Free Accountant Invoice Template & Generator
Create accounting invoices for bookkeeping, financial statements, audit preparation, and advisory services. Bill monthly or per engagement.
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What should an accountant put on an invoice?
Accounting invoices name the engagement and the period it covers, then list each service such as bookkeeping, statement preparation, or advisory work. Tie recurring monthly fees to the month worked and keep project work on separate lines. A clear breakdown helps the client reconcile what was done against the fee.
Your invoice needs your firm's registered business number and professional designation clearly visible. Include the exact service period you are billing for, not just "accounting services." Break down your time by task: tax preparation took 4 hours, bookkeeping review took 2 hours, consultation took 1 hour. Clients will need this detail for their own records, and if they ever get audited, vague invoices cause problems. Add your hourly rate or the fixed fee you quoted, and make sure any out-of-pocket expenses like filing fees are itemized separately.
Most accountants bill monthly for ongoing work like bookkeeping, while tax preparation gets billed when the return is filed. You can ask for a retainer upfront, especially with new clients. Net 15 or Net 30 terms are standard. For large projects, consider splitting it into phases so you are not waiting months to get paid for work you finished early on.
Send invoices the moment you complete the work, not at month-end when you get around to it. Accountants are terrible about invoicing their own time promptly. The longer you wait, the harder it is for clients to remember the value you provided, and the slower they will pay.
Typical line items
- Monthly bookkeeping services
- Annual financial statement preparation
- Year-end accounts and closing entries
- Audit preparation and support
- Advisory or consultation (per hour)
- QuickBooks setup and training
- Management reporting package
- Filing and submission handling
How the work is charged
Many accountants bill a fixed monthly retainer for ongoing work and quote a flat fee per engagement for things like year-end accounts. Ad hoc advisory time is often charged by the hour.
Payment terms and deposits
Retainers are usually invoiced at the start of each month, while project work bills on completion or in stages. Business clients commonly pay on net terms agreed in the engagement letter.
Tax and compliance
If you are registered for sales tax or VAT, show it as a separate line with your registration number. Professional fees and disbursements may be taxed differently, so confirm what applies in your area.
Frequently asked questions
How do accountants typically bill clients?
Accountants bill hourly ($100–$400), monthly retainer ($300–$2,000 for bookkeeping), or per project (tax returns $200–$2,000+). CPAs generally charge more than non-certified accountants.
What should an accounting invoice include?
Detail services performed (bookkeeping, reconciliation, reporting), period covered, hours worked, software used, and any out-of-pocket expenses like filing fees or software subscriptions.
Should accountants charge for software subscriptions?
If you maintain software (QuickBooks, Xero) on behalf of a client, pass the cost through or include it in your retainer. Be transparent about what's included in your monthly fee.
Related invoice templates
Read the complete invoicing guide to see how to fill out, number, and send an invoice that gets paid.
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