What is an invoice?
An invoice is a formal commercial document issued by a seller (such as a freelancer, contractor, or business) to a buyer. It itemizes the products delivered or services rendered, states agreed unit prices and quantities, shows applicable taxes or discounts, and requests payment by a designated due date.
What is the difference between an invoice and a receipt?
The difference lies in timing and purpose. An invoice is issued BEFORE payment is made, serving as an official request for payment. A receipt is issued AFTER payment has been received, serving as proof that the transaction has been completed and the balance has been settled.
What should an invoice contain?
A standard invoice should include: the word 'Invoice', a unique invoice number, date of issue, payment due date, seller contact and tax details, buyer contact details, an itemized list of goods or services (descriptions, quantities, rates, amounts), subtotal, applicable taxes or discounts, net total due, and accepted payment instructions.
Why should invoices have unique numbers?
Unique invoice numbers are essential for preventing confusion, avoiding duplicate payments, and maintaining an orderly audit trail. Accounting best practices and tax guidelines in most jurisdictions recommend sequential, non-repeating invoice numbers so every commercial transaction can be accurately verified.
What is an invoice due date?
The due date is the specific calendar deadline by which your client is expected to pay the full invoice amount. Common terms include 'Due Upon Receipt', 'Net 14' (due within 14 days), or 'Net 30' (due within 30 days of the invoice date). Setting a firm date helps both parties manage cash flow effectively.
Is QuickBills free to use?
Yes, QuickBills is 100% free to use. You can generate, customize, download as PDF, or print unlimited invoices without paying any subscription fees or entering credit card information.
Do I need an account to create an invoice?
No account or registration is required. You can start creating your invoice immediately directly in your browser. There is no password to remember and no sign-up barrier.
Does QuickBills store my business or client data on its servers?
No. QuickBills operates completely within your web browser (client-side). Your business details, client information, rates, and line items are never uploaded to, stored on, or processed by our backend servers. Your sensitive billing data remains entirely private on your device.
How do I create an invoice with QuickBills?
Creating an invoice takes just a few steps: 1) Fill in your business details and your client's contact information. 2) Set the invoice number and due date. 3) Add your products or services with quantities and rates. 4) Apply optional tax or discount percentages. 5) Click 'Review Invoice' to preview the document, then click 'Download Copy' to save a PDF or print it.
How can I download or print the generated invoice?
After filling out your details, click the 'Review Invoice' button. A full-page preview modal will display your formatted invoice. Click 'Download Copy' to save a high-resolution PDF file directly to your device, or use the 'Print Invoice' button to send it directly to your connected printer.
Can I add tax to an invoice?
Yes. In the right-hand panel of the invoice generator, you can enter a tax rate percentage (for example, 8.25 for sales tax or 20 for VAT). QuickBills automatically calculates the tax amount and adds it to the subtotal.
Can I apply discounts to my invoice?
Yes. You can enter a discount rate percentage in the generator settings. The discount is calculated against the subtotal, subtracted from the total, and clearly itemized on the final invoice.
Can I create invoices in different currencies?
Yes. QuickBills supports multiple global currencies, including US Dollar ($), British Pound (£), Euro (€), Indian Rupee (₹), Japanese Yen (¥), Canadian Dollar (CAD $), Australian Dollar (AUD $), Singapore Dollar (SGD $), Chinese Renminbi (¥), and Bitcoin (₿).
Can I add multiple line items and decimal quantities?
Yes. You can click 'Add Item' to insert as many line items as needed. Each row supports custom descriptions, decimal quantities (ideal for billing 1.5 hours or partial units), and unit prices. You can also delete rows with a single click.