Restaurant Invoice Template
Restaurants invoice for catering, private events and account customers — not walk-in meals. This template itemizes menu items by headcount, adds service charge and gratuity as their own lines, applies tax correctly, and nets any deposit, so event and B2B clients can approve the bill cleanly.
Last reviewed 2026-07-08
Template preview
- From:
- The Copper Table · events@coppertable.co
- Bill to:
- Client Name · Event: Corporate lunch (40 pax)
- Invoice #:
- CT-2026-076
- Event date:
- 2026-07-04
- Due date:
- 2026-07-18 (Net 14)
| Item | Qty | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Set lunch menu (per head) | 40 | $28.00 | $1,120.00 |
| Beverage package | 40 | $9.00 | $360.00 |
| Service charge (15%) | 1 | $222.00 | $222.00 |
| Subtotal | $1,702.00 | ||
| Sales tax | $136.16 | ||
| Deposit paid | −$500.00 | ||
| Balance due | $1,338.16 | ||
How to fill in each field
Headcount pricing
Bill per-head items by guest count so catering totals are easy to verify.
Common mistake: A single lump 'catering' figure clients can't check against the headcount.
Service charge & gratuity
Show service charge/gratuity as separate labeled lines with the percentage.
Common mistake: Hiding service charge in menu prices, which event clients dispute.
Deposit
Subtract the booking deposit already paid before the balance due.
Common mistake: Forgetting the event deposit and over-billing the client.
Tax treatment
Apply sales tax per your jurisdiction; some regions tax service charge differently.
Common mistake: Applying tax inconsistently to food vs service, triggering queries.
Related templates & variants
This is the restaurant/catering variant of our invoice. Other trades use the contractor or cleaning versions; general services the freelance version; broad use is on the invoice pillar page.
Download a professional invoice template in Word, Excel, CSV or Google Docs.
A cleaning services invoice template for recurring and one-off jobs — service type, frequency, supplies and tax.
A free Excel invoice template with auto-calculating totals and tax. Download the .xlsx, or copy the table. Includes formulas and a field-by-field guide.
Recommended tools
Prefer software to a file?
Send invoices and take payments alongside your Square POS — natural fit for restaurants.
Try Square Invoices →Invoicing plus bookkeeping for food businesses managing suppliers and events.
Try QuickBooks →Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Full disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
What should a restaurant invoice include?+
Your business and the client, the event or account reference, itemized menu items by headcount, service charge and gratuity as separate lines, sales tax, any deposit paid, and the balance due with terms.
How do restaurants invoice for catering?+
Bill per-head menu items by guest count, add beverage packages and a clearly labeled service charge, apply tax, and subtract the booking deposit. Use short terms (Net 14) for event clients.
Should service charge be taxed?+
It depends on your jurisdiction — some tax mandatory service charges, some don't, and gratuities are often treated separately. Show it as its own line and follow local rules.
Sources & further reading
- Restaurant invoice template & guide (Invoicara)— invoicara.com
- Invoice management for restaurant owners (Altametrics)— altametrics.com
We review authoritative guidance when building each template. Links are for reference only.