1. What every general contractor invoice must include

A compliant general contractor invoice has eight parts: your business name and contact info, a unique invoice number, issue date, payment due date, the customer's name and address, an itemized list of work, the total amount due, and accepted payment methods. If you're collecting sales tax, that line is required too.

2. Set your line items

Most general contractors structure invoices around these 4 categories:

Mobilization — billed by flat.
Labor — billed by hour at a ~$85 default.
Materials — billed by itemized.
Subcontractor markup — billed by percent.

3. Set payment terms

The standard for general contractors is Net 30 — payment due within 30 days of the invoice date. Most general contractors also require a 25% deposit upfront before starting work. Spell out late-fee terms (most states cap monthly late fees around 1.5%) and accepted payment methods on the invoice itself.

4. Licensing & legal disclosures

Most states require a general contractor license over a job-value threshold (varies $500-$50K). Bonding and insurance commonly required.

5. Send and follow up

Send the invoice the same day work is completed (or upon milestone for larger projects). Use software that tracks opens and lets the customer pay by card or bank transfer in one click — the average general contractor-class invoice gets paid 2× faster when the customer can pay online without leaving their inbox.

Average invoice

$4,850

Standard terms

Net 30

Typical deposit

25%

BLS code

47-1011

State-by-state general contractor invoicing guides

State rules differ on sales tax, statutory late fees, and contractor disclosure requirements. Pick your state for a guide tuned to local law.

How to Invoice as a General Contractor: Step-by-Step Guide