Contractor Invoice Example

What Is a Contractor Invoice?

A contractor invoice is the document you send to a client, GC, or owner to get paid for labor and materials. Compared to a generic “business invoice,” construction invoices often have to show more detail: phases of work, retainage, and sometimes change orders or stored materials.

For small jobs, a straightforward invoice is usually enough. As projects get bigger or more formal, you’re more likely to need progress billing or even full AIA-style pay applications.

A Simple Contractor Invoice Example

Here’s a basic, professional invoice format that works well on small or non-AIA projects:

For straightforward service work or smaller residential jobs, this kind of invoice is usually all you need. On larger commercial projects, it’s often just the starting point.

When a Simple Contractor Invoice Is Not Enough

Many commercial projects—especially lender-driven or contract-heavy work—do not accept a simple invoice. Instead, they require:

• Progress billing (by phase or line item)
• A detailed Schedule of Values (SOV)
• AIA-style pay applications (G702 + G703)
• Lien waivers with each pay period

The contract usually spells this out. If you see language like “AIA G702/G703,” “AIA-style billing,” or “Schedule of Values required,” you’re in pay-application territory, not basic invoice territory.

GC vs. Subcontractor Invoice: What Changes?

General Contractor Invoice

GC invoices often include:

• Self-performed work (carpentry, sitework, etc.)
• Rolled-up subcontractor costs by trade or line item
• General conditions and overhead
• Change order summaries for the owner

Subcontractor Invoice

Sub invoices tend to zoom in on a single trade and show:

• Work completed for that trade, by line item or phase
• Percent complete and/or dollars complete
• Materials delivered or stored on site
• Retainage withheld by the GC

Subs are also more likely to be asked for supporting documents like:

• Lien waivers
• Supplier invoices and proof of payment
• Signed change orders

What Should a Professional Contractor Invoice Include?

At a minimum, a solid construction invoice includes:

• Your business name, address, and license number (if applicable)
• Client or GC name and contact info
• Project name and address
• Invoice number and date
• Clear description of work and materials
• Taxes or permit fees, if applicable
• Payment terms (Net 10, Net 30, etc.)
• How and where to send payment

On more complex jobs, it’s smart to also show:

• SOV-style line items (matching your contract)
• Percentage complete for each phase or line
• Retainage held to date
• Change order amounts and references

Contractor Invoice Example With Progress Billing

Here’s a simplified example of progress billing for a single line item, similar to how it might look on a pay application:

This is exactly the kind of math that AIA G702/G703 forms are designed to handle—and exactly where Excel templates tend to break when the project gets busy.

Contractor Invoice Template vs. AIA Forms

Here’s a quick comparison of when a plain invoice template works and when you really need AIA-style billing:

How PayAppPro Helps Contractors Create Better Invoices

PayAppPro is built for contractors who need more structure than a one-page invoice, but don’t want to babysit spreadsheets every billing period. With PayAppPro, you can:

• Create AIA-style G702 & G703 pay applications
• Automatically calculate previous billed, this period, and total to date
• Track retainage and stored materials without breaking formulas
• Generate clean PDF pay apps ready to send to a GC or owner
• Attach lien waivers and backup documents
• Keep your billing consistent from month to month on each project

Related Guides

• Construction Invoicing Guide for Contractors
• Construction Payment Application Guide
• AIA G702/G703 Excel Templates vs Software