Home topics news Credit: Joao Viegas News SME News Should you send $0 invoice? yep, it’s a thing and it’s brilliant Yajush Gupta November 26, 2024 As a business owner, you’ve probably faced the scenario of an overly enthusiastic client asking for a little extra—perhaps a tweak or fix that wasn’t part of the original deal. You’ve done the work, and while it’s not expensive, it’s time you can’t get back. What do you do? Alec Drew, co-founder of the Virtual Business Owners Network and business expert, recently shared a story from the All Ireland Business Summit that highlighted this exact dilemma. After completing a major project for a happy client, Drew’s client continued to ask for small fixes, none of which had been outlined in the contract. Rather than quietly absorbing the cost or outright refusing, Drew had a savvy approach: the zero-dollar invoice . The magic behind a zero-dollar invoice? It’s not about charging the client; it’s about documenting and showcasing the value of the extra work. Drew would detail the full cost of the extra work—materials, time, etc.—and then add a “Less special discount” line, effectively reducing the cost to $0. This transparent strategy allowed the client to see the true cost of the “free” work, making them less likely to ask for more, while giving Drew a documented record of the added effort for future reference. What Is a Zero Dollar Invoice? A zero-dollar invoice is exactly what it sounds like: an invoice with a total