Fishing Charter Invoice Template (Free)
A charter invoice shows the trip rate, the deposit already paid as a credit, add-ons like extra anglers or fish cleaning, and the balance due at the dock — with the cancellation policy stated. Copy the template below, or use software that takes the deposit at booking and the balance when the trip ends.
What belongs on the invoice
- Business name, contact info, USCG license number
- Customer name and party size
- Trip date, duration, and vessel
- Line items — trip rate, extra anglers, cleaning, fuel surcharge
- Deposit paid, shown as a credit
- Balance due and payment methods
- Cancellation and weather policy
The template
[Your Business Name]
[Address] · [Phone] · [Email] USCG Lic #______
Invoice #____ Date: __________
Bill To: [Customer Name]
Trip: [half day / full day] Date: ______ Vessel: ______
Party size: ____
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Description Amount
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Charter — [half/full] day $______
Additional anglers — ___ @ $___ $______
Fish cleaning & packing $______
Licenses handled $______
Fuel surcharge $______
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Subtotal $______
Less deposit paid -$______
BALANCE DUE $______
CANCELLATION: Captain-cancelled trips reschedule or refund
in full. Customer cancellations within ___ days forfeit the
deposit. No-shows are charged the full trip.
Accepted: [card / cash / link]Price the boat, not the head
A charter is a boat rate with a party maximum, plus a per-angler charge above your base size. Price it per person instead, and a group that shows up two short has just handed their cancellation problem straight to you.
Skipping the copy-paste
Software that takes the deposit at booking, carries it onto the invoice as a credit, and collects the balance at the dock takes care of both spots where charter money tends to slip away.
Frequently asked questions
Should the deposit appear on the invoice?
Yes, as a credit line. Customers forget what they paid weeks ago, and showing the deposit against the trip total prevents the most common charter billing question there is.
What add-ons belong on a charter invoice?
Extra anglers over the base party size, fish cleaning and packing, licenses handled on their behalf, and any fuel surcharge. Every one of these is regularly provided free by captains who never put it on paper.
Where should the cancellation policy live?
On the booking confirmation, before money changes hands, and repeated on the invoice. A policy that first appears when someone cancels is not a policy.