Freelance invoice template
An invoice for freelancers and contractors billing by the hour, the day or the project, with clear payment terms and a payment receipt for when the money arrives. Describe the work in a sentence and the AI lays out the line items and totals.
Templates
- Invoice (document): A simple invoice for freelancers and small businesses with bill-to details, numbered line items, subtotal, tax, total due and payment terms.
- Receipt (document): A payment receipt for small businesses, landlords and freelancers that records who paid, what for, how much, the payment method and the balance remaining.
How to use these templates
- Open the invoice and add your name or business name, contact details and the client's billing details.
- Tell the AI what you did, for example "18 hours of copywriting at £45 an hour, plus a £100 rush fee", and the project or PO number.
- Set the terms you agreed: due on receipt, 14 days or 30 days, and how to pay you.
- Download as PDF, email it to the person who handles payment, and send the receipt once you are paid.
Getting paid faster as a freelancer
- Agree the payment terms in writing before you start, then repeat them on every invoice. An invoice is a poor place to introduce a late fee for the first time.
- Send the invoice the day the work is delivered, or on a fixed date each month for retainers. Late invoices get paid late.
- Break hourly work into dated lines or attach a timesheet. Clients query a single "40 hours" line far more often than a list of tasks.
- Ask the client who approves invoices and whether they need a purchase order number on it. A missing PO is the most common reason payment stalls in a large company.
- Only add tax you are registered for. In the UK you only charge VAT once registered, which is required when taxable turnover passes £90,000. In India, service providers generally need GST registration above ₹20 lakh a year.
Frequently asked questions
What payment terms should a freelancer use?
Fourteen days is common for individual clients and small businesses. Larger companies often insist on 30 or more. For new clients or big projects, ask for a deposit up front.
Do I need a business name to send an invoice?
No. You can invoice under your own name. Include your address and contact details so the client can identify you for their records.
What should I do if an invoice is not paid?
Send a polite reminder a day or two after the due date with the invoice attached, then follow up by phone. Keep a record of every reminder.