Guides for running the paperwork side of a small business

How to get paid, booked and signed off without chasing, with wording you can use today.

• How to write an invoiceWhat belongs on an invoice, how to number it and how to set terms that people actually follow. Includes a worked example and wording you can copy.
• Payment reminder emails: what to say at each stageCopy-ready reminder emails and text messages for every stage of an overdue invoice, from the polite nudge to the final notice. Plus what the law says and when to stop chasing.
• Quote vs estimate: what's the difference?An estimate is an informed guess and a quote is a firm price for defined work, and customers often mix them up. Here's when to use each, what to write, and what can make a quote binding.
• How to ask for a depositHow to ask for a deposit in plain words, work out a fair amount and write refund terms that hold up. Includes wording to copy and the legal limits to check first.
• Change orders and variation orders for small jobsHow to record extra work and get a clear yes before you do it, even on a small job. Includes wording to copy, a worked example and what counts as a good approval.
• How to get paid online as a small businessPayment links, invoices and bank transfers compared, with what the fees come to on real job sizes. The tradeoffs are laid out plainly, so you can pick what suits your work.
• Invoice vs receipt: what each document does, plus credit notes, purchase orders and statementsAn invoice asks for payment and a receipt proves payment. This guide adds credit notes, purchase orders and statements, with a clear table of which to send when and a worked example.
• How to reduce no-shows: confirmations, reminders, deposits and a clear policyNo-shows fall when a booking is confirmed, the customer is reminded, changing it is easy, and something is at stake. This guide gives you the schedule, the wording, a deposit example and the legal caveats.
• How to ask customers for reviews without breaking the rulesAsk every customer, the same way, soon after the job, with a direct link and no reward. This guide gives you the wording, the timing, and what Google's policy and the FTC actually say.
• QR code menus: how to set one up, and what should stay on paperA QR code menu is a web page your guests open by scanning a printed code. This guide covers setting one up, what stays on paper, the allergen caveats, and table-tent wording you can copy.
• Are electronic signatures legal? What a small business needs to knowIn the US, an electronic signature on an ordinary business contract is generally as valid as ink, with a short list of exceptions. This guide covers typed and drawn signatures, what to keep as a record, and what doesn't qualify.
• Do I need a website for my small business?Many local businesses can start with a Google Business Profile and a one-page link with a QR code. This guide shows what that covers, what you give up, and the signs that you need a real website.