What an electrical invoice is for
Troubleshooting is the hardest electrical work to invoice, because the fix might be a five-minute connection after an hour of tracing. The invoice should say what was wrong and where it was, so the customer understands the time. On finished jobs, the invoice should match the estimate and note the inspection result.
What to put on an electrical invoice
- The problem the customer reported.
- What you found and where.
- Service call and troubleshooting time.
- Devices and materials used.
- Inspection status for permitted work.
- Deposit received and the balance due.
A worked example
Half the outlets in a bedroom and hall went dead. After tracing, you found a failed backstabbed connection in a receptacle and replaced it and two others on the run with properly terminated devices.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service call | 1 | each | Your price |
| Troubleshoot dead circuit | 1 | hour | Your price |
| Replace receptacles, side-wired | 3 | each | Your price |
Say in the notes where the fault was. Customers accept troubleshooting time once they know it was a hidden connection and not a slow tech.
Line items electricians use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Service call | each | The trip and the first part of troubleshooting. |
| Panel replacement, with breakers | each | Amperage, brand and number of spaces. |
| Service upgrade, meter base and mast | each | Say who coordinates the disconnect and reconnect with the utility. |
| New circuit, home run to panel | each | Wire size, breaker size and what it feeds. |
| Receptacle, add or replace | each | Note GFCI or AFCI protection where code calls for it. |
| Light fixture install, customer supplied | each | Say who supplied the fixture and whether a new box is needed. |
| Recessed light | each | Count the cans and say whether the ceiling is open or finished. |
| Ceiling fan with fan-rated box | each | Include the brace if the existing box is not fan rated. |
| EV charger circuit | each | Amperage, run length and whether the panel has room. |
| Whole-house surge protector | each | Installed at the panel. |
| Smoke and CO detectors, hardwired | each | Interconnected where required. |
| Wire run | ft | For long runs priced by the foot, with the wire size. |
| Permit and inspection | each | Electrical permits are required for most new circuits; check local rules. |
| Electrical labor | hour | Troubleshooting and work that cannot be priced flat. |
Terms and deposit language for electrical
- Deposit. Small service calls are paid on completion. Panel changes, service upgrades and remodel wiring take a deposit at signing for equipment and the schedule. Check your state's rules on deposits.
- Payment. Balance due when the work passes inspection or, for work that needs no permit, when it is done and tested.
- Warranty. State your workmanship warranty and that devices and fixtures carry the maker's warranty. Customer-supplied fixtures are covered for installation only.
- Work is done to the electrical code adopted where the job is, and the inspector has the final word.
- If opening a wall or panel shows unsafe existing wiring, it is reported to the customer and quoted before any repair.
- Utility scheduling for a disconnect is outside your control; say how a delay is handled.
How to fill it in
- Your business details carry over from any template you used before.
- Fill in who you are billing and the job.
- Check the lines against what you actually did, and add your prices.
- Put any deposit in Already paid, so the balance is right.
- Print, download or send it from Koira with a pay-by-card link.
Free tools for electrical
- Electrician labor rate calculator
- Voltage drop calculator
- EV charger installation cost calculator
- Labor rate calculator
The same invoice for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
More for electricians: how electricians run on Koira.