What a small-business invoice actually has to contain

An invoice that gets paid without an email chain has seven things on it. Miss one and you invite a delay.

1. A unique, sequential number

Not "invoice-final-v2". Sequential numbers make bookkeeping possible for both sides and are usually what an accountant asks for first. Per year, per business, no gaps where you can avoid them.

2. Your legal identity

The name your bank account is in, plus an address. If you trade under a different name, put both — the mismatch between the invoice and the payment account is the most common reason a payment is queried.

3. The client's identity, spelled correctly

Companies often cannot pay an invoice addressed to the wrong legal entity. If you are unsure, ask — it is one email now instead of a month of arrears later.

4. Issue date and due date

Both, always. "Net 14" means nothing without a date to count from, and a due date turns a request into an obligation.

5. A description a stranger can approve

Whoever approves payment may never have spoken to you. "Consulting" gets questioned; "Website redesign — phase 2, 14 days" gets paid. Twelve words is usually enough.

6. A clear total

Subtotal, any discount, any tax, then the total. If you show a discount, show it as a line rather than quietly reducing the total — the client's accounts team will ask for the paper trail anyway.

7. How to pay

Bank details or a payment link, on the document. Anything that makes the person holding the invoice do a second task before paying adds days.

Asterielle prints all seven by default, because they are the same for every business.

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