Getting paid 2 min read

How to Automate Invoicing: A Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Stop building every invoice by hand. What you can automate, from templates to payment reminders, and how to set it up in five steps.

BillingOtter Team

First published

If you build every invoice by hand, invoicing eats into time you could spend on paid work. Here is what you can automate and how to set it up.

What does manual invoicing cost you?

Time

  • Creating each invoice from scratch
  • Sending it and keeping track of who has paid
  • Writing follow-up emails for late payments

Money

  • Delayed invoicing means delayed payment
  • Forgotten invoices mean lost revenue
  • Errors lead to disputed payments

Which parts of invoicing can you automate?

1. Creating invoices

  • Templates with your logo and terms
  • Saved client details
  • Totals and tax worked out for you

2. Sending

  • Email with the PDF attached
  • Consistent invoice numbering

3. Payment reminders

  • A reminder before the due date
  • A note on the due date
  • Follow-ups once it is overdue

4. Getting paid

  • Card payments online
  • US bank transfer (ACH)
  • A clear view of what is paid, due and overdue

Already track your work in a spreadsheet? The CSV to invoice tool turns your line items into a PDF invoice for free.

How do you set up automated invoicing?

Step 1: Choose your software

Look for templates, a client list, automatic reminders and online payments.

Step 2: Set up your template

Add your logo, standard payment terms and default notes once.

Step 3: Add your clients

Store contact and billing details so they fill in automatically.

Step 4: Turn on reminders

Set a schedule for before and after the due date. Our payment reminder email templates show what each one should say.

Step 5: Turn on online payments

Let clients pay by card or bank transfer straight from the invoice.

What should you still check yourself?

Automation handles the repetitive parts. Give each invoice a quick review before it goes out: the client, the amounts and the due date. That short check stops most disputes before they start.

BillingOtter sends automatic payment reminders and optional late fees on Creator Pro ($8.99/mo) and Team, so you do not have to chase by hand.

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