Materials listed in invoice?

[HappyHippyDad]

Evening all..

I thought I'd put this in the Arms as it could be a bit delicate!

I am currently wiring up a cattery. The couple are not concerned with how long it takes so I am fitting it in when I am able, doing a day here and there and each time giving them an invoice for the day or two's work. They are happy with my work and my hourly rate and have not questioned any of the invoices.

I have so far been listing labour and materials seperatly but I have not itemised the materials, I have just given one figure for all materials used on that day. I am just about to put another invoice in and this time the materials will be much higher than usual and it made me wonder if you guys would itemise your materials for this type of day by day work?

Cheers.

 

[Marvo]

I'd guess it might be a legal requirement to list the items on an invoice but in the UK I'm not sure.

If I was getting invoiced by someone for installation or repair work I'd want an itemised invoice so I could claim a warranty or guarantee at a later date if something failed. From a customer point of view if there's no itemised parts on the invoice it would leave too much scope for someone to wiggle out of their warranty if a claim should arise.

 

[Octopus]

Unless you agreed to provide itemised bills before you started, I would not start doing them now...... however I would speak to them about the "higher" value items so they are not surprised when they get the invoice!

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Thanks both,

Yes Murdoch I think that is a very good idea.

 

[nadger]

You'll be making a rod for your own back if you start listing individual items along with their cost. There's nothing worse than a customer armed with a screwfix catalogue!!

Stick to the format you began with and do as Murdock suggested by pre warning that this particular time the materials are heavy

 

[markc123]

HHD - when doing jobs like this i always itemise from the very beginning, so when you do have higher invoices going in the customer is aware what they're paying for.

I only don't itemise on small jobs, and even then if the clients requests it i do.

Food for thought for your next job. And IMO it also looks a bit more professional.

 

[Darkwood]

I meet half way .. I group gear into catogories and do a cost ... so Conduits, fixtures and fittings then cable etc etc ..this way they cannot item check nor complain about a lack of detail... never had any issues but my customers are industrial.

 

[uksparks]

I always itemise every last nut, bolt, cable clip and screw, it helps me know what I need for the job and shows the customer how I have come to the price. I doc this for all quotes and invoices for jobs.

a lot of people just give a bottom line but I think it looks better to do a full breakdown.

 

[Andy78]

I always give a final figure inclusive of all labour, materials, mark up, and profit on priced jobs. This is my prerogative and my choice as it's my business and no-one else should be privvy to the way I price my jobs without my permission.
It's one way I protect my business. I wouldn't want a quote detailing the exact way I arrive at my prices being made available to any of my competitors for example.

For daywork jobs I would invoice an agreed hourly rate, number of hours, and a final figure for any materials including mark up. This would have been pre arranged usually and an estimate as to the final bill been given already.

I have never been asked to break down a job into single component parts and I think I would be showing my backside in Debenham's window before I did. Even then I would be charging an hourly rate to do such a thing.

 

[uksparks]

I agree with that, but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter if a competitor sees it does it.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

It's interesting to see how everyone differs.

I have explained to the customer the higher cost of the LED floods ( I was thinking of doing this anyway but Murdoch's post swayed me) and they didn't blink an eye, just said 'thats fine'! I haven't itemised the materials though as it would look odd changing the way I do it half way through the job and luckily I have got to know them fairly well and there is mutual trust.

I like Darkwoods post of categorising, that way it looks a little more professional but isn't completely open to interogation!

 

[Dave OCD]

I always itemise every last nut, bolt, cable clip and screw, it helps me know what I need for the job and shows the customer how I have come to the price. I doc this for all quotes and invoices for jobs.

a lot of people just give a bottom line but I think it looks better to do a full breakdown.

You don't mean you actually count the number of clips and screws used surely ?

 

[Octopus]

You don't mean you actually count the number of clips and screws used surely ?

I hope not. In my calls I add " consumables" and then a minimum of £1.00 per job - you can never remember everything!

 

[Dave OCD]

Exactly, consumables is the way to go for clips,plugs, screws, sleeving etc.

 

[Hellmooth]

You don't mean you actually count the number of clips and screws used surely ?

And you're the one with OCD

 

[markc123]

I hope not. In my calls I add " consumables" and then a minimum of £1.00 per job - you can never remember everything!

Consumables lol alright posh totty :d

I label it extra's but that whys i don't drink my tea from fine china like you probably do :rofl:

...i'm starting on consumables from this second on

 

[Octopus]

Consumables lol alright posh totty :d

I label it extra's but that whys i don't drink my tea from fine china like you probably do :rofl:

...i'm starting on consumables from this second on

i don't mention it at all! The cost simply gets added to my total

 

[HandySparks]

Consumables lol alright posh totty :d

I label it extra's but that whys i don't drink my tea from fine china like you probably do :rofl:

...i'm starting on consumables from this second on

I prefer 'Sundries' for odds and sods on an invoice.

If I've quoted the job, then the invoice is just for the price quoted with no breakdown.

If it's time and materials, which I prefer, then I list the major items separately.
e.g.:
Downlights, 10W LED, 10 off £300
Cable, switch, backbox, junction boxes £50
Sundries £5

I think it helps the customer see how I've arrived at the invoice total, without having to be too specific about the small stuff.