Practical advice for freelancers and small businesses on invoicing, GST, payment terms, and getting paid on time.
Real hourly rates for Singapore and Malaysia by skill and experience, how to convert a salary into a rate, hourly vs fixed, and when to raise your prices.
Invoicing BasicsThe real difference between a receipt and an invoice, what each includes, when to issue which, how they work in accounting, and the Singapore and Malaysia rules.
GSTWho must issue GST invoices, the mandatory fields IRAS requires, simplified vs full tax invoices, common mistakes, and how to create one free.
Getting PaidA subject line formula, a proven email body structure, and 3 ready-to-use templates for the initial send, reminder, and final notice.
InvoicingWho issues what and when, why three-way matching holds up your payment, what to do when the buyer raises the invoice instead of you, what selling to a government changes in the US, UK and beyond, how e-invoicing mandates are reshaping the process, and why the matching step you find annoying is the thing standing between a fake invoice and your bank account, plus whose terms actually win when the PO and your invoice disagree.
InvoicingWhen a credit note is the right fix and when it is not, what it has to contain, how the tax adjustment actually works, who should be allowed to issue one, what changes for EU sellers under ViDA, how India's GST deadlines work, and why cancelling an invoice by deleting it causes more trouble than it saves.
InvoicingWhat a proforma actually commits you to, when it beats a quote, why it is not a tax invoice and cannot be claimed as one, how buyers use it for approvals, customs and prepayment, what to put on one when you are shipping a sample or a warranty replacement and no sale exists at all, and where it sits under the Singapore, Malaysia, India and EU e-invoicing and VAT rules.
TaxThe two filing triggers most people miss, whether overseas client income counts, why the No-Filing Service probably doesn't cover you, how MediSave doubles as a tax relief most sole proprietors never claim, why MediSave keeps going even after you hit the Basic Healthcare Sum, when you can pay your spouse or family through the business and what CPF that triggers, how SRS and CPF cash top-ups cut your bill and when they don't, what to do with a loss-making year and why it can cut the tax on your salary, why there is no personal tax rebate for YA 2026 even though other guides say there is, and how to fix a mistake before IRAS asks.
Payment TermsWhat net 30, net 15, and due on receipt mean, which to choose, how terms hit your cash flow, adding a late fee, and enforcing terms in Singapore.
Getting PaidWhen to follow up, email scripts that work, how to escalate professionally, and your legal options in Singapore.
ContractsWhy contracts matter, essential clauses, scope creep protection, payment terms, and dispute resolution for freelancers.
InvoicingThe eight most common invoice mistakes that delay payment, from missing information to no follow-up system, and how to fix each.
SingaporeWhat to include, your UEN, when GST applies at S$1 million, how long to keep records for IRAS, and how to get paid faster.
MalaysiaThe 8% service tax rate, the RM500,000 registration threshold, what a valid SST invoice must include, how it differs from GST, and how to file.
RegionalGST vs SST, registration thresholds, invoice requirements, currency and payment, and what changes when you work across both markets.
SEAUniversal invoice requirements plus tax rules for Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia, payment terms, and common mistakes.
TemplatesStandard, GST, freelancer, service, and contractor templates explained, plus when to issue a receipt and what to do when a client does not pay.
SingaporeWhat you must include on a Singapore invoice, how to number them correctly, setting payment terms, and following up on late payments.
FreelancingFrom sending invoices immediately to knowing when to escalate unpaid bills, these practical tips help you get paid faster and more reliably.
Getting PaidNet 30 sounds professional but it means waiting a month to get paid. Here's what payment terms mean and which ones actually work for freelancers.
Invoicing BasicsEvery field that belongs on a professional invoice, why it matters, and what to put in it so clients have no reason to delay payment.
FreelancingBusiness registration, what to include, GST rules, PayNow for faster payment, the right payment terms, and what to do when clients don't pay.
QuotesA clear quotation wins the job and prevents scope disputes. What to include, how to set validity, whether it is binding, and how to convert to an invoice.