Builder Invoice App for UK Tradespeople: Invoicr
Invoicr is a free invoicing app built for UK builders, plumbers, electricians, and tradespeople that lets you send invoices and collect payment direct to your bank account instead of through card processors, cutting your payment fees from 2.5% to less than 1%.
What Invoicr Does for Builders
Invoicr solves a core problem for UK tradespeople: invoicing without losing money to card-processing fees. When a builder sends a £500 invoice through Invoicr, the client pays you bank-to-bank via UK open banking. You keep around £496; with a card processor, you'd keep £487.50. The app runs on your phone, so you can send an invoice from a job site in minutes. You get a free tier with 5 invoices per month and 3 customers, which covers many small operations. The Pro plan (£9.99/month or £79.99/year) adds unlimited invoices, automated payment reminders, WhatsApp invoice delivery, and quote generation. For larger teams, the Business plan (£19.99/month or £179.99/year) includes 5 seats, VAT and CIS compliance reporting, and direct exports for accountants.
Materials and Job Costing
Invoicr is built around rapid invoicing for service trades, not materials inventory management. If you need to track stock of plumbing fittings, electrical cable, timber, or other site materials as a separate system, Invoicr won't replace dedicated inventory software. What it does do well is invoice customers for work completed, materials supplied on-site, or job bundles. You can itemise each line of an invoice (labour, materials markup, call-out fee) before sending it. Your client sees a clear breakdown and pays you directly. This works best when materials are either supplied by the client or ordered separately from a merchant; Invoicr's strength is getting paid quickly for what you've already delivered.
Bank-to-Bank Payments: The Real Saving
Most builder invoicing apps use Stripe or PayPal, which take 1.4% to 2.9% per transaction. Invoicr uses UK open banking, a regulated system that lets your client pay you straight from their business or personal bank account. The fee is around 0.8% per transaction, capped at a few pounds. On jobs worth £500 to £5,000, this adds up fast. Over a year, a builder processing £50,000 in invoices saves £400 to £1,000 in fees alone. Payment arrives in your account within one business day. There's no card reader to buy, no subscription to a payment gateway, and no chargebacks. Your client sees a bank transfer request they recognise and approve from their own banking app.
Mobile-First Design for Site Work
Invoicr is a native iOS and Android app, not a clunky web dashboard. You work from your phone on the job. After finishing a job, you tap a few fields (client name, what you did, price, materials if any), add a photo if you want, and send. Your client gets a payment link they tap to pay, or you can email or WhatsApp the invoice to them. The app stores your client list, so repeat customers auto-populate. You can set payment terms (due on receipt, or net 14/30), and on the Pro plan you get automated reminders after 7, 14, and 21 days if payment hasn't arrived. For accountants, the Business plan exports invoices and payments in the format they need for tax returns and CIS reporting.
UK-Specific Compliance
Invoicr is built for the UK tax system. On the Pro and Business plans, the app calculates and reports VAT if you're registered, and tracks CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) deductions if you're a subcontractor. You don't have to manually work out tax brackets or chase down invoices for accountants; Invoicr generates reports ready for submission. The app is UK-only because VAT thresholds, CIS rules, and open banking are different in each country. This also means you're not paying for US compliance overhead; the pricing is lower because the app is built just for UK tradespeople.
When Invoicr Fits, and When It Doesn't
Invoicr is ideal if you're a sole trader or small team (up to 5 people on the Business plan) invoicing for labour-heavy work: builders charging for site work, plumbers billing call-outs, electricians sending quotes and follow-up invoices, gardeners invoicing landscaping jobs, decorators billing paint and labour. It's also good if you're a consultant or freelancer. If you run a materials supply business with hundreds of SKUs in stock, you need inventory software first; Invoicr will handle the invoicing side once goods leave your warehouse. If you need full project accounting, multi-currency support, or integration with job-management software, Invoicr is a starting point, not a replacement for enterprise systems. But for the builder who wants to invoice fast, cut fees, and stop chasing late payments, it works out of the box.
Get Invoicr free on iOS or Android, and send your first invoice today.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Invoicr if I'm not registered for VAT?
Yes. The free and Pro plans don't require VAT setup; you just invoice your client for the full amount. The Business plan includes VAT compliance reporting if you are registered.
How long does it take for payment to arrive in my bank?
Bank-to-bank payments via open banking settle within one business day, usually much faster than card processors.
Can multiple team members use Invoicr on one account?
Only on the Business plan, which includes 5 seats. Free and Pro plans are single-user.
What happens if a client doesn't pay on time?
On the Pro and Business plans, you can set payment terms and enable automated payment reminders. Invoicr sends reminders at 7, 14, and 21 days; you handle follow-up conversations directly with the client.
Is there a materials list or inventory feature?
No. Invoicr focuses on invoicing and payment collection. For materials tracking, you'll need a separate inventory or stock-management app; Invoicr works alongside it.
Can I send invoices via WhatsApp?
Yes, on the Pro and Business plans. You can WhatsApp the invoice link directly to your client from within the app.