Ugh! It’s invoice time! That anguished cry goes up in most offices at least once a month.

Of course, you can also think of sending out invoices as the necessary step to getting paid. That makes all that folding and licking seem not so bad.

Also think of sending invoices as a golden opportunity to market your business to your best prospects —people who have already bought from you.

If your stamp is going on an envelope that only has a one or two-page invoice in it, you’ve got room for several more pages.

Add a monthly newsletter. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just a simple one-page sheet of info printed out on your computer. Tell customers about new products and services, or how to make better use of ones they already have.

George always ads a page of his favorite jokes. Customers, who know George as a jovial guy, don’t feel the sting of the bill as much when they have his latest jokes to read.

Bring customers back to buy more by adding a coupon along with the invoice. Give them a discount to step up to a higher level product or service. Most businesses feel that repeat business is where the profits are.