Key Takeaways: 

• Google Docs is ideal for small businesses needing a simple, no-cost invoicing tool.  
• Use built-in or Moon Invoice templates for quick, professional results.  
• Include accurate client info, itemized services, and clear payment terms in each invoice.  
• Compared to other invoicing software, like Moon Invoice, Google Docs lacks automation, payment tracking, and recurring invoice support.  
• Moon Invoice is a better alternative – It offers more templates, automation, and business-friendly tools.

How to Create an Invoice in Google Docs?

As a small business owner, finding simple and easy-to-use invoicing solutions is essential to creating professional invoices and sending invoices to your clients. Fortunately, Google Docs offers an excellent solution.

You can utilize Google Docs just by having a Gmail account. You can effortlessly craft professional invoices that effectively convey your brand and provide all the necessary details to your customers.

First, you have two options for creating an invoice through the Google Docs invoice template. The first method involves starting from scratch and designing your invoice from the ground up(Use a blank invoice template).

Although this requires more work initially, it enables you to tailor your invoice to your business and ensure that it aligns with your overall brand identity using Google Docs.

On the other hand, if you favor a faster approach, you can download a fresh, fully customizable invoice template directly from Google Docs. These premade designs cater to various industries and businesses, ensuring you find a template suited to your needs.

If you’re ready to explore the benefits of making invoices in Google Docs, follow these simple steps:

1. Log Into Your Gmail Account

Firstly, you need to log into your Gmail account. If you haven’t yet created a Gmail account, You can do it now. Head to the Google signup page and provide the necessary details to create a Google Account.

Open Google Docs Template

Once registered, then need to log in to your Gmail account. However, accessing Google Docs couldn’t be easier if you are among the many individuals with a Gmail account. Log in with your existing Gmail credentials, and you’ll be redirected to the familiar Google Docs homepage.

From here, you can start crafting professional invoices that perfectly suit your requirements. With the flexibility to choose between customized or premade templates, you can create an invoice that reflects your unique brand identity while conveying all relevant information to your valued customers.

2. Pick a Suitable Google Doc Template

Once you log in successfully, you need to choose a Google Doc template. Of course, there is a Google Sheets template gallery to explore, but you might not find ready-made templates. You can also download pre-designed Google Doc templates from Moon Invoice at no cost. 

Moon Invoice, a powerful invoicing software, offers ready-to-use Google Doc invoice templates that need no extra effort. You can browse through 66+ invoice templates to locate the perfect match for your invoice, ideally complementing your brand’s visual identity.

From Where to Choose Google Doc Template?

Here’s how to download a free Google Doc template for creating an invoice:

1. Explore different Google Doc Invoice Templates for free on Moon Invoice.
2. To get your preferred template, click on the “Download Now” button.
3. Next, make a copy of the invoice.
4. Fill in the necessary details.

With Moon Invoice, you neither need to invest special time in designing invoices nor make any serious effort. Upon finalizing your pick, move on to the next step. 

3. Populate Necessary Details

Since you have a Google Doc template, the only thing remaining is to add the necessary information. As soon as you enter the details, they will be saved on Google Drive. 

Fill in the Invoicing details

So, ensure that all relevant details – invoice number, business name, address, phone number, email address, products sold, contact info, business information, etc. – appear prominently on all the invoices. Providing these details empowers your clients to reach you quickly and easily if they require additional support or have questions about their bills.

Add Payment terms

Next, you’ll want to specify the invoice’s payment terms and due date with all the necessary details. Be straightforward yet respectful when setting these parameters; healthy partnerships depend on mutual understanding and trust.

List out products

No invoice would be complete without itemizing the products or services provided. Detailed descriptions help eliminate confusion while showcasing your expertise. Break down the costs associated with each service or product offered, listing any applicable taxes or discounts. Accurate pricing ensures your clients are satisfied.

Business Information

Include your business name, address, email, phone number, and logo (if applicable). This will not only make your invoice professional but also ensure that your client knows exactly who it’s from.

Client Information

List the client’s name or business name, contact details, and billing address. Double-check this to ensure the invoice reaches the right person.

Invoice Number & Date

Assign a unique invoice number (e.g., #2025-001) and mention the issue date. This is essential for record-keeping, tracking payments, and tax purposes.

Later, don’t forget to add any relevant polite notes or comments that might assist in resolving future issues. This area serves as an opportunity for open dialogue and continued collaboration. 

4. Download as an Invoice

In the last step, you must check if the details you entered are exactly what you wanted them to be. So, go through the details like the client’s name, contact number, total amount, and the due date. Also, double-check whether the business details, such as the issuer’s name, phone number, and email address, are added or not. If everything looks good, you can download the Google Doc file in PDF format to convert a template into an invoice.

Download & Save

To download a Google Doc, you need to find ‘File’ in the menu bar and look for the ‘Download’ option. Apart from PDFs, you can also download them in multiple formats, such as MS Word or Webpage. Once downloaded, you can send an invoice to your clients using online platforms or take a printout to send via courier service.  

This was all about creating an invoice in Google Docs. In the next section, we will find invoicing tips.

Essential Tips for Creating an Invoice in Google Docs

Below are some handy tips to keep in mind while creating an invoice using Google Docs. 

