Invoice templates for plumbers

Are pipes, toilets, and dishwashers your speciality? As a plumber, you specialise in a lot of services, but are you an expert in managing your business finances? With invoice templates, not only can you ensure your invoices are legally compliant, but you can also market your business and get paid faster.

This article explores the different types of invoices for plumbers and what details plumber invoice templates must include. It also explains how invoicing software can help save you time and money and accept payments quickly from your customers. Free Word and Excel invoice templates for plumbers are also available for download.

The different types of plumbing invoices 

Plumbers take on a variety of different jobs which may require different pricing methods. It’s up to each individual business to determine the pricing and invoice method that works best for them. Some of the common invoice types for plumbing services are outlined below. 

Standard invoice

A standard invoice is the most common type of invoice. It lists exactly what the customer owes you for the provided goods or services. This can include any materials purchased, for instance, toilets, sinks, or bathtubs, and also the installation or maintenance fees. 

A standard invoice can either be a non-VAT invoice or a VAT invoice. Details about VAT rules are outlined in the following section.

Recurring invoice

A recurring invoice is used for ongoing services. The invoice is sent to the same customer at regular intervals, and each invoice will include the same products or services. Setting up recurring invoices with invoicing software will save you time by automatically creating and sending the invoice to your customer.

Time-based invoice

Instead of charging a set fee for a specific job, time-based invoices charge for your services by time. Usually, the price is charged per hour you worked on the customer's plumbing, but you can also charge a daily or weekly rate.

Prepayment invoice

A prepayment invoice is used when you require a deposit or down payment from the customer prior to starting the work. Prepayments are common for large plumbing jobs or jobs that require you to purchase extra tools or materials that you wouldn’t normally use. 

A prepayment invoice is an invoice that only includes the deposit/prepayment as an item line.

What needs to be on a plumbing invoice?

Invoices are formal requests for payment. Therefore, they require certain information to be valid under UK law. There are two forms of invoices, non-VAT invoices and VAT invoices. What each requires is outlined below. 

Non-VAT plumber invoice template

A non-VAT invoice is issued by non-VAT registered businesses to its customers. They require the name and address of both the seller and the buyer, an invoice number and issue date, a breakdown of the products or services being sold, and the total amount due. Payment terms and conditions are also recommended.

VAT plumber invoice template

VAT invoices are issued by VAT-registered businesses to their customers. If your plumbing business is VAT registered in the UK, you must apply value-added tax to your sales. VAT invoices include all of the same information found on a non-VAT plumber invoice, but also additional VAT details like your VAT registration number (VRN).

Managing quotations for plumbing services

Just like many other industries, it’s common to provide a quotation for your plumbing services before the customer accepts. Quotes are a part of the sales process and help the customer to decide if they want to work with you. 

Therefore, if you provide a plumbing quotation, make sure that it’s as detailed as possible. Just like a plumber invoice, a plumber quotation should include the names and contact details of both parties, a breakdown of the services provided, a ‘valid until’ date and the total amount due.

Sample plumbing invoice

Below, you’ll find a sample plumbing invoice created with SumUp Invoices. SumUp Invoices makes sure that you enter all of the legally required information before sending it to your customer. The invoice below is an example of a standard VAT invoice.

Free plumber invoice templates

If Word or Excel is your software of choice for creating invoices, you can download our free, professional invoice templates below. You can customise your invoice template with your logo, business details, and payment terms.

Plumber invoice templates for Word 

With Word invoice templates, you’ll find that your invoicing is less automated. This means you’ll need to calculate the totals manually and format your invoice numbers yourself. If however, you just need to send the occasional plumber invoice, it can be a simple way to create your plumber invoice template. 

We have provided a VAT and non-VAT template depending on your business structure. 

Plumber invoice templates for Excel 

Excel invoice templates are more automated with filters, meaning the totals will be calculated automatically. Below you can download your Excel template for plumbers. There are two tabs in the Excel file, one with a VAT template and another with a non-VAT template. 

Invoicing software for plumbers

Invoicing software is designed to make invoicing simple and compliant. While Word and Excel are simple programs, they're not designed with local legal requirements in mind. SumUp Invoices, however, has a simple invoice template that helps you create and issue legally compliant invoices in less than 1 minute.

You can save your customer and product information to the software for quick selection on your invoice template. SumUp Invoices updates the software anytime there is a change in local requirements, for example, VAT rates. 

You can also accept payments through SumUp Invoices by integrating a payment link in your invoice email. This will help your customers pay quickly and securely online. Your invoices and payments are centralised and will automatically be reconciled if the payment is made through the payment link.