Business Tips
Electrician vs. Plumber vs. HVAC Pay in 2026: What the Latest BLS Data Shows
BLS data puts electrician, plumber and HVAC median pay within about $3,000. Owner-operators need more than a wage to set a billable rate.
Avery Collins
Blog
Author
Avery Collins
Editor, PineBill Guides
Avery writes PineBill's guides for small business owners and freelancers: invoicing and getting paid, estimates and pricing, taxes, cash flow and running the business day to day. Every article is built from primary sources such as the IRS, the SBA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with the sources listed at the end, and is reviewed by the PineBill team before it is published.
Articles
32 articles
Guides
How to Create an Invoice: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Learn how to create an invoice in 2026: the 10 elements every invoice needs, a step-by-step walkthrough, and a free invoice generator to make one in minutes.
Avery Collins
Guides
How to Track Time Efficiently: Stop Losing Freelance Revenue
Learn how freelancers lose up to 15% of billable revenue to time leakage and the exact systems to capture every minute for higher profitability.
Avery Collins
Guides
Recurring Invoices: The Complete Guide to Automating Your Billing in 2026
Learn what recurring invoices are, how they save time, and best practices for automating your billing. Step-by-step guide for freelancers and small businesses.
Avery Collins
Guides
How to Invoice as a Freelancer for Faster Payments
Master freelance invoicing to get paid 3x faster. Learn essential invoice components, automated workflows, and see how PineBill makes professional billing effortless.
Avery Collins
Guides
How to Quote Welding Jobs: A Guide to Profitable Pricing
Learn how to quote welding jobs competitively. Master labor rates, material markups, and overhead calculations to protect your welding business margins.
Avery Collins
Business Tips
Best Tech Stack for Solo Entrepreneurs in 2026: A Guide
Discover the 2026 solopreneur software stack to optimize operations. Learn about tools for automation, PM, and invoicing to grow your business.
Avery Collins
Guides
Invoicing Jargon Buster: Terms Every Freelancer Should Know
Master 25+ essential invoicing terms from Net 30 to invoice factoring. Learn payment terms, invoice types, AR/AP basics, and purchase orders to get paid faster.
Avery Collins
Guides
Calculate Retained Earnings: Formula and Business Guide
Learn the retained earnings formula to track business growth. Includes step-by-step calculation examples, comparison tables, and FAQ for business owners.
Avery Collins
Guides
Voucher vs. Invoice: Key Differences for Business Accounting
Learn the essential differences between vouchers and invoices. Understand internal payment authorization versus external billing to protect your cash flow.
Avery Collins
Guides
What Is an Itemized Receipt? Accurate Expense Tracking Guide
Learn the essential elements of itemized receipts, IRS compliance thresholds, and how detailed documentation prevents audits and protects your bottom line.
Avery Collins
Guides
How to Calculate Gross Profit: Formula and Examples
Learn the gross profit formula to evaluate your business's health. Includes industry benchmarks, COGS breakdowns, and optimization strategies for higher margins.
Avery Collins
Guides
Accounts Payable vs Accounts Receivable: Tracking Cash Flow
Understand the difference between accounts payable and accounts receivable. Learn how managing $5,000 invoices impacts your assets and long-term liquidity.
Avery Collins
Guides
Open Invoice Management: Definitions and Cash Flow Strategy
Understand what an open invoice is, how it affects your balance sheet, and strategies to close outstanding payments faster to protect your business cash flow.
Avery Collins
Business Tips
What Is Blue Collar? Definition, Salaries, and Trends
Learn what blue collar means in 2025. Explore job examples, salary data, and why skilled trades are seeing a massive resurgence in the modern economy.
Avery Collins
Guides
What Is a Remittance Address?
Learn what a remittance address is, its role in invoicing, differences from mailing addresses.
Avery Collins
Guides
What Does a General Contractor Do? 8 Key Duties
General contractors coordinate trades, permits, and $150k budgets to finish projects on time. Discover their 8 responsibilities, GC vs subcontractor table, daily duties, and invoicing checklist that c
Avery Collins
Guides
How Many Working Hours in a Year? 2025 Guide
Discover how many working hours are in 2025: 2088 gross, ~2000 after holidays, 1200-1600 billable for freelancers.
Avery Collins
Guides
How to Calculate Cost of Goods Sold (COGS): Complete Guide
Learn how to calculate COGS with step-by-step formulas, real examples, and expert tips. Master inventory valuation methods and reduce your tax liability.
Avery Collins
Guides
How to Write a Payment Receipt: Components, Timing, and Tax Rules
Learn how to write a professional payment receipt. Discover the 12 essential elements, the difference between invoices and receipts, and IRS retention rules.
Avery Collins
Guides
What Is a Billing Address? Essential Guide for Invoicing
Discover what a billing address is, how it differs from shipping address, its role in invoices, and best practices to ensure smooth payments and compliance.
Avery Collins
Invoicing
Invoice Payment Term Templates: 8 Useful Examples
Copy-ready invoice payment terms templates for Net 15, Net 30, Net 60, and more. Includes late fee clauses, early payment discounts.
Avery Collins
Guides
How to Estimate Shipping Costs for Small Business Invoices
Master estimating shipping costs for invoices. Learn factors, calculation methods, carrier rates, and tips to avoid over/undercharging.
Avery Collins
Guides
What Is Ledger Balance? Definition & Calculation
Ledger balance is your bank's official end-of-day total from cleared transactions only.
Avery Collins
Guides
How to Calculate Time and a Half: Overtime Pay Guide
Learn how to calculate time and a half for overtime pay with step-by-step instructions, real examples, FLSA rules, and tips.
Avery Collins
Guides
Best Practices for Freelancer Invoicing in 2025
Freelancer invoicing best practices for 2025, from automation trends and payment terms to legal compliance and common mistakes to avoid for better cash flow.
Avery Collins
Guides
What Is a PO Number? Complete Guide for Invoicing and Procurement
Discover what a PO number is, why it's essential for businesses, how to generate one, and best practices for using it on invoices to streamline payments.
Avery Collins
Guides
Quote vs. Invoice: What’s the Difference and When to Use Each
Understand the key differences between quotes and invoices for small businesses. Learn their purposes, timing, legal aspects, and best practices to streamline your billing process.
Avery Collins
Guides
Best Practices for Cleaning Service Invoicing in 2025
Best practices for cleaning service invoicing in 2025. Learn automation tips, legal essentials, and tools to ensure timely payments and efficient cash flow.
Avery Collins
Guides
Invoice vs Quotation: Key Differences Explained
Understand the critical differences between invoices and quotations, when to use each document, and how they work together in your business workflow.
Avery Collins
Guides
Proforma Invoice vs Invoice: Complete Guide
Learn the key differences between proforma invoices and commercial invoices, how they impact your business transactions and international trade.
Avery Collins
Guides
Year to Date (YTD): Meaning, Formula & Calculation Guide
Learn how to calculate Year to Date (YTD) for revenue and payroll. Use our formula to track business growth and compare performance against industry benchmarks.
Avery Collins