What is a proforma invoice?
A proforma invoice is part of the sales documents stack every UAE founder, freelancer and SME relies on. It captures the key commercial or legal information for a transaction in a clean, professional format that your client, supplier or regulator can act on. FoundersNeed's Proforma Invoice Maker produces a print-ready PDF you can email or WhatsApp in under a minute.
When you need a proforma invoice
Use a proforma invoice whenever you send a transaction that needs to be documented for your records, your client's records, or for compliance. Typical UAE use cases include serving SMEs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah free zones, supporting bank reconciliations, and meeting Federal Tax Authority (FTA) and immigration documentation requirements where applicable.
Required fields for a UAE proforma invoice
A compliant proforma invoice should include the issuing company name and address, the recipient details, a unique reference number, the issue date, all line items or clauses with clear descriptions, the AED amounts where money is involved, and a signature block. If VAT applies, add the 15-digit TRN and a clear 5% VAT line so the document satisfies FTA tax-invoice rules.
How to send a proforma invoice with FoundersNeed
Open the Proforma Invoice Maker, fill in the form fields on the left and watch a live preview render on the right. Add your logo, TRN and bank details once — FoundersNeed remembers them for the next document. Download the finished document as a branded PDF, print it, or share it directly via WhatsApp and email. The first 100 documents every month are free.
Proforma Invoice best practices
Keep your numbering sequential, use clear plain-English descriptions, and reference related documents (the matching invoice, quotation or contract) so your client can trace the paper trail. Save every document as a PDF in a single folder; if you upgrade to Pro, FoundersNeed stores the full history in your dashboard for instant search.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the FoundersNeed Proforma Invoice Maker really free?
- Yes — the first 100 documents every 30 days are free for every user, no signup required. Upgrade to Pro (79 AED/month) if you send more than 100 documents per month or want saved history.
- Do I need a TRN to use the Proforma Invoice Maker?
- No. A TRN (15-digit FTA tax number) is only required if your business is VAT-registered. If you do have one, add it to your saved company profile and FoundersNeed will print it on every document automatically.
- Does the Proforma Invoice Maker support 5% VAT?
- Yes. Switch between VAT exclusive, inclusive, zero-rated and exempt modes. The total breaks out the 5% VAT line so the document satisfies FTA tax-invoice rules.
- Can I add my company logo?
- Yes. Upload your logo once on the Proforma Invoice Maker and FoundersNeed embeds it at the top of every PDF you download. Pro users can save it permanently in their reusable business profile.