Why Freelancers Need a Reliable Invoice Template
As a freelancer, you are the entire finance department. There is no accounts receivable team chasing payments on your behalf. A professional freelance invoice does more than request payment — it establishes credibility with new clients, provides a clear record for your taxes, and reduces the back-and-forth that delays payments. Whether you are a graphic designer, web developer, copywriter, or virtual assistant, a polished invoice is non-negotiable.
Common Line Items on a Freelance Invoice
- Hourly or project-based fees - Clearly state the rate and quantity for each task or deliverable
- Revision rounds - Note included revisions and the cost of additional rounds
- Research and planning - Strategy sessions, mood boards, wireframes, or content outlines
- Source files and assets - Delivery of editable files like PSD, AI, Figma, or source code repositories
- Rush fees - Surcharges for turnaround under your standard timeline
- Platform or tool costs - Stock photos, fonts, hosting, or SaaS subscriptions purchased for the project
Freelance Invoicing Best Practices
Invoice immediately upon delivery — not "when you get around to it." The sooner you send the invoice, the sooner the approval clock starts. Include your payment terms (net-15 is common for freelancers), your preferred payment method, and a polite late-payment policy to set expectations upfront.
Track every project with a unique invoice number. A simple system like "2025-001, 2025-002" works for most freelancers and makes bookkeeping painless at tax time. If you work with the same client on multiple projects, reference the project name or brief number on each invoice to avoid confusion.
BillThemToday's free invoice generator was built with freelancers in mind. Add your logo, customize line items for any type of project, and download a PDF in under a minute. No subscriptions, no sign-up — just a clean invoice ready to send.