In the world of small business, there is a lot of jargon that gets thrown around. For seasoned veterans, this won’t be a problem as they already know the differences between these terms. However; for people who are just getting started, it can be a nightmare. Starting a business is already challenging. Familiarizing with business terms only adds another layer of confusion. That’s why you must get familiar with these terms before you delve deep into your business operations – starting with invoice and bill.
Bill Versus Invoice
Every business manages and completes transactions, which is why you need to know and understand the differences between a bill and an invoice. Some people, usually starters, think that both invoice and bill are the same things. It hasn’t been a clear-cut distinction so far, and many business owners – even veterans – use the two terms interchangeably. However, it’s time for you to know that both of them are not the same thing.
In this article, we will settle this once and for all. We will explain the differences between an invoice and a bill, as well as teach you how you’ll use them in your business.
What is a Bill?
A bill is a type of document detailing owed payment that’s expected to get paid immediately. For example, the sheet that you receive at the end of a stay in a hotel is a bill. As what the definition says, you’ll have to settle the payment immediately.
From that example, you can see that a bill is usually received immediately after the products or services provided. The expectation will always be that the bill will be paid – in full – at that time. Typically, it describes the amount of money that is owed to a vendor.
What is an Invoice?
An invoice, on the other hand, is a document sent from a vendor to a client that features an itemized list of the goods or services provided. In addition to the itemized list, the invoice also includes the price for each item. At the bottom, you will find the total amount of money of all the items on the list.
Unlike a bill that’s brief and straightforward, an invoice contains other information such as the following:
- Business address and phone number
- Business name
- The recipient’s name and contact information
- Payment due date and much more
An invoice is used to request payment for goods or services, which is either provided on credit or to request payment upfront prior to the goods or services rendered. In addition, the payment terms are discussed and agreed upon by both parties (buyer and seller) before the invoice is created and sent.
In terms of payment, it should include the timeframe in which the buyer has between receiving the invoice and paying it. It also includes consequences if the invoice isn’t paid on time. Once an invoice does go unpaid, you’ll need to keep track of it. For invoicing to work smoothly, you’ll need to use accounting software. That way, you can automate everything and avoid any potential errors.
Difference Between Invoices and Bills
From their definitions alone, you can already see that there is a glaring difference between an invoice and a bill. However, there are still some things that you need to know to complete this entire discussion. According to Fundera, one of the most effective ways to understand the differences between a bill and an invoice is to take a closer look at each terms’ element:
1. Perspective Between Business and Customer
If you create an invoice and send it to your clients, they’re going to think that they’re receiving a bill from you. While it’s the same document, the difference lies on who’s referencing the document. It all comes down to perspective. A vendor creates and sends an invoice, while the customer receives it as a bill they have to pay.
When you’re looking to understand whether someone is referring to an invoice or a bill, ask yourself this question: “Are they asking for money, or do they owe money?”
2. Payment Timeframe
Another difference between an invoice and a bill is the timeframe in which the client is expected to pay. As mentioned earlier, bills require customers to pay immediately. On the other hand, an invoice provides a period in which the client will have to settle their accounts – usually 15 to 30 days maximum.
Most of the time, a vendor will provide services on credit. What this means is that they will spend their time on a specific task and ask for payment once it’s complete. The period of “later” is determined by the agreed-upon payment terms. These terms are discussed during negotiation.
When the goods or services rendered have been made, the vendor will then create and send an invoice. The customer is then expected to pay that invoice within a specific period. However, payment is not due immediately.
Automate Your Billing/Invoicing
Whether you are sending a bill or an invoice, it’s important to make it fluid by automating the entire process. Many business people, especially those who have been doing manual billing or invoicing for a long time, refrain from switching to automation because they think it’s complicated and hard to execute. However, with platforms like ReliaBills, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
ReliaBills offers an invoicing and recurring billing system that puts automation at the forefront of payment processing. With our help, you will send bills or invoices and get paid for them without even moving a muscle. Once you’ve set your payment process, ReliaBills will handle the rest of the hard work for you. That way, you can focus more on other areas of your business.
What Exactly is a Recurring Billing System?
Recurring billing is a payment model that lets a business charge its customers continuously at predefined intervals (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, annually, or even custom intervals) for the service or products purchased. It is primarily used for subscription businesses; however, other industries caught up and started using recurring billing due to its effectiveness and efficiency.
Advantages of Recurring Billing
Recurring billing is widely used today due to the number of benefits to both the business and its customers. Here are some notable perks of recurring billing:
Predictable Cash Flow
Recurring billing ensures that you get the money owed to you from your customers. Your business will have consistent and reliable cash flow. At the same time, you will also get to predict the revenue generated in a specific time period.
Saves Time and Money
With a recurring billing system like ReliaBills, your customers will only need to sign up and provide their payment details once. Once they approve that you will be paid automatically for the services or products you provide, they won’t have to worry about paying your bill or invoice whenever the billing cycle comes around.
This mechanism relieves you of having to create and send invoices manually. At the same time, your customers can just set it and forget it, relieving them from the task of making sure their bill from you is paid every cycle. Since you spend less time doing invoicing, you’ll not only save time but money as well.
Hands-Free
A recurring billing system like ReliaBills lets you process payments automatically. From invoice creation to payment processing to fund transfer, everything is done entirely hands-free. All you need is to set your recurring billing strategy using ReliaBills. Once you’re all set, you can start sending invoices and receiving payments without any manual work. This automated system saves both you and your customers from doing the same task every billing cycle.
Having a recurring billing system in place keeps your business relevant in the present and future. So if you’re interested in this type of billing structure, check out ReliaBills today. Create a free account now to get started.
Wrapping Up
This is all the information you need to know the difference between an invoice and a bill. As you can see, they are entirely different from each other. Now, you know how and when to use each term. If you want to create outstanding invoices, check out ReliaBills now. It’s a FREE cloud-based invoicing system that automates everything for you.
