What a handyman invoice looks like
A realistic example with the lines this trade actually bills. Figures are illustrative.
| Description | Qty | Unit | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half-day rate (up to 4 hours) | 1 | £160.00 | £160.00 |
| Hang 3 internal doors — additional labour | 1.5 | £40.00 | £60.00 |
| Door furniture & hinges | 3 | £14.00 | £42.00 |
| Waste removal & disposal | 1 | £25.00 | £25.00 |
| Subtotal | £287.00 | ||
| VAT @ 20% | £57.40 | ||
| Total | £344.40 | ||
What to put on a handyman invoice
- Each task as its own line, even within one visit
- Your minimum charge or half-day rate stated up front
- Materials separated from labour
- Waste disposal as its own line — customers forget it costs money
- Travel or congestion charges if you bill them
- Which jobs, if any, were quoted fixed-price versus hourly
Tax, by country
The rules depend on where the work was done. This is general guidance, not tax advice.
United Kingdom
If you are VAT registered, show your VAT number and the VAT rate (usually 20%). Under the CIS scheme, construction work for a contractor may need a deduction shown separately.
United States
Sales tax on labour varies by state — many states tax materials but not labour. Show your EIN if you have one, and keep the tax line separate from the subtotal.
Canada
Show GST/HST (or QST in Quebec) as its own line with your GST/HST number. The rate depends on the province where the work was done, not where you are based.
Australia
If you are registered for GST, the document must say "Tax Invoice", show your ABN, and state the GST amount (10%). Without an ABN the customer may have to withhold 47%.
Get paid before you leave the job
A template you fill in by hand still has to be emailed, chased and banked. With Receivo you build the same invoice on your phone and show the customer a QR code — they scan it, pay by card, and the money goes to your account before you have packed up.
Start freeFree plan: 3 invoices a month and 3 clients. No card required.
Questions handymans ask
Should a handyman charge hourly or fixed price?
Both, and the invoice should say which applied to which task. Mixing them without labelling is the fastest way to a "why is this so much?" conversation.
How do I bill several small jobs in one visit?
One invoice, one line per job. It takes a minute longer and removes almost every reason for a customer to query the total.
Should I charge a minimum callout?
Most do. State it on the invoice so a 20-minute job billed at an hour does not look like an error.