5 reasons to choose invoicing software over invoicing templates

A generated invoice template in Microsoft Word or Excel may seem like a great option. After all, an invoice is just a one-page sheet of paper with some numbers and descriptions, right?

Wrong. That piece of paper is just one part of the process of running your business and getting paid, and using a Word or Excel template creates as many problems as it solves. Online invoice software is much more efficient for invoicing purposes than traditional invoice templates. Here are 5 reasons why you should make the switch over to an invoicing software if you haven’t yet.

1. It’s made to get you paid

Simply put, invoice software is made to get your business paid faster.

Professionally designed invoices give your customers clear information, focusing on the action that matters most: Pay this invoice now, please.

Unlike Excel and Word invoice templates, with invoice software you can provide your customers with the convenience of paying by credit card or even via bank account. Invoices viewed online can have a “pay now” button with a credit card form attached to it, so customers can pay on the spot when they view your invoice.

For instance, when your customer (let’s call her Nadine) is in line at Starbucks, with a million other things to get done during the day, she can access the invoice you sent her on her phone and pay before she even orders her coffee. She gets the convenience, and you get money in your pocket faster.

Not only does invoice software process the transaction and generate a receipt for Nadine, but you will also see when Nadine received (and read) the email, when she paid, and how much she paid. Can your PDF do that?

2. It’s automatic

Online invoice software is designed with automated features to help you process invoices with ease and efficiency.

There’s nothing more uncomfortable than chasing down your customers for money. With invoice software you can send automatic reminders to customers who haven’t paid yet, slimming the chances of getting your money late.

For your regular customers, you can automate your invoices so that they send on a recurring schedule (say, the first of every month). According to our data, 75% of Wave users have repeat relationships with their customers. These are situations that beg for recurring invoices — a feature that invoice software provides with just a few clicks.

The best invoice software has real accounting functionality built right in. With all your financial information in one place, you can sail through tax season with less worry and stress.

3. It offers powerful tools

Invoice software stores your products, prices, customers, and taxes, so each time you create an invoice, you can do it in a few clicks. It also provides you with insight to help you identify where the majority of your income comes from, which clients pay on a consistent basis, and what products sell the most. Additionally, customer credit card data is stored in a PCI-compliant way, which means that both you and your customers don’t have to worry about your information staying safe.

With many online invoice software options, your data is stored, managed, and processed in the cloud. In other words, your information is stored online as opposed to your computer’s hard drive. So if your computer goes BOOM!! you have nothing to worry about… all your data will be safely tucked away in the cloud, backed up on multiple servers so your business records remain safe.

4. It can be used on the go

Whether you are at home or on the go, online invoice software allows you to record your invoices with ease and convenience. You can process your transactions from your laptop from any location — no need to wait until you get home to bill your customers. Better still, if you’re a mobile user, you can use invoicing right from Wave’s mobile invoice app.

5. It’s customizable

Invoicing software offers the ability to customize invoices to truly WOW your clients. You don’t have to be a designer (or hire one) to get beautiful invoices. With Wave, you can use our free invoice generator, which ticks all the boxes while also allowing for customizability to achieve an aesthetic that fits your brand.

Regardless of what logo and colours you choose for your invoice, make sure that you’re clear and concise with the information you’re providing, especially when it comes to balances and payment terms. Your customers rely on you to get accurate information when it comes to getting billed, so use this as an opportunity to build a trusting and transparent conversation. It’ll help you maintain a positive business relationship moving forward.

Wave in action

With Wave, it’s easy to be organized, look professional, and get paid faster. Here is an example of what the workflow can look like for you:

1. Create and send an estimate for a customer (see how to create an estimate here). You look like a pro for doing this, and you and your customer both know what the job looks like and what it includes, to avoid headaches down the road.
2. The customer approves.
3. You do your work, and then convert your estimate into an invoice.
4. You send your customer the invoice via Invoices by Wave, with a couple of clicks. You get to track when the invoice was sent, and when it has been viewed by your customer.
5. Since you’ve enabled Payments by Wave, your customer can pay you immediately, via credit card or bank account, rather than waiting until they find a check, an envelope and a stamp and get it in the mail.
6. All your accounting records are updated automatically. Say goodbye to messy paper files where you keep track of the money you’ve received. Plus, your customer gets a receipt automatically emailed to them, too!

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Online invoice software does all of the above with just a few clicks. Not only will it save you time and effort, but you’ll also get insight into your invoicing process that is impossible to get with invoice templates. But most importantly, it makes life easier—both for you and for your customers.