Think back to the days before digital invoicing, when bills came through the post with other mail. Now, imagine if you were to throw away four-fifths of everything that landed in your mailbox without so much as peeling back the flaps and peeking inside.
It may sound absurd, but that’s exactly what happens with modern-day emails. Only 20% of messages in users’ email inboxes are opened, and if your invoice lands amongst that mass of unopened spam, there’s a strong chance that your payment will unintentionally fall into the void.
Alternatively, 98% of all Short Messaging Service (SMS) messages are opened, and the average person responds to them in 90 seconds or less. So, if you’re looking for the best way to reach customers about outstanding bills, consider sending them an SMS invoice detailing their dues.
In this blog, you'll learn all about SMS invoicing and get 15 invoice text examples and templates to help you get paid on time.
Table of Contents:
- What is SMS Invoicing?
- The Core Components of Effective SMS Invoice Texts
- 10 SMS Invoice Templates for Different Industries
- 5 Invoice Reminder SMS Templates
- Ensuring Compliance and Best Practices for SMS Invoicing
What is SMS Invoicing?
SMS invoicing is the convenient process of sending invoices to customers via text message. Texting is fast, efficient, and accessible for businesses and customers alike, making it easy for clients to make payments on time and for businesses to reduce cash flow issues.
With SMS invoicing, your business can send texts containing direct links to payment portals, streamlining the payment process and enabling your business to track payments more efficiently.
The Core Components of Effective SMS Invoice Texts
Small businesses waste hundreds of hours per year chasing late invoices and experience frequent financial hardships due to unpaid invoices. That’s why crafting an effective SMS invoice text is so crucial. Businesses that invest in a joint email and SMS-invoicing strategy are 56% more likely to be paid on time.
So what exactly does an effective SMS invoice text look like? Let’s dive into a few key components.
- Client’s name. Personalizing your invoice text helps the client know the invoice is relevant and tailored to them, making it less likely to be marked as spam.
- Payment link. Include a direct payment link to make it easy for customers to pay quickly, reducing friction and increasing the likelihood of timely payments.
- Due date. Explicitly stating the due date sets the expectation that the invoice should be paid on time and helps to avoid confusion or missed payments.
- Amount due. Include the exact payment amount in the message to ensure clarity and prevent further misunderstandings.
- Service rendered. Sharing a brief description of the services or products reinforces the reason for the charge and reminds customers of the value of the payment.
- Alternative payment options. Share other payment options if applicable to provide flexibility and accommodate alternative methods (such as a check or bank transfer).
- Company name. Make sure to include your business name to help establish legitimacy and trust, ensuring the customer knows who they are paying.
Incorporating these elements ensures that the invoice text message is customized to the specific customer, improving the chances of receiving payment.
10 SMS Invoice Templates for Different Industries
SMS invoice templates allow you to quickly customize a stock message to meet the needs of your business, customers, and transactions. They should be tailored to your specific industry and organization, but these examples can give you a strong sense of where to start.
1. Home Services
Hello [Client Name], Roofing Pros here. Your invoice for the roof inspection and minor repairs totaling [Amount] is due on [Due Date]. Settle your bill easily at [Invoice Link] or contact us for other payment details.
2. Professional Services
[Client Name], thank you for choosing us for your tax prep. Your invoice of [Amount] is now available. Please pay by [Due Date] using this link: [Invoice Link]. - [Company Name]
3. Waste Management
Hi [Client Name], thanks for using [Company Name] for your debris cleanup. Your invoice is [Amount]. Pay online: [Invoice Link], or call us to use another method. Due: [Due Date].
4. Construction
Hello [Client Name], your final invoice for the kitchen remodel is ready. The remaining balance due is [Amount]. See an itemized invoice and make your payment here by [Due Date]: [Invoice Link]. Let us know if you have any questions. - [Company Name]
5. Events
Hi [Client Name], to secure your event space on [Event Date], a deposit of [Amount] is due by [Due Date]. Make your payment here: [Payment Link]. - [Your Company Name]
6. Consulting
Hello [Client Name], this is your invoice for [Service] from [Company Name]. An amount of [Amount] is due by [Date]. To pay, please go to [Invoice Link]. Thank you for choosing [Company Name]
7. Design
Hey there, [Client Name]! Your [Designed Item/Platform] from [Company Name] is ready and looking sharp! Please square up your account’s outstanding balance of [Amount] by [Date] by following this [Invoice Link]. Thanks so much!
