What is a Freelance Invoice Template?

A freelance invoice template is a document that lists the services performed by freelancers for their clients, along with the corresponding fees. Using an invoice template helps keep invoicing processes uniform and organized so that freelancers can spend their time on more important things.

Why do I need a Freelance Invoice Template?

Freelancers often rely on vague or nonexistent invoices to handle client billing. This leads to challenges in setting rates, tracking money owed, and, most importantly, maintaining a positive relationship with clients.

As a freelancer, you know that communication is the key to keeping your business thriving and that communication must include proper billing. A template allows you to streamline invoicing processes for your business while keeping communication open with your clients.

How to Create a Freelance Invoice Template in Microsoft Word

1. Go to "File."

2. Click on "New" and then on "Blank document."

3. Select the font, font color, and font size for your invoice. You can also add an identifier such as your name or business name.

4. Highlight the area that will be used for your invoice number, and then click on "insert."

5. Enter a number unique to this invoice - not necessarily sequential - and press "Enter." It will automatically update itself after being saved.

6. Select the font, font color, and font size for the invoice header.

7. Type in your address, logo, and contact information for the invoice header.

8. Highlight the area that will contain the description of services or work performed - this is usually just below the header on most invoices - and then click on "insert."

9. Enter a short description of what you or your company did for the client. You can include specifics or use general terms, whichever works best for you.

10. Indicate the date of completion by highlighting the area below the description and typing in "Completed on:"

11. Highlight the area where you would like to indicate your rates, and type in "Rate: $________."

12. To incorporate your standard pay schedule, highlight the area below where you indicated your rates and type in "Payment Schedule:"

13. Highlight the area below your payment schedule and enter how much is due upon completion of the work or project, what is due at 15 days past the date of completion, and what is due at 30 days past the completion date. You can also indicate what you will charge if the client goes past 60 or 90 days in making payments.

14. Highlight the area below your payment schedule and enter in contact information for whom to make checks payable, along with their address, phone number, email address, website, etc.

15. Save your template so that you can use it in the future.

How to Customize Invoice Templates with Logos, Fonts, and Colors

Most invoice templates are set up in a standard way. This allows clients to quickly identify what they're looking at without much explanation from the freelancer who created the invoice.

1. Find a suitable logo or icon to add to your invoice template for identification purposes.

2. Select a font, font color, and font size for the invoice title(s) and your company's contact information (name, address, phone number, email address). You can also incorporate your company's colors into the text and background of your template. Find a font that has a similar feel to how you want your company's name and other information to be perceived by clients.

3. Consider what colors best represent your business or brand, and then incorporate those into the template along with fonts that have a similar look and feel.

4. Highlight areas where you would like to insert images of your work or other graphics that best represent your business or brand.

5. Indicate where you would like to include specific services you offer along with rates for those services.

6. Highlight areas where you would like to indicate milestones in the project timeline and payment schedule as necessary.

7. Save your template so that you can reuse it in the future.

How to Design an Efficient and Easy-to-Read Invoice Template

1. Make sure all of your contact information is grouped on the invoice, including company name, address, phone number, email address, website URL if available. You can include more than one way for clients to contact you, depending on your preference.

2. Make sure all relevant information is grouped to be quickly read and identified by the client. For example, highlight the area where you would like to indicate your rates or milestone dates in order to draw attention to them without having to search for them amidst a sea of text.

3. Group items to be billed together so that it is clear what the client will be charged for without reading too much information. For example, if you have a section of services and another section of products or other materials provided, group these sections together to help keep your invoice concise and efficient.

4. Include a summary of what the client will be receiving and how much they'll be charged on the second page of your invoice if it helps to break up sections or further highlight important information.

5. Include a separate section for terms and conditions that the client will need to agree to before you can begin working on their project. This allows clients to read over terms and helps protect your business from any disputes that might arise from work being done down the road.

What Types of Invoice Templates are There?

Freelance invoices can vary based on whom you're billing, how much is owed, and what type of work or project was given to you by a client. For example, service-based freelancers can use invoice templates to bill clients for their time and design skills, whereas product-based freelancers will have a separate template for each type of good or service they sell.

Here are some examples of different types of freelance invoices:

Service-based invoices: Invoice templates for service(-based) freelancers include a variety of items to bill for, such as time spent on a project and the specific skills used to complete it. In addition, some freelance invoice templates may break down rates per hour or minute.

