You can create a free invoice online in Canada by starting with a document or spreadsheet template, or with the free plan of an invoicing app such as Wave, Zoho Invoice or Square. Add your business and customer details, calculate the correct tax, and send a copy to your customer. Google Docs and Sheets provide template tools; a blank document or sheet works if a suitable invoice template is not available. Google also lists a free personal plan for Docs and Sheets; plan features and access can change.
Make an invoice step by step
- Open a document or spreadsheet and select a template or blank file. Give it a recognizable invoice number and date for your own records.
- Add the supplier’s legal or trading name and contact details, the customer’s name, a description of the goods or work, price and payment terms.
- Determine whether GST/HST and any provincial tax apply. Add the rate and amount, or use a compliant tax-included presentation. If registered, include the GST/HST account number.
- Check the total, export or share a copy, and keep the finished invoice and related records.
For an ordinary $200 taxable Ontario service, 13% HST is $26 and the total is $226. A seller’s location alone does not determine the rate for every transaction.
Ways to create a free invoice online in Canada
Beyond a document or spreadsheet template, these invoicing apps also offer a free way to create and send an invoice:
- Wave — its Starter plan is listed at $0, as observed on Wave’s pricing page October 20, 2026. Wave: pricing.
- Zoho Invoice — Zoho describes its Invoice product as free. Zoho: Invoice pricing.
- Square Invoices — Square lists a free invoicing plan. Square: Invoices pricing.
A no-subscription plan does not mean online payment processing is free, and features or limits can change, so check the current terms before relying on one. For a fuller side-by-side comparison of these and other tools, including tax and recurring-invoice features, see how Canadian invoicing software compares; to pick one quickly, see choosing an invoicing tool that adds HST for you.
What information does a Canadian invoice need?
Federal input tax credit (ITC) rules require progressively more supplier and tax information as the amount paid or payable, including tax, passes $100 and $500 (ITC Information Regulations, section 3; see also CRA’s ITC documentation). Quebec’s QST rules add their own requirement, including a description of the property or service, even below $100 (Revenu Québec’s invoice guidance). See the full field-by-field invoice requirements for what to show at each threshold.
Do I need to charge GST/HST?
An unregistered small supplier generally does not charge GST/HST; a voluntarily registered small supplier charges GST/HST on its taxable supplies. Taxi and commercial rideshare operators must register regardless of the ordinary threshold. Consult CRA’s registration rules and the full requirements by invoice amount rather than relying on a template to make that decision.
Does a template guarantee compliance?
No. A template is a starting point. Check the applicable tax, customer details and records for your own transaction. A PDF is a convenient copy, not a guarantee that its contents cannot be edited or that a buyer qualifies for an ITC.
Related guides
Sources
Official guidance checked October 17, 2026. Vendor pricing for Wave, Zoho Invoice and Square was checked October 20, 2026; features and prices can change.