8. Retail
Hi [Client’s Name], thanks for shopping with [Store Name]! This is your bill for [Items]. The total is [Amount]. To pay, follow this [Invoice Link] or head to a store near you for in-person payment: [Link to List of Physical Locations].
9. Food Delivery
Hello [Customer's Name], thank you for ordering from [Restaurant Name]. Your order has been successfully placed. We've generated an invoice for your order. You can view and download your invoice by clicking on this link: [Invoice Link]. Thank you for choosing [Restaurant Name]!
10. Subscription
Dear [Customer's Name], your subscription invoice for [Service/Product Name] has been generated. The total amount due is [Amount]. Please make the payment before [Due Date] using this link: [Invoice Link].
5 Invoice Reminder SMS Templates
In addition to initial invoice texts, you may need to send an invoice reminder follow-up message to ensure clients pay on time. Let’s look at a few examples of effective follow-up messages that encourage customers to settle up.
1. Invoice due tomorrow reminder
Hi [Client Name], just a quick reminder that your invoice of [Amount] is due tomorrow. Make your payment here: [Invoice Link]. - [Your Company Name]
2. Invoice due today reminder
[Company Name]: Quick heads-up, [Client Name] — your invoice for [Amount] is due today. Take care of it now with a tap: [Invoice Link]. Questions? We’re here to help.
3. One-day past due nudge
Hey [Client Name], looks like your payment of [Amount] slipped through the cracks yesterday. No worries! You can still pay here: [Invoice Link]. - [Company Name]
4. Unpaid invoice reminder
Hi [Client Name], just a quick reminder that your invoice for [Amount] is past due. Please make your payment by [New Due Date] to avoid any late fees. Click here to pay: [Invoice Link]. Appreciate your prompt attention! - [Your Company Name]
5. Last reminder before late fees
[Company Name]: Hi [Client Name], your invoice #[Invoice Number] for [Amount] is now [X] days overdue. To avoid late fees, please make your payment by [New Due Date]. Here’s your payment link: [Invoice Link]. We appreciate your prompt response.
Ensuring Compliance and Best Practices for SMS Invoicing
In the name of consumer protection, government entities — such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) — have set laws guiding the legal use of business-to-consumer (B2C) SMS interactions.
Most of these SMS compliance regulations are covered in two acts:
To ensure your business stays compliant and ethical while sending SMS invoice texts, make sure to:
- Collect consent to text. You must obtain consent from customers to text them before sending SMS invoices.
- Honor opt-outs. Provide an easy way for customers to opt out of your texting service, such as “Reply STOP to opt out” at the end of a text message.
- Make it easy for customers to pay. Include clear payment links and ensure your payment portal is mobile-friendly to streamline the payment process.
- Stick to business hours. Avoid sending SMS messages outside of normal business hours.
- Keep the message clear and concise. Only include necessary details in your SMS invoice texts, such as due date, amount, and payment link.
- Use secure payment methods. Ensure the payment links and platforms you direct customers to are secure and trustworthy.
- Respect frequency limits. Don’t bombard customers with excessive messages. Send texts at appropriate intervals to prevent frustration and encourage action.
Boost On-Time Payments With Textedly’s SMS Invoices
Whether you’re a fledgling freelancer or an enterprise-level company, collecting timely client payments is key to ensuring steady cash flow and maintaining financial stability. SMS invoices are much more likely to be opened and read than any other billing formats, increasing the chances of payment.
Textedly’s Text-to-Pay service enables businesses to schedule invoice reminders and collect payments faster. Send secure payment links, automate follow-up and payment confirmation texts, and track payment data directly from the Textedly platform.
Sit back, relax, and let Textedly collect payments for you. Try it free today.
