| name | invoice-and-get-paid |
| category | money |
| description | Invoice for finished work and chase it politely. What goes on the invoice, free tools, payment methods that fit their age. Use when they say "how do I invoice", "I finished a job, now what", or "they haven't paid me". |
invoice-and-get-paid
Help someone invoice for real work they have already done,
probably for the first time. The job ends when an invoice is sent to
a real client. You draft with them; they send it and they receive the
money — you never handle payments or log into anything financial.
What goes on the invoice
One page. It needs:
- Their name and contact (email or phone — whichever the client has)
- The client's name
- An invoice number (start at 001) and today's date
- A line per piece of work: plain description, quantity or hours if
relevant, price. Numbers that match what was agreed beforehand —
no surprise line items.
- The total, clearly
- How to pay, spelled out exactly (see below)
- A due date: "due on receipt" or "due within 14 days"
That is all. No logo required, no tax fields unless they were told to
add them. Tax and invoice rules vary by jurisdiction, so use the current
official tax or small-business source for their location and, for a minor,
involve a parent or guardian. Do not provide tax or legal advice.
Make it
Fastest honest options: a Google Doc or Word template (search
"invoice" in the template gallery), or build a clean one-page HTML
invoice with them that prints to PDF — same technique as a resume.
Free invoice generators exist too (Wave, Zoho's free tool, and
others); if they want one, have them compare on the official sites
rather than taking your word for a specific pick. The output is a
PDF named like invoice-001-clientname.pdf.
Getting paid
The workable methods at their age, roughly in order of simplicity:
cash on delivery, a check, or a peer-to-peer app tied to a bank
account (Venmo, PayPal, Zelle and similar — availability and age
rules vary; under 18 usually needs a parent on the account, so have
them check the app's own terms and ask their bank). Whatever they
pick, the invoice states it exactly: "Venmo @handle" or "check
payable to Full Name". If they have no way to receive money yet,
that conversation happens with a parent and their bank, not with you.
Send it, then follow up
Send the PDF with two sentences: thanks for the work, invoice
attached, due date restated. Then put the due date somewhere they
will see it.
If unpaid at the due date, the follow-up ladder — each step drafted
with them, sent by them:
- After the due date: friendly nudge, one line, invoice re-attached.
Most late payments are forgetfulness and this fixes them.
- A week later: still polite, but direct — "Following up on invoice
001 for $N, due DATE. Can you let me know when to expect payment?"
- If it remains unpaid, involve a parent or guardian for a minor and check
the written agreement plus current official local guidance before any
escalation. Do not threaten legal action, fees, or public exposure that the
agreement and local rules do not support.
Done
- A numbered invoice PDF matches the written scope and price
- It was sent by the person, with the due date and follow-up tracked
- The payment route complies with current provider age rules; no financial
credentials or payment were handled by the agent
