The problem
Sometimes a job is simple. Two hours, one material, a client you've worked with for years. Building a full job record before you can invoice feels like overkill — it slows you down for work that should take five minutes to bill.
Why we built it
Not every invoice needs a job behind it. The manual builder lets you create a professional invoice quickly — client, line items, total — and send it without creating a full job record first.
How it works
- 1
From the Invoices screen, tap "New Invoice" (instead of generating from a job).
- 2
Select or add the client, then add line items manually or from your price book.
- 3
Set the due date and send. DIRT logs it in the client's record.
What changes for your business
Before
Create a job, add a client, add items — just to send a quick invoice for two hours of work.
After
Tap "New Invoice." Add client, add lines, send. Done in under a minute.
Common questions
What is the best free invoice app for iPhone?
Square Invoices has a free tier with roughly 3.3% plus $0.30 per card transaction (mid-2026 rates — processors change these). Joist also has a free tier. DIRT's Solo plan is free and includes the manual invoice builder with no card-processing fees built in — you connect payment separately if you want it. The manual builder works for quick jobs where you don't need a full job record behind the invoice.
Can I send an invoice from my phone without setting up a full job?
Yes. In DIRT, "New Invoice" from the Invoices screen builds an invoice directly without requiring a job record first. Add a client, add line items from your price book or manually, set a due date, send. It takes under a minute for a simple two-line invoice.
What invoicing apps do contractors use?
Reddit threads about this — r/Contractor and r/Construction — mention Joist, QuickBooks, and ServiceTitan most often. Solo operators lean toward simpler tools because full construction management software costs $199–799/month and has more features than a one-person crew needs. DIRT's manual invoice builder is for the contractor who needs professional invoicing without the overhead of a full platform.
How do I invoice without creating a project record first?
In DIRT, the manual invoice builder is separate from the job workflow. Open the Invoices screen, tap "New Invoice," add your client and line items, and send. The invoice logs in the client's record. No job, no bid, no setup required.
What should a contractor include on a quick invoice?
Even for small jobs: your business name, the client's name, a description of work done, the amount, and a due date. A logo helps. An invoice number helps you track it later. DIRT generates invoice numbers automatically and puts your branding on every invoice, including manual ones.
Is there a free invoicing app for self-employed contractors?
DIRT's Solo plan is free and includes invoicing — both manual and job-based. If you also want to accept card payments through the invoice, you connect Stripe separately (Stripe's rates apply). The invoicing itself has no monthly fee on the free plan.
How do I send a professional invoice fast from my iPhone?
Tap "New Invoice" in DIRT, pick the client, add a line item or two, set the due date, and send by SMS or email. The invoice the client receives is branded with your logo and business name. It includes a payment link if you have Stripe connected. From tap to sent is under two minutes.
Start free
Try it free.
Every DIRT plan includes this feature — Solo included. No credit card, no trial that expires. Set up in minutes and use it on your next job from the truck.