Cabinet Makers: How to Invoice for Custom Work and Get Paid What It's Worth
You spent weeks designing, building, and installing a custom kitchen. The client walked through and loved every detail. Then came the invoice conversation — and somehow you still walked away feeling underpaid.
Custom woodwork is one of the hardest trades to price and invoice for — because the value is often invisible to the client. They see the finished product, not the design time, the material selection, the shop work, and the hours of hand-fitting. A professional invoice makes all of that visible.
Always collect a substantial deposit
Custom cabinet work is material-intensive. You're buying sheet goods, hardware, and finishing products before you've received a dime. A 40–50% deposit on order is not just fair — it's standard practice for any custom fabrication. Make it a non-negotiable part of your process.
What to itemize on a cabinet invoice
Most cabinet makers under-invoice by only billing for the obvious items. A complete invoice includes:
Invoice at every milestone
Deposit invoice on contract signing
40–50% to cover materials and shop time before fabrication starts.
Progress invoice at delivery
Another 40% when you deliver and begin installation. Client can see the work is real.
Final invoice at punch list completion
The remaining balance after final adjustments and sign-off.
Send online, collect by card
Text or email the invoice link. Client pays immediately — no waiting for a check in the mail.
You built something that will last decades. Get paid accordingly.