The document types and calculators that fit each kind of business, in one place.
Different trades need different paperwork. A law firm bills hours and holds client retainers. A builder quotes a job first, then orders materials. A landlord issues rent receipts. Below you find seven industries and the documents each one usually needs.
Every industry page lists recommended documents and calculators. All tools are free, run in your browser and need no account. They give general guidance only. Your local rules for invoices, tax and record keeping may differ, so check them with an accountant.
Law firms bill by the hour and hold client money as retainers. They mostly need invoices, receipts for payments received, credit notes to correct a bill and account statements that show what a client still owes. The calculators help with retainers and billable hours.
Recommended documents: Invoice, Receipt, Credit Note, Account Statement
Consultants bill by the hour, by project or on retainer. They need invoices, proforma invoices for new or foreign clients, estimates before work starts and expense reports to recover travel costs. Rate and retainer calculators help set fair prices.
Recommended documents: Invoice, Proforma Invoice, Estimate, Expense Report
Agencies bill monthly retainers and project fees, and they buy media and services from vendors. They use invoices, quotes for new campaigns, purchase orders for suppliers and account statements. Markup and margin calculators show what each job really earns.
Recommended documents: Invoice, Quote, Purchase Order, Account Statement
Construction firms quote a job, order materials and invoice in stages. They need estimates and quotes, purchase orders for suppliers and work orders for crews. Due-date and late-fee calculators help control cash flow on long projects.
Recommended documents: Estimate, Quote, Purchase Order, Work Order
Tradespeople such as electricians, plumbers and painters work job by job. They typically use an estimate, a work order, a mileage log for travel between sites and a final invoice. Hourly and contractor calculators help price each visit.
Recommended documents: Invoice, Estimate, Work Order, Mileage Log
Freelancers set their own rates and chase their own payments. They need clear invoices, estimates before a project, receipts when a payment arrives and expense reports for costs they pass on. Rate calculators help cover time off and overhead.
Recommended documents: Invoice, Receipt, Estimate, Expense Report
Landlords and property managers collect rent, charge for services and track what tenants owe. They use rent receipts, invoices, account statements and expense reports. Late-fee and days-past-due calculators help with overdue rent.
Recommended documents: Rent Receipt, Invoice, Account Statement, Expense Report