How to make a GST bill for a small shop in India

Cash memo vs GST invoice

A cash memo is a simple receipt for a sale — shop name, items, amounts and total. A GST tax invoice is a cash memo plus the tax details a GST-registered business must show. If you are registered under GST, you generally issue a tax invoice; if you are not registered, a plain cash memo (bill of supply) is what you give.

What a GST invoice should contain

• Your shop name, address and GSTIN.
• Invoice number and date.
• Customer name (and their GSTIN for a business-to-business sale).
• Each item with quantity, rate and taxable value.
• The GST rate and amount (split into CGST/SGST for a sale within your state).
• The final total, in figures.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Skipping the invoice number, or reusing the same one — each invoice should have its own number in a series.
• Forgetting the HSN code for the goods when it is required for your turnover.
• Charging IGST for a sale inside your own state instead of CGST + SGST.
• Rounding in a way that makes the tax and total not add up.

Make one in seconds

You don't need a computer or an accountant to produce a clean bill. Use our free Cash Memo / GST Bill Maker: type in your shop name and items, choose the GST rate, and print it or save it as a PDF to share on WhatsApp. It's free and needs no signup.