How to write an invoice email

In a hurry? Jump to the invoice email template

Once you’ve provided a product or service to a client, it’s time to get paid. But before you do that, you’ll need to produce a paper or online invoice and email it across. Many small businesses and freelancers have trouble with late payments, and while it isn’t effective in every case, a clear and easy to understand invoice email could help you get paid more quickly. Want to know how to write an email with an invoice attached? Read on for our top tips, as well as a sample invoice email you can use for your customers.

Tips for how to write an invoice via email

Learning how to write an email with an invoice attached is a straightforward process. We’ve put together a couple of key tips to ensure you make it as easy as possible for your clients to process your invoice:

1. Include the invoice as an attachment

Don’t paste your invoice into the body of the email. Instead, attach it as a downloadable PDF file. This enables your clients to save, print, or upload your invoice to their accounting software.

2. Include all the important information in the subject line

Many businesses are inundated with emails, so the easier you can make it to help them find your invoice, the faster you’ll get paid. By putting all the important information in the subject line, including the invoice number and the due date, your clients will find it much easier to identify your invoice.

3. Consider using an invoice template

If you need to invoice a lot, using invoice email templates can save you a significant amount of time. All you need to do is change the key information, which shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, and you can send off your invoice quickly and easily.

4. Make sure your invoice includes everything the client needs to know

If you don’t include all the necessary information, such as potential invoice payment methods, your client may need to request a second invoice, or they might just neglect to pay at all.

Invoice Email Template

Writing emails from scratch can be time-consuming, particularly if you need to invoice large numbers of clients. After you’ve learnt how to write an invoice email, using templates can be a great way to cut down on the amount of admin you need to deal with. Here’s a simple and effective example template you can use to send a friendly reminder about an invoice that’s due to be paid soon:

Bear in mind that this is a sample template. Adjust the formality of the message to suit your business, for example, by using "Dear [client name], and add additional details such as your preferred method of payment. Be sure to double check that you have attached the invoice itself before sending.

When you're done, the email could look very simple, like the below, or you could add your company logo or colours to give more of a branded impression.

If you’ve already sent an invoice, but it’s overdue, you may need to chase late payment. Here’s a sample invoice collection email you can use to do just that:

As you can see, the best invoice emails are simple, friendly, and provide all the information the client needs to process your invoice.

Following up on your invoice email

Of course, sending an invoice email isn’t always the end of the story. Sometimes, your clients may delay payment. In these cases, it’s always a good idea to get in touch with your contact by phone, as it’s possible that your emails are simply going to the wrong person. If this doesn’t work, you may need to escalate the process by sending a formal letter. Subsequent steps, such as sending debt collectors, charging late payment interest, or starting legal proceedings should only be considered as a last resort.

We can help

GoCardless helps you automate payment collection, cutting down on the amount of admin your team needs to deal with when chasing invoices. Find out how GoCardless can help you with ad hoc payments or recurring payments.