What are the different types of invoices?

Common invoice types include deposit invoices for upfront payments, proforma invoices for expected charges before final billing, hourly invoices for time-based work, monthly invoices for billing periods, rental invoices, membership and HOA dues invoices, donation invoices, paid invoices, personal invoices, and account statements.

How do I choose the right invoice type?

Start with what you need the invoice to do. Use a deposit invoice for money upfront, an hourly invoice for time worked, a monthly invoice for a set billing period, a paid invoice after payment, or a statement when your customer needs an account summary.

What is the difference between a paid invoice and a receipt?

A paid invoice is the original invoice marked to show that payment has been recorded. A receipt is a separate document that confirms the payment. After your customer pays a Docelf invoice, you can create a receipt from it.

What is an invoice statement?

An invoice statement summarizes account activity over a period. It may show invoices, payments, credits, unpaid amounts, and the current balance so your customer can review the account in one place.

Can I use a monthly invoice for recurring billing?

Yes. Use a monthly invoice when you bill for services, rent, memberships, retainers, or other charges for a set month. Include the billing period, itemized charges, total due, and payment due date.

What is the difference between an invoice type and an invoice format?

An invoice type describes why, when, or how you are billing, such as a deposit, hourly, monthly, paid, rental, or proforma invoice. An invoice format describes how you make or present it, such as Word, Excel, Google Docs, Google Sheets, blank, simple, or itemized.

Invoice Types

Need a deposit, hourly, monthly, paid, or proforma invoice? Start with what you need the invoice to do.

Choose the type that makes the timing, amount, and payment status clear to your customer. The right label should answer questions, not create new ones.

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Invoice templates for different billing needs from Docelf

Choose the Invoice Type That Fits the Moment

Start with what is happening now: asking for money upfront, billing time or a recurring period, showing payment, or giving an advance view of the price.

Before the Final Invoice

Ask for a deposit or show expected charges before the final sale, shipment, or work is ready to bill.

Time-Based & Recurring Billing

Bill for hours worked, a set month, rental dates, membership fees, or recurring HOA dues.

After Payment or for the Whole Account

Mark the original invoice as paid, or give your customer a summary of charges, payments, and the current balance.

Personal Charges & Contributions

Use a personal invoice for an individual charge or a donation invoice when you are requesting a pledged contribution.

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Choose by Timing, Calculation, or Status

Need Money Upfront?

Use a deposit invoice to request part of the amount before the final work, sale, or delivery.

Billing Time or a Set Period?

Use an hourly invoice for time worked. Use a monthly, rental, membership, or HOA dues invoice for a defined period or recurring charge.

Showing Payment or Account Activity?

Use a paid invoice to show the original invoice has been paid. Use a statement to summarize charges, payments, credits, and the current balance.

Showing a Price Before Final Billing?

Use a proforma invoice to give an advance view of expected charges before you issue the final invoice.

You can combine the purpose with the work. A consultant may send an hourly invoice. A landlord may send a monthly rental invoice. A contractor may send a deposit invoice before the job begins.

What to Include on Any Invoice Type

The purpose may change, but the invoice still needs to explain the charge and tell your customer what happens next.

Your business and customer details
A unique invoice number, invoice date, and payment due date
Clear products, services, fees, quantities, hours, rates, and line totals
Discounts, sales tax, subtotal, and total due when they apply
Type-specific details such as a deposit amount, billing period, rental dates, paid status, or statement balance
Payment instructions, terms, notes, and attachments your customer needs

Invoice Type or Invoice Format?

An invoice type tells your customer how or when you are billing, or whether the charge has already been paid. Deposit, hourly, monthly, paid, rental, and proforma are invoice types.

An invoice format describes how you make or present the document. Word, Excel, Google Docs, Google Sheets, blank, simple, and itemized are formats, layouts, or styles.

Need a template based on the work instead? Browse invoice templates by industry. For a sale, job, contract, proposal, employee, or vendor charge, browse business invoice templates.

After your customer pays, you can keep the invoice marked as paid or create a separate receipt to confirm the payment.

More Invoice Templates

Need a different way to choose? Browse by the work you do, the business situation, or the file and layout you want.

Invoice Types FAQs

What are the different types of invoices?

Common invoice types include deposit invoices for upfront payments, proforma invoices for expected charges before final billing, hourly invoices for time-based work, monthly invoices for billing periods, rental invoices, membership and HOA dues invoices, donation invoices, paid invoices, personal invoices, and account statements.
How do I choose the right invoice type?

Start with what you need the invoice to do. Use a deposit invoice for money upfront, an hourly invoice for time worked, a monthly invoice for a set billing period, a paid invoice after payment, or a statement when your customer needs an account summary.
What is the difference between a deposit invoice and a proforma invoice?

A deposit invoice asks the customer to pay part of the amount upfront. A proforma invoice gives an advance view of expected charges before you issue the final invoice. The deposit invoice requests payment; the proforma invoice is usually informational.
What is the difference between a paid invoice and a receipt?

A paid invoice is the original invoice marked to show that payment has been recorded. A receipt is a separate document that confirms the payment. After your customer pays a Docelf invoice, you can create a receipt from it.
What is an invoice statement?

An invoice statement summarizes account activity over a period. It may show invoices, payments, credits, unpaid amounts, and the current balance so your customer can review the account in one place.
Can I use a monthly invoice for recurring billing?

Yes. Use a monthly invoice when you bill for services, rent, memberships, retainers, or other charges for a set month. Include the billing period, itemized charges, total due, and payment due date.
What is the difference between an invoice type and an invoice format?

An invoice type describes why, when, or how you are billing, such as a deposit, hourly, monthly, paid, rental, or proforma invoice. An invoice format describes how you make or present it, such as Word, Excel, Google Docs, Google Sheets, blank, simple, or itemized.