Some sole traders do not need to send invoices, while others do. Whether or not you send a sole trader invoice depends on the arrangement you have with the client engaging the service of your business. If you are working on contract basis, you almost always must submit an invoice to be paid.

When you submit your invoice will depend on the agreement you have with your client, but the most common times to send invoices are as soon as the work is complete, or at the end of the month.

The specifics of what you include in your invoice depend on the type of work you are doing. However, all invoices require certain pieces of information in order for you to be paid promptly. Those pieces of information are: the name, address, and phone number of the company or person you are invoicing; your name, address, and phone number and that of your small business; the current date; the date by which you expect to be paid; the method of payment you prefer; a description of the work you did and the cost of each piece of work listed (either a flat fee or an hourly rate); and the grand total, including sales tax if necessary.

After you submit your invoice, you should receive your payment by the date you specified. If you do not receive your payment by this time, check in with the client or company to confirm that your sole trader invoice was received. Keep in mind the method of payment you specified, so that you make sure you are looking in the right place for the payment.