What a remodeling invoice is for
Remodel invoices come in stages, and each one should show where the job is: the contract total, change orders to date, what has been paid, and what this payment covers. A customer who sees the running numbers on every invoice does not get surprised at the end.
What to put on a remodeling invoice
- The milestone this invoice is for.
- Contract total and change orders to date.
- Payments received so far.
- The amount due now.
- What comes next.
A worked example
The bath has passed rough-in inspection. This invoice is the rough-in milestone payment, with the first change order added.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone: rough-in inspection passed | 1 | each | Your price |
| Change order 1: replace subfloor at toilet | 1 | each | Your price |
Put the contract total and payments to date in the notes. Each progress invoice tells the whole story so far, not just this payment.
Line items remodelers use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition and haul-away | each | Say what stays: cabinets, flooring, fixtures. |
| Dumpster | each | Size and how long it stays. |
| Framing changes | hour | Walls moved or added; say whether walls are load bearing. |
| Plumbing rough-in and finish | each | By a licensed plumber where required. |
| Electrical rough-in and finish | each | By a licensed electrician where required. |
| Drywall hang, tape and finish | sq ft | Level of finish. |
| Cabinets, supply and install | ft | Linear feet; brand and door style. |
| Countertops, fabricate and install | sq ft | Material, edge and sink cutouts. |
| Tile, floor or wall | sq ft | Tile allowance per square foot, plus setting. |
| Flooring | sq ft | Material and underlayment. |
| Fixtures allowance | each | Allowance amount the customer picks within. |
| Paint | sq ft | Walls, ceilings and trim in the remodeled space. |
| Permits and inspections | each | Building, plumbing and electrical as required. |
| Project management and cleanup | day | Daily site cleanup and coordination. |
Terms and deposit language for remodeling
- Deposit. A deposit at signing secures the schedule and orders long-lead items like cabinets. Many states limit home improvement deposits and require specific contract language, so check your state's rules.
- Payment. Progress payments tied to milestones such as demolition, rough-in inspection, cabinets set and substantial completion, with a final payment after the punch list.
- Warranty. State your workmanship warranty and that products carry their makers' warranties. Say how warranty requests are made.
- Allowances: if the customer picks items above the allowance, the difference is a change order.
- Hidden conditions behind walls and floors are priced by change order before the work.
- Lead times for cabinets, tile and fixtures can move the schedule; say how you communicate it.
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 remodeling
- Flooring cost calculator
- Drywall cost calculator
- Demolition cost calculator
- Markup calculator
- Profit margin calculator
The same invoice for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, 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, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.
More for remodelers: how remodelers run on Koira.