Every document you produce is an opportunity to build your brand. Of course, that doesn’t only apply to business cards and marketing materials! Even your company’s most unglamorous procedural documents can benefit from a touch of creativity, even regarding finances.
Cash flow is critical to the success of any business, and requesting payment is an easy way to get your brand in front of external stakeholders regularly.
The good news is that they certainly don’t have to be bland. A customized invoice can be so much more than a bill notification. Here are our top invoicing tips to make yours stand out.
#1 Reinforce Your Brand Message
Most invoice templates are designed to suit as wide a range of people as possible. As a result, template designers don’t go to the trouble of adding logos to an invoice template because that would only make them relevant to a single brand.
However, for a small business owner, their brand is the only relevant one! It’s your business and your rules, so don’t be afraid to change the logo, colors, fonts, footers, etc. Do so in a way that matches your business tone, whether quirky, formal, humorous, or anything else, and your invoices suddenly become a crucial part of your marketing toolkit.
#2 Build Stronger Relationships
If you provide ongoing services to a client or customer, your invoice might be the most frequent form of communication. Psychologically, the effort you put into an invoice reflects how much you value their custom. You might not speak all that often, but if you’ve gone to the effort to create a personalized invoice, that will reinforce the bonds between the two businesses.
#3 The Freedom for Supplementary Information
Typically, a business invoice will include a unique reference number, contact details for both parties, dates, and financial information. However, once you’ve covered the basics, there’s often plenty of space left. Specific cases vary by company but remember; they’re your rules.
#4 Increase the Chances of Being Paid on Time
Most invoicing tips focus on getting paid; custom invoices can help that process. At the very least, unique design guards against losing your invoice in the shuffle. Most businesses have more documents comprising black ink on white paper than they know what to do with.
Forgetting an invoice is one of the most common reasons for late payment among small businesses and freelancers. However, with the proper customization, you can make yours unforgettable!
Customizing Invoices is Time Well Spent
Business success is about gaining an edge and doing better than the competition. Small changes can yield tremendous results. Something as simple as a customized invoice can make your brand stand out in any crowd.
Of course, there are always fantastic opportunities to outdo your business rivals, and there are plenty of great tips and guides across the NerdFine blog, so be sure to look!