Roofer invoice template

How do roofers usually invoice?

Roofers invoice larger jobs in two or three stages: a deposit to cover scaffold and materials, a mid-point payment when the roof is stripped and felted, and the balance when the ridge is on. Small repairs such as a slipped tile or a lead flashing are charged at a fixed call-out plus labour and invoiced the same day. Scaffold and skip costs are passed through as separate lines so the customer can see they are not profit.

Roofers in this example give the customer 7 days to pay, after a 30% deposit taken before the work starts. Hourly rates run from £30 to £50. A full day is typically £250 to £400.

What should a roofer put on an invoice?

Beyond the legal basics, roofers should:

• Show scaffold, skip and materials as separate lines from labour; it makes the price easier to accept and helps with CIS.
• Quote the roof area and the tile or slate type, because a change of tile is the most common variation.
• State the guarantee period on the invoice (10 years on a re-roof is typical) and what it covers.
• Photograph the finished roof and reference the photos on the invoice; customers cannot inspect it themselves.

Every UK invoice, whatever the trade, must also show:

• a unique, sequential invoice number
• your business name and address (and company number if you trade as a limited company)
• the client’s name and address
• the invoice date and, for VAT invoices, the date of supply if different
• a clear description of each item of work or goods
• the amount due and when it must be paid
• your VAT number, the VAT rate per line and the VAT total, if you are VAT registered

Do roofers charge VAT?

Construction work for a contractor falls under CIS: the contractor deducts 20% (30% if you are not CIS registered) from the labour element before paying you, so show labour and materials on separate lines. If you are VAT registered and the contractor is too, the domestic reverse charge applies and you charge no VAT; write "Reverse charge: customer to account for VAT" on the invoice. Work for private householders is outside both rules. Below the £90,000 registration threshold you charge no VAT at all.

On the Flat Rate Scheme the sector for roofers is usually “General building or construction services” at 9.5% of VAT-inclusive turnover, with a 1% discount in the first year of registration. If you spend little on goods you may be a limited cost trader and have to use 16.5% instead. The scheme suits businesses with few VAT-able costs; check it against the standard method with the VAT calculator before joining.