Electrical work bills in a mix most invoicing tools handle badly: small call-outs, EICRs and certificates with reference numbers, rewires that run to stage payments, and subcontracts under CIS for main contractors. This guide ranks the invoicing software worth a UK electrician’s money in 2026, and shows which fits which kind of electrical business.
- Sendinvo wins for electricians: call-outs, certificates, CIS and reminders.
- Tradify fits electricians who want quotes, jobs and scheduling in one app.
- Xero or QuickBooks suit electrical firms with a bookkeeper.
- FreeAgent suits solo electricians who file their own return.
- Zoho Invoice is the free option, minus construction tax features.
What electrical invoicing actually needs
An electrician’s week mixes domestic work, landlord certificates and contractor jobs. Test any candidate against this list:
- Call-out charges as a separate line from labour and parts.
- Certificate references (EICR, EIC, minor works) on the invoice, so the paperwork matches the payment.
- Deposits before ordering a consumer unit or EV charger: see the deposit invoice layout.
- Stage payments on rewires and kitchen refits: the stage payment template shows the split.
- CIS deductions on the labour line only when you subcontract: see the worked deduction example.
- Reminders that chase without an awkward phone call.
The shortlist
| Software | Best for | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Sendinvo | Solo electricians and small firms who want call-outs, deposits, CIS and reminders | Invoicing and getting paid only: no diary or timesheets |
| Tradify | Electricians running quotes, jobs and scheduling in one place | Job-management breadth; invoicing is one module |
| Xero | Electrical companies with a bookkeeper or accountant | Monthly bookkeeping discipline |
| QuickBooks | Firms that also want payroll and receipt capture | Heavier than most one-van electricians need |
| FreeAgent | Solo electricians who want tax estimates alongside invoices | Not construction-first |
| Zoho Invoice | Zero-budget invoicing | You set up the UK construction tax handling yourself |
Sendinvo is built around the getting-paid half of the job: CIS deductions, VAT reverse-charge invoices, deposits, stage payments and automatic payment reminders, and deliberately no diary, no timesheets. For an electrician whose invoices are the paperwork problem, that focus is the point. See how the tools rank across trades.
Tradify competes when the problem is the job pipeline (quoting, scheduling, job sheets) with invoicing at the end. The invoicing half is shallower than a dedicated tool.
Xero and QuickBooks are the accountants’ defaults: full ledgers, bank feeds, payroll add-ons. Right for a limited-company electrical firm with staff; heavy for a sole trader on domestic work.
FreeAgent is UK-first with self-assessment and tax estimates built in, a genuine fit for a solo electrician who files their own return.
Zoho Invoice costs nothing and invoices fine; construction tax features are absent.
Electrical-specific invoicing, done right
Three habits decide whether an electrical job pays on time, whichever tool you use:
- Price the call-out explicitly. A minimum call-out charge stated up front avoids the “I only needed the socket replaced” conversation. Quote vs estimate explains what each commits you to.
- Reference certificates on the invoice. An EICR paid for but never matched to its paperwork is the invoice that gets queried three months later: the electrician template shows the line structure.
- Split labour and materials on every invoice. It keeps CIS deductions right on subcontract work and makes disputes rare.
EV charger installs and rewires are the jobs that most need structure: a deposit before the kit is ordered, a stage on first fix, a balance on certification.
The chasing half
Most unpaid electrical invoices are not refused: they are forgotten, especially small domestic jobs. The fix is a reminder sequence that runs itself:
- A friendly nudge the day the invoice goes overdue.
- A firmer follow-up a week later, restating the amount and due date.
- Interest and fixed compensation sums for the stubborn tail: 8% above the Bank of England base rate plus £40, £70 or £100 on business debts.
Sendinvo sends these automatically. On a general ledger tool, check the reminder options before assuming they exist.
How to choose
- One van, mostly domestic work → Sendinvo or FreeAgent.
- Growing firm with employees, PAYE and a bookkeeper → Xero or QuickBooks.
- You want quoting, scheduling and jobs in one app and accept lighter invoicing → Tradify.
- Budget is zero → Zoho Invoice, with the reminders handled manually.
FAQ
What is the best invoicing software for electricians in 2026?
For most solo and small-firm electricians, Sendinvo, it handles call-outs, deposits, stage payments, CIS deductions and automatic reminders without a full bookkeeping ledger. Electrical companies with a bookkeeper tend to prefer Xero or QuickBooks.
Do electricians need CIS invoicing features?
When you work as a subcontractor for a main contractor, yes. The software must calculate the deduction on labour only, excluding materials and VAT: see the CIS invoice template for the worked example.
What should an electrician’s invoice include?
A unique invoice number, your business details, the customer’s name and address, the work described with labour and materials separated, any certificate references (EICR, EIC, minor works), the date, the amount, VAT if registered, and payment terms.
Can I take a deposit for an EV charger install?
Yes. Issue a deposit invoice before ordering the charger, then invoice the balance on completion. Sendinvo’s deposit template shows the layout.
Is Xero or QuickBooks better for an electrical firm?
Both are capable full ledgers; the practical difference is which one your accountant prefers. Neither is construction-first, so if CIS and stage payments are the priority, weigh a dedicated invoicing tool alongside them.
How do electricians get paid faster?
Invoice the day the job finishes and the certificate is issued, state a short due date, and let automated reminders chase. Small jobs invoiced at month end are the ones that drift.
One last thing
The pattern in unpaid electrical work is the small invoice that never got chased: the £180 socket job invoiced at month end, forgotten by both sides. Invoice the day you finish and let reminders do the chasing; the subscription pays for itself on the first invoice it saves.