Can you invoice yourself?

Businesses have different workflows and structures, which is why some individuals may need to invoice themselves from time to time.

Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and even larger corporations work with other companies to get things done — and plenty of business professionals own more than one company.

Usually, when a business purchases products or contracts for services from another, an invoice records the transaction details. If one of your businesses contracts work from another business that you also own, you may be wondering, “Can I invoice myself?” and when it’s useful to do so.

Is it common to invoice yourself?

Invoicing oneself is not a common practice in the business world — it primarily occurs in specific situations, such as sole proprietors maintaining financial records, individuals seeking reimbursement for business-related expenses, or transferring assets or equity between personal and business holdings. Freelancers managing multiple ventures may also use self-invoicing for administrative simplicity. However, these instances are exceptions rather than the norm, and the typical purpose of invoicing is to bill clients or customers for products or services.

When can I invoice myself as a business owner?

If you own or are a partner for more than one business, you may invoice yourself for services rendered. For example, your construction business contracts work from your house painting business — now you need an invoice to document the transaction and keep track of payments.

However, it’s strongly recommended to check with an accounting professional and possibly a business attorney first. Invoicing your own company may lead to complicated tax situations and make accounting more challenging.

What’s necessary when invoicing yourself?

When invoicing yourself, there are several key points to keep in mind. Here’s a list of what’s necessary when creating a self-invoice:

1. Invoice details. Include your name or business name and a unique invoice number with the date.

2. Itemized services/products. List services or products, including descriptions and quantities.

3. Pricing and amounts. Specify unit prices and calculate total amounts for each item.

4. Payment terms. Clearly state payment terms, including the due date and any penalties or discounts.

5. Legal compliance. Ensure your self-invoicing complies with relevant accounting and tax regulations.

6. Documentation. Attach necessary supporting documents and explain the reason for self-invoicing (e.g., expense reimbursement, asset transfer).

Can I invoice myself if I don’t have an official company?

Yes, you can invoice yourself even if you don’t have an official company structure like an LLC or corporation, especially if you’re working as a freelancer or self-employed individual. In such cases, you are essentially your own business entity, and you can create invoices for your services or products to keep track of your earnings and expenses. Invoicing yourself can help you maintain organized financial records, demonstrate income for tax purposes, and document transactions. While you don’t need a formal business structure to issue self-invoices, it’s very important that you make sure that your self-employment activities comply with local tax regulations and report your income accurately.

Make invoicing yourself more streamlined.

Once you’ve decided it’s appropriate to invoice yourself, it’s recommended you use an e-signature and document software application to keep track of each transaction. To simplify complex workflows, integrate with Adobe Acrobat to create, send, and sign professional-looking invoices.

Once you’ve decided it’s appropriate to invoice yourself, it’s recommended you use an invoice template PDF along with e-signature and document software application to keep track of each transaction.

Create stunning documents and easily manage invoice signatures without having to switch back and forth between multiple applications — explore what more you can do with Acrobat.