Quick answer
A cabinet maker’s invoice should read like the job: design/measure, materials, fabrication, and installation as separate lines, with the deposit already paid shown as a credit against the total. Custom joinery is exactly the kind of work where a vague one-line invoice causes payment delays.
Free cabinet maker tax invoice template (copy/paste)
TAX INVOICE (if GST-registered) From: Business name: [Your Joinery Business Name] ABN: [Your ABN] Phone: [Phone] Email: [Email] Bill To: Client: [Client Name or Builder + ABN if $1,000+] Site address: [Job Address] Invoice details: Invoice number: [INV-0001] Invoice date: [DD/MM/YYYY] Due date: [DD/MM/YYYY] Job: - [e.g., Kitchen cabinetry - supply, fabricate, install] Line items: - [Design + site measure] $[amount] - [Materials: board, hardware, benchtop] $[amount] - [Fabrication] $[amount] - [Installation] $[amount] - [Variation: as approved DD/MM] $[amount] Subtotal (ex GST): $[amount] GST (10%): $[amount] (only if GST-registered) Total: $[amount] Less deposit paid [DD/MM]: -$[amount] Balance payable: $[amount] Payment terms: - Balance due in [7/14] days - Bank transfer: [BSB / Account] - Reference: Invoice number
Deposits on custom work: invoice them properly
Fifty percent up front is standard for custom joinery - the board is cut for one kitchen and one kitchen only. Issue the deposit as its own numbered invoice when the quote is accepted, then show it as a credit line on the final invoice so the balance owing is unarguable. The full pattern is in how to invoice for a deposit.
Working for builders vs homeowners
Builders will reconcile your invoice against the purchase order, so quote the PO or contract reference and keep materials, fabrication, and installation split. Homeowners care most about the total matching the quote - reference the quote number and put any changes on a separate variation line with its approval date, the same discipline that keeps builder invoices out of disputes.
ATO-ready basics
- Business name + ABN
- Invoice number + invoice date
- Site address and quote/PO reference
- Materials, fabrication, and installation as separate lines
- Deposit shown as a credit, balance clearly stated
- Total payable (+ GST if registered), client name or ABN if $1,000+
Note: General information only, not tax advice.
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Frequently asked questions
What should a cabinet maker invoice include?
Business name and ABN, invoice number and date, site address, materials/fabrication/installation as separate lines, any deposit as a credit, GST if registered, and the balance payable.
How much deposit should I take?
50% on quote acceptance is standard for custom joinery. Invoice it separately and credit it on the final invoice.
Should materials and labour be split?
Yes - materials, fabrication, and installation at minimum. Builders and commercial clients expect it.
Do cabinet makers charge GST?
Registration is compulsory at $75,000 turnover in a 12-month period, which covers most full-time joinery businesses. Show 10% GST as its own line.
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