We’ve already shared some tips for invoicing like a pro to help you get paid faster, strengthen your brand presence and make you the first person a client calls to get a job done. Here, we’re giving some advice on upping your invoice game even more.

Embrace new technology

There are so many digital technologies at your disposal today that make life easier for both you and your customers. Here are a few you should add to your invoicing strategy.

• A financial management platform—like QuickBooks—makes it quick and easy to create, send and track your invoices online. And it will minimise payment hassles for your customer
• Mobile payments—Speaking of painless processing, mobile payment technology lets you swipe a credit or debit card anywhere, any time. On-the-spot payment (no invoicing required!) is particularly useful for small business owners who deliver products or services directly to a home or office
• Cloud storage—You may be planning a much-deserved beach holiday, but there’s no need for your invoices to take any time off. A cloud-based management solution lets you send invoices as always. Best of all? You can receive payments while you sunbathe  

Be flexible (to a point)

Of course, you want to be paid on time, but it’s okay to be flexible with your trusted paying customers. If a valuable client is waiting to get a new round of funding, for example, you can show goodwill (and great customer service) by offering to temporarily renegotiate payment terms to ease any financial burden. Here are some other ways to showcase your flexibility to customers:

• Discuss a retainer-based agreement that guarantees you a set number of hours and pounds each month and helps keep your client’s budget predictable.
• Highlight your payment options. Let your customers know you’ll take standing order, a cheque or an online credit card payment—whatever works best for them.

Make friends with the right people

Expedite your payment processing by making sure your invoice goes to the right person in the right department. Remember, the person who writes cheques in accounts payable is unlikely to be the point-person for your graphic design project.

Another critical detail: does the person handling your invoice need a purchase order? Find out and make sure you include it on your invoice—or risk having your payment get snarled in some sticky red tape.

Show your appreciation

On the subject of making friends, in business—like everywhere else—little gestures go a long way. Consider doing these things to help you get paid faster:

• Incentivise early payments. Imagine if clients paid before the bill was due. If you offer a discount—enough to make it worth their while but not so much that you’re being underpaid—for proactive payments, it might just happen
• Say thanks. Every time you receive your money, send a heartfelt, handwritten note to the accounts payable officer.
• Send a gift. Surprise your most loyal customers each quarter with a gift that shows how much you value their business

When every part of your invoicing system is clear, streamlined, easy and efficient, you make the payment process as enjoyable as possible. And the bottom line is this: happy customers are more likely to be paying customers.

Before you go...

QB Community members, has your approach to invoicing evolved since you started your business? Please share what you’ve learned in the comments below... We would love to hear your experiences!