The end of each month is invoice time for many small businesses, so this is a good time to have a look at your invoices and make sure they're doing the job. Have a look and see if your invoices do the three things they have to do before you send them out:

• Your invoice must meet the legal requirements.
  There are certain pieces of information that have to be on an invoice, so you'll want to make sure your invoices include these.

• Your invoice has to give customers or clients the right message.
  An invoice is essentially a bill. But what message is your customer and/or client getting when he opens it up? Does the invoice say, "You owe this much money whenever you get around to it" or does it say, "You need to pay this amount right now"? Make sure your invoice gives the right message. Using Invoices That Encourage Action tells how.

• Your invoice needs to effectively promote your business.
  Every piece of paper you send to a customer or client's home or business is an opportunity to promote your business, and the invoice is no exception. Turn your invoice into a marketing vehicle.

For help putting it all together, see How to Invoice. It includes an invoice sample that you can use as a template.