How to invoice as a electrician (US)

How electricians normally break the money out

A electrician's invoice is usually a diagnostic or trip charge, labor by the hour or by the fixture, materials, and any permit or inspection fee passed through at cost. Keeping those apart is what stops the customer asking what the total covered.

Step by step

1. 1Record the circuit or panel you worked on and the symptom you were called for — "tripping AFCI on bedroom circuit" tells the story a year later; "electrical repair" does not.
2. 2Bill the diagnostic visit as its own line. Finding the fault is the skilled part, and pricing it separately stops customers treating it as free.
3. 3Charge labor either hourly or per device installed, but never mix the two on one line without saying which is which.
4. 4Pass permit and inspection fees through at cost on their own line, marked as a pass-through, so no one thinks you marked up a government fee.
5. 5Show your license number, note any manufacturer or workmanship warranty, and reference the inspection result if the job was permitted.

When to send it

On completion for service work. On permitted jobs, invoice after the inspection passes so the customer has nothing left to hold payment against.

Commercial and builder customers run on 30-day terms and mostly honor them; residential customers pay faster. Chase builder invoices at day 31 with the PO or job number in the subject line.

Common questions

Should permits appear on the invoice?

Yes, as a clearly labeled pass-through line at cost, with the permit number if you have it. It reassures the customer and documents the job.

Is a repair different from a capital improvement for tax?

In several states, yes — new installation work and repairs are treated differently. Check with your state revenue department before deciding how to tax a job.

How do I invoice a job the inspector hasn't signed off yet?

Invoice for the work completed and note that final inspection is pending, or hold a stated retainage line until sign-off.