Invoicing Software for Construction
How builders, remodelers and trade contractors can bill with Billed: estimates that turn into invoices, payment schedules that split one invoice into installments, and payments recorded against each invoice.
Key Takeaways
- Billed's help center says: "A payment schedule lets you add a payment plan to the invoices." The schedule can use percentages or flat amounts, with a due date for each payment.
- An approved estimate can become the invoice: Billed's invoice software page says you can "convert an approved estimate into an invoice".
- For hourly work, Billed's time tracking page says: "Create an hourly rate project, set its hourly rate, and Billed tracks the charge for each task as you log it."
- On US federal fixed-price construction contracts, FAR 52.232-5 sets the rules for progress payments and retainage. Private contracts set their own terms, so check your contract and ask a construction lawyer.
How construction work is billed
A construction job can be billed in stages rather than with one invoice at the end: a deposit before work starts, payments as stages are finished, and a final payment at completion.
In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook says: "Construction laborers and helpers perform tasks, such as using, supplying, or holding materials or tools and cleaning work areas and equipment, on construction sites." (BLS, checked October 30, 2026.)
Progress payments and retainage on US federal contracts
For US federal fixed-price construction contracts that include it, FAR 52.232-5 says: "The Government shall make progress payments monthly as the work proceeds, or at more frequent intervals as determined by the Contracting Officer, on estimates of work accomplished which meets the standards of quality established under the contract, as approved by the Contracting Officer."
On retainage, the same clause says: "if satisfactory progress has not been made, the Contracting Officer may retain a maximum of 10 percent of the amount of the payment until satisfactory progress is achieved." (acquisition.gov, checked October 30, 2026.) Private and state contracts set their own payment and retainage terms, and state law can apply, so check your contract and ask a construction lawyer.
From estimate to invoice
Billed's estimating page says you can "save your product or service details for instant access in your estimates", and that you can "Attach important files and images with your estimates." Billed's invoice software page says you can "convert an approved estimate into an invoice". Billed's help article on converting estimates says: "Wherever you need an estimate in the form of an invoice, you can convert it immediately."
For work billed by the hour, Billed's time tracking page says: "Create an hourly rate project, set its hourly rate, and Billed tracks the charge for each task as you log it." Billed's expense tracking page says: "An expense in Billed records who you paid, when, how much and which category it belongs to, with the receipt attached to the same entry."
Staged payments on one invoice
Billed's help article on payment schedules says: "A payment schedule lets you add a payment plan to the invoices." It says you "Choose a suitable option among percentage or flat amount" and "Fill out the payment amount and due date of each payment." Billed's help article on scheduled payments says: "You can make unlimited installments. However, the sum of all installments should be equal to the total balance of the invoice."
If the client can pay any part of the balance instead, Billed's help article on partial payments says: "You can let your clients pay the partial amount through this option." The payment schedules article says: "You can either enable partial payments or scheduled payments."
Worked example: a remodel billed in three payments
These are sample figures. A kitchen remodel is quoted at 18,000.00, and the client approves the estimate. The contract sets three payments: 30% on signing, 40% when the cabinets are installed and 30% at completion.
30% of 18,000.00 is 5,400.00, 40% is 7,200.00 and 30% is 5,400.00. 5,400.00 + 7,200.00 + 5,400.00 = 18,000.00, which matches the invoice total, as Billed's payment schedules require. Each installment gets its own due date. The percentages are examples, not suggested terms; use the ones in your contract.
Getting paid
Billed's mobile app page says: "Invoices carry a pay button when Stripe or PayPal is connected, so clients can pay by card the minute they receive it." Billed's invoice software page adds: "When a client pays by check or cash, record it as an offline payment so all your income is in one place." Billed's invoice software page says: "Set a due date on each invoice so your client knows when to pay."
Billed's invoice software page says: "Invoice reports show which invoices are paid, partially paid or past due, and you can see who owes you money and send them a payment reminder." Billed's help article on payment reminders says: "You can set a schedule of payment reminders before and after the invoice's due date." It also says: "You can send up to three reminders."
Billed's mobile app page says: "Build a professional invoice from your phone the moment a job wraps. Add line items, your logo, and tax, then send by email or share a link before you leave the site."
Challenges Construction Businesses Face
Sending a new invoice for every stage of a job instead of one invoice with its installments
Retyping an approved estimate line by line as an invoice
Losing track of the hours and costs on time-and-materials work
Not knowing which clients have paid in full, paid part or are overdue
Tasks and the Billed feature for each
| You bill | In Billed |
|---|---|
| Approved estimate | Convert it into an invoice |
| Deposit and stage payments | Payment schedule on one invoice |
| Hourly labor | Hourly rate project |
| Check or cash payment | Offline payment |
Invoicing for Construction
Payment schedules
Billed's help center: "A payment schedule lets you add a payment plan to the invoices." and "Clients can pay several installments against a single invoice."
Related Invoice Templates
Invoice templates related to this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When this isn't for you
This page covers estimates, invoicing and getting paid for construction work. If the tools you use now already handle that, there's no need to switch.
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