If you freelance or run a small business, email is still the fastest way to get an invoice in front of a client — and to get paid. But a sloppy invoice email (wrong subject line, no PDF attached, no due date) is one of the most common reasons payments drag on for weeks.

Here is a simple process that works, whether you send one invoice a month or twenty.

1. Create a clean PDF invoice first

Never paste invoice details only in the body of the email. Clients forward invoices to accounts departments, file them, and print them — so send a proper PDF.

I use NexBillio for this: it is a free online invoice generator, no sign-up needed. Fill in your business details, the client, line items and tax, then download the PDF in seconds. It also handles quotes, estimates, receipts and credit notes.

2.…