What a welding invoice is for
Fabrication runs over when something on site does not match the drawing: a post out of plumb, a wall that is not square. The invoice should match the quote and add only what the customer approved, with the reason. Showing the deposit against the steel line reminds them what it paid for, and the balance is quick to collect at install.
What to put on a welding invoice
- Labor hours, shop and on site.
- Steel and hardware as quoted.
- Extra work approved, with the reason.
- Deposit received.
- Balance due and how to pay.
A worked example
The gate is hung. One post was out of plumb and needed a weld-on adjustment, approved on site.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Square tube and flat bar, steel | 180 | lb | Your price |
| Shop labor, cut, fit and weld | 10 | hour | Your price |
| Heavy duty hinges and gravity latch | 1 | each | Your price |
| Install on existing posts | 3 | hour | Your price |
| Post plumb correction, approved on site | 1 | hour | Your price |
Write the reason next to the extra hour. The customer saw the post, but the invoice is what their spouse reads later.
Line items welding shops use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Shop labor, fabrication | hour | Cutting, fitting, welding and grinding at your shop rate. |
| Mobile welding labor | hour | On site, with the rig; say where the job is. |
| Trip charge | each | Truck and rig to the site and back. |
| Steel, tube and plate | lb | Material at cost plus your markup; name the size and gauge. |
| Steel, by the stick | each | Length, profile and wall, such as square tube. |
| Aluminum or stainless stock | lb | Alloy and thickness; slower to weld than mild steel. |
| Hardware: hinges, latches, wheels | each | Brand and finish so the customer knows what they get. |
| Repair weld, cracked part | part | What broke, the metal, and whether it needs preheat. |
| Grind and finish | hour | Smooth welds, edges and corners before paint or coating. |
| Prime and paint, or send out for powder coat | each | Color and who does the coating. |
| Drawings or CAD layout | hour | For gates, railings and custom pieces. |
| Setup fee | each | Jigs, fixtures and machine setup for a run of parts. |
| Minimum charge | each | Brings a small repair up to the shop minimum. |
Terms and deposit language for welding
- Deposit. Steel and hardware are bought for the job, so ask for a deposit that covers the material before cutting starts.
- Payment. Balance due at pickup, at install, or when the mobile job is done.
- Warranty. You warrant your welds and workmanship. Rust from no coating, overloading, and damage after pickup are not covered.
- Steel prices move; material is priced on the day of the quote and rechecked if the quote expires.
- Repairs to cast or unknown metals are done on a best effort basis, said up front.
- Measurements for installed work are confirmed on site before cutting.
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 welding
The same invoice for other trades: 3d printing, appliance repair, auto detailing, carpentry, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, deck, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, powder coating, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, sign shop, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for welding shops: how welding shops run on Koira.
Shane Allen writes Koira's guides for trade business owners. How we check our numbers.