Five Apps: Android-based invoicing tools

Creating an invoice with Invoice2Go

The feature list includes: Create invoices (Figure B), estimates, credit, memos, and purchase orders; over twenty invoice templates; supports products and services; include PayPal buttons for quick payment; keep track of outstanding bills; invoice preview; email as PDF, create estimates and quotes; convert estimates/quotes into invoices; inventory; auto tax calculations and configurations; twelve drill-down reports; and more.

Within the product you can also add on apps for Calendaring, barcode scanning, maps, document signing, and account statements. Invoice2Go does require an account and you can sign up for the unlimited free trial. However, once you've created your first three documents, you will have to upgrade from the free trial. The Starter plan is $49.00 per year and allows you to create 100 documents. The app is $9.99 or you can try the free version which limits you to the number of documents and items you can create.

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The Zoho Invoice main interface

2. Zoho Invoice and Time Tracking

Zoho Invoice and Time Tracking requires you have a Zoho account – but if you're already using the powerhouse groupware tool, Zoho Invoice makes for a perfect extension. With this app you can use ready to use templates, categorize expenses, accept online payments, track time, print and download invoices, track payment status, and much more. The Zoho Invoice tool is integrated with Google Apps for more power and flexibility. The interface for Zoho Invoice is clean (almost minimal – Figure C) and gives you quick access to creating a new invoice/contact/estimate, record expense, and add time entry.

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Adding payment terms for invoices

You can also set payment terms, auto-generate invoice numbers, add notes and terms/conditions to invoices (Figure D).

The app is free, but you will have to subscribe to Zoho with paid plans starting at $15/month.

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On the go invoicing

3. Invoice Control

Invoice Control is a much more basic app, but for those needing the bare minimum (at no cost), Invoice Control is for you. It is a free, ad-based app (Figure E) that can function for anyone needing simple, on the go invoicing.

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Creating an invoice with Invoice Control

One nice feature of Invoice Control is that it is a multi-user environment – so you can have more than one employee use the tool. The app also features: Invoice creation (Figure F) customer management, product/inventory control, quote generation in PDF format, generation partial invoices, include company logo, choose color of invoice header, import data from spreadsheets, backup data, send invoices through Whatsapp or Line, save invoices into Dropbox account, scan barcodes, mark invoices as sent or paid.

You can also integrate Invoice Control with Control Expenses (by the same company) to help track spending.

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The Invoice Maker main window

4. Invoice Maker Pro

Invoice Maker Pro is another bare-bones, but effective invoicing tool. With an easy to use interface (Figure G)that offers little to no learning curve, you can have Invoice Maker Pro up and running with little time and zero cost.

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Creating a new client with Invoice Maker Pro

You do not have to sign up for any plans and the app is free. The feature list of Invoice Maker Pro includes: Preview invoices directly from device, email invoices as attachments, auto-calculate sales tax, track invoice payments, view clients unpaid balance, customize PDF with company logo, assign unique codes to each client (Figure H), auto backup of invoices, generate invoices as estimates, support for over one hundred currencies, and more.

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The Street Invoice Beta main window

5. Street Invoice Beta

Street Invoice Beta is, as the name implies, currently in beta. Even so, the application is solid and powerful. During the beta testing period, the app is free to use, which allows you to see just how much invoicing power you can have in your hands. Street Invoice Beta features: Invoice/bill on the spot, include PayPal link with invoice, create preview estimates, pull customer contact information from phone or tablet, email printed invoices/statements/receipts, print invoices on the go, wireless sync across all mobile and desktop devices, live back office reporting, and much more. With a clean interface (Figure I), you can quickly navigate through all the functions of the app.

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Making use of the multi-company feature

One of best features of Street Invoice Beta is the ability to use it for multiple companies. Simply create as many companies as you need and then select which company to apply an invoice to in the Invoice Options (Figure J).

Bottom line

If you're looking to take your small business on the go, fear not, there are plenty of apps to help you easily meet this challenge. To ensure invoicing and billing is efficient and accountable, give one of these Android apps a go – your clients and your company will thank you for it.

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