To invoice or not to invoice?

[NiamhThomas30]

Hi all
I've been childminding for a long time now. I have never invoiced parents, originally I just asked for payment four weekly in advance. This caused so much confusion that I decided to charge monthly in advance. This works for me but I wonder what the pros are for invoicing and what system do you use to invoice (excel, quickbooks etc?). After reading some posts on here, I get the feeling I'm the minority...

Thanks
Niamh

I invoice during the last week of the month for the following months fees (in advance).
I have created my own invoice - adding each hours/fees etc. Oh, I also have a section at the end 'Fees outstanding from previous month' - this includes extra hours/lateness/late fee charge.
I find invoicing works, and to be honest, my parents seem to prefer it this way.

I invoice monthly in advance using excel. The parents know exactly what days and hours they've been billed for and I includeall booked hholidays (theirs and mine) at the bottom.

I invoice monthly in advance - I have a template in Word that I update every month. I detail all charges (days booked, days retained, late fees or babysitting from the previous month) and I take off any refunds or childcare vouchers that they've given me in advance. Invoicing properly makes you look professional and parents take it seriously.

As a mum, I do like to see how the invoice is calculated, so I can just check days / times as a double check I'm not over or underpaying.

For regular mindees I plan on averaging payments over the year so like you regular minthly payments & no invoice but for holiday, ad hoc or any hours above usual I will invoice and just do a word doc template showing hours used, rate & total due.

I invoice monthly in advance using SAGE. Any additional hours during the month go on to the next month. I work term-time only so some months are more than others. This works for me and none of the parents have asked me to average it out.

last childminder didnt and hers was for the mth just gone so was sometimes 4 wks and sometimes 5wks money so used to just check how much I owed her

current cm is same every mth due in cleared funds on 1st mth so no need for invoice - anything she owes us back for hols etc she gives us a cheque at beginning of next mth. (not ideal but works)

Use to do paper invoices. I now email my parents with an attachment (microsoft office word). I breakdown what I am charging for each child.

Before the school broke up I was dealing with five families (7 children)

Its quicker and also saves on paper.

What is SAGE Runoutofideas?

Thanks for your replies. Yes, I guess it does look more professional and can be beneficial especially of you charge an hourly rate/late fees and overtime etc..

I have to say, in all aspects of my work I would like to think I come across as professional. I have my own logo which I add to policies or on paperwork I handout to parents and generally conduct my working week in a professional manor. I like the idea of invoicing but my fees are pretty much the same 52 weeks a year. The only time I don't charge is if I am ill (or my children), or have a day off. These are very rare occasions and I normally make the days up as the parents can be flexi with days. Another thing is that the parents pay via bacs therefore there details show on my statements so I can easily identify who has paid me.

I use excel for my tax/expenses. I may try to design my own invoice and give it a test run, but not sure if it will be beneficial as yet..

Niamh