Use a printer friendly template for your painter invoice to ensure that the document is not obstructed. There are no rules that say you have to print everything on one page and use a hard copy, but it may be better to print multiple copies in case the second one comes out blank. You can even use a template for your invoice so that your inspector knows to place the invoice numbers correctly. The cost of having these templates will be minimal but it will save you from having to print it all by hand.
A printer-friendly template may also help you with what you expect your invoice to look like. If you know for certain what you want, printing the template will save you time during the application process because you will already know where to put the information. Having all of the information upfronts will help you make the inspector go through it quickly so that the other materials will not be lost in the process.
Every document has a fine print at the bottom. You should always make sure that the invoice template can be printed out without losing any of the information. Some printers cannot print the fine print correctly so they should be saved somewhere that they can be printed properly. Otherwise, the inspector may not have a copy of the invoice.
Sometimes you may want to keep a copy of the invoice so that you can show the inspector that you have paid the bill, or there are other options to pay before you complete the contract. These would be the invoice number, the date the invoice was issued, and the name of the contractor. Make sure that the inspector can see all of these details so that you do not have to explain the entire contract once you have presented it.
If you want to make a note about anything other than the fine print, be sure to save it in the document. This is important so that if you make changes to the invoice later, you can refer back to the document and read through the document again to see that you have not forgotten something. Also, if you have to add more items, you can add those numbers so that they are not misplaced. If you have to cut and paste a specific page, be sure to save it.
You should always be careful when you save your invoice so that it is not destroyed. You may want to scan your invoice at home or work. This will make it easy for you to get the documentation when you need it.
Using a professional invoice template will make it easier for you to draft your invoice and not have to worry about remembering the fine print. When you have one in your hand, it will make it much easier to think about what it should look like. Saving time will be a benefit in the long run.