1. Use Professional Templates

Whether you explore the Google Template Gallery or use any automation software, it is necessary to make sure you have downloaded a professional template. It not only cuts off your workload but also helps you enhance the quality of your invoice. Also, your clients will prefer your services in the future when you present a professional-looking invoice. Hence, choosing professional templates for generating invoices will speed up the payment process. 

2. Prioritize Accuracy

While you make invoices for your clients, double-check if there are any minor errors. This is because accuracy matters, regardless of whether you create an invoice in Google Docs or any other format. For high accuracy, you can download a ready-made invoice template from software like Moon Invoice. Thus, ditch the old method of creating paper-based invoices and switch to automated invoicing, where accuracy is ensured.

3. Mention Payment Terms

Ensure you don’t miss out on adding payment terms and conditions. If you’ve already added them, double-check that no payment information is incomplete. Be sure to clearly mention if you charge late fees for payments received after the due date. This way, whenever the client reads an invoice, they’ll know exactly how much time they have to complete the payment before penalties are applied.

4. Avoid Back-and-Forth

Contractors or freelancers making invoices on a piece of paper usually have to deal with multiple revisions, making it difficult to read. So, you need to take care of such things when sending invoices to clients. If back-and-forth happens frequently with you, clients may churn. You should upgrade to better software that makes it less complicated to understand an invoice. 

What is the Importance of Using Invoice Templates in Small Businesses?

Small business owners prefer to create invoices on Google Docs or other formats using templates because this really makes a difference in satisfying clients. Invoice templates enhance professionalism and encourage clients to pay the amount promptly.

Relying on the conventional way of generating invoices only leads to payment delays as they usually create confusion for clients. Here are some more reasons for using invoice templates.

1. Free of Cost

When you can get elegantly designed invoice templates at no cost, nobody likes to create hand-made invoices. Invoice templates need no further designing or formatting work so you can save your time and focus on what matters the most to your business. Also, this invoicing option does not hit hard on your pocket. 

2. Customizability 

Like any other business, you must have unique invoicing requirements that you want to fulfill anyhow. Invoice templates do exactly what you are looking for as they offer a wide range of customization options. Fully customizable invoice templates from Moon Invoice can play a vital role in scaling up your business. You can customize it with so many color options and change the design without lifting a finger. 

3. Cloud Storage

The flexibility to carry your invoice wherever you go only comes from invoices made with online templates. That’s another reason why businesses want to create an invoice in Google Docs using templates. It not only saves the details for future use but also eliminates the chance of misplacement. Every time you save changes, the templates are automatically synced with the cloud, offering easy accessibility all the time.

Pros and Cons of Using Google Docs for Invoicing 

Pros:

• Free and accessible: Anyone with a Gmail account can use it.
• Customizable: It is Easy to tweak layouts and branding.
• Cloud-based: Automatically saved and accessible from any device.

Cons:

• No automation: You’ll need to update numbers, due dates, and invoice numbers manually.
• No tracking: You can’t track whether the invoice was viewed or paid.
• No built-in payment integration: Clients have to pay manually via separate channels.

How to Send Your Google Docs Invoice?

Once your invoice is ready and saved as a PDF:

1. Send via Email: 

• Attach the PDF to your email and include a short, polite message.
• Example subject: “Invoice #2025-001 for [Service Name] – Due [Date]”

2. Use Google Drive Share Link: 

• Click Share → Set visibility to “Anyone with the link” or “Restricted”.
• Email the link or share via WhatsApp/Slack.

3. Organize Your Sent Invoices: 

• Keep a folder in Drive or Gmail called “Sent Invoices”
• Include the client name and invoice number in the file name (e.g., “Invoice_ABC_2025-002”)

Limitations of Google Docs Invoicing

Google Docs is handy for basic invoices, but it may not be ideal for growing businesses.

Limitations Include:

• No automated calculations — you must do the math manually.
• No recurring invoice support for subscription-based clients.
• No payment tracking — you can’t see when or if it’s paid.
• No integration with payment gateways (like Stripe or PayPal).
• No dashboard for reporting or analytics.

This naturally leads to your next section on alternative options like invoicing software.

Which is the Best Alternative Option to the Google Docs Invoice Template?

It’s totally worth using Google Docs invoice templates when you are trying to keep business costs low. However, it is not the long-term solution for businesses striving for growth. The reason is that they weren’t introduced to fulfill your business’s invoicing requirements. So, you will look for the best alternative to the Google Docs invoice template sooner or later. 

In that case, Moon Invoice is the best and the only alternative to the Google Docs invoice template to combat recurring invoicing problems. Unlike Google Doc invoice templates, this sophisticated software neither limits customization nor wastes your time.

You can generate professional invoices within minutes as it offers 66+ invoice templates designed to fulfill modern business requirements. That’s not all; you can even create estimates, purchase orders, and pro forma invoices with just a few clicks.

Conclusion

To sum it up, the answer to how to make an invoice on Google Docs boils down to two options: either you pick a Google Docs template after signing in with your Google account, or you download a template from invoicing software like Moon Invoice.

Regardless of which you choose, both options are completely free and can help you create a beautiful and accurate invoice. Moon Invoice has an edge over Google Docs templates due to its customization options, template variety, and user-friendliness.

FAQs