How to Invoice as a General Contractor in New York

How to invoice as a general contractor in New York: NY sales tax 4.00% (applies to services), late fees capped at 2%/mo under NY Gen. Oblig. Law §5-501, written contracts required over $500. Step-by-step guide with a free template.

State sales tax
4%
Late fee cap
2%/mo
Net terms
30 days
Deposit
25%
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1. New York-specific invoice requirements

  • Sales tax line: 4.00% state rate. Services billed to NY customers must include sales tax. Many services taxable (info, parking, repair). Combined 8-8.875%.
  • Late-fee cap: New York statute NY Gen. Oblig. Law §5-501 caps interest on unpaid invoices at 2% per month. Spell out the rate in writing on every invoice and in your contract — courts won't enforce undisclosed fees.
  • Written contract required: New York requires a signed agreement for any job over $500. Reference the contract number on the invoice.
  • Right-to-cancel notice: Customers in New York get 72-hour cancellation rights on certain home-services contracts. Disclose this in your terms.

2. General Contractor line items + standard terms

Every general contractor invoice in New York should itemize work clearly. Standard general contractors use Net 30 terms with a 25% deposit required upfront.

  • Mobilization — billed by flat.
  • Labor — billed by hour (~$85 default).
  • Materials — billed by itemized.
  • Subcontractor markup — billed by percent.

3. General Contractor licensing in New York

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

4. Send and follow up

Send the invoice the same day work completes. Use software that records open events and offers a one-click online payment so you don't need to chase a check by mail. New York customers expect digital payment options today — accepting card and ACH typically reduces days-to-paid by 30–50%.

Average invoice
$4,850
State
NY
Net terms
30 days
Deposit
25%

New York metro guides

Metro-specific guides include the combined sales-tax rate and local pricing benchmarks.

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