Product-based invoices: Invoice templates for product(-based) freelancers include a variety of items to bill for, such as the number and type of products and services provided and their cost.

Full-service invoices: Full-service invoices combine elements of both service and product invoices into one invoice that includes identifying the specific skills used to complete the project, the number and type of products and services provided, and the cost of each.

How Should I Customize My Invoice Template?

A freelance invoice template can be customized to include your business brandings such as colors, logos, fonts specific to your brand, and more. This helps clients easily recognize that you're sending them an invoice from your business.

You can also add your business website URL to let clients view more information about your business and/or add a note that they'll receive a separate email with the items you're billing for. Make sure when customizing your invoice template that it maintains its professional look and feel.

How Can I Find Invoice Templates for Free or Cheap?

When searching for a free or cheap invoice template, it can be helpful to search by keywords specific to your business. For example, if you're a graphic designer, some of the things you might want to keep in mind are that you would like an easily customizable template with your logo and colors or one that includes specific billing terms like hourly rates.

In addition, when starting a business, it can be tough to find time to create a freelance invoice template from scratch. In this case, you might consider purchasing an inexpensive or even free invoice template that's based on your specific needs and easy to modify so that you have the flexibility of creating your invoice without wasting too much time.

As technology continues to advance, invoice templates can easily be found online or even included with your word processing program (like Microsoft Word). If you're unable to find an invoice template that meets all your business needs, it may be time to consider creating one yourself using the tips above.

One of the best ways to make sure your freelance invoice stands out is to include all the information a client needs to know before paying. If you're freelancing as a graphic designer or web developer, this might include including your hourly rate and the number of hours worked on a project, and any expenses incurred during those hours.

In addition, if there are specific billing terms clients need to follow, you can include those on your freelance invoice as well. For example, some clients may only pay for work after it's finished and they've received an invoice, while others are required to make monthly payments.

Finally, remember always to include a reference for the project you're billing for so clients know exactly what it is they're paying for. You can do this by including a description or even a client-facing project name on your invoice.

Why Is It Important to Have a Freelance Invoice Template?

Having a freelance invoice template is essential for any business, no matter how big or small. A professional-looking and easy-to-read invoice will ensure clients pay on time and follow the billing terms you've set.

In addition, a freelancer invoice template can easily be customized for your business to include information specific to what you're billing for. This makes it easy for clients to understand exactly why they're being billed and how much they owe. Not only is this good for your business, but it saves time and can help you explain what you're billing for in fewer words.

What if I'm a Freelancer and Don't Have an Invoice Template Yet?

If you're a freelancer that isn't currently using any type of template, then it's time to start creating one! The main idea behind having a freelance invoice is to make sure you and your client understand what's being billed.

Creating a freelance invoice template is easy to do if you have an organizational system to track projects and billing hours. It can be as simple as creating a spreadsheet with the project name, hours worked, and hourly rate or keeping track of all invoices issued on a spreadsheet.

Once you have your spreadsheet or invoice records in place, it's time to make a template. Some freelancers may choose to design their invoice from scratch, while others may prefer using an existing freelance invoice template they already have. For example, if you use Microsoft Word for all your business documents, it can be easy to create individualized design templates for each invoice.

Where Can I Find Freelance Invoice Templates?

There are several places you can find freelance invoice templates online for free or at very inexpensive rates. For example, Microsoft Word has built-in templates on the template gallery that can be customized to fit your business needs. Many of these invoices can be opened using the free version of Microsoft Office, so it's easy to make changes as needed.

Additionally, you'll find many freelance invoice templates on websites like Etsy or Creative Market, where designers create their own unique designs for purchase. If you're looking for a simple template with just the right amount of space to include all necessary information, these can be a great place to start your search.

Tips for Designing an Invoice Template That Will Impress Your Clients

When creating a freelance invoice template, you want to make sure it looks professional enough that clients don't question the legitimacy of the invoice. The best way to do this is to keep your design simple, including just enough information to let the client know what they're paying for.

In addition, you can include a logo or picture of your business on the invoice, as well as any color schemes that fit your brand. This makes it easy for clients to spot an invoice from you even if several invoices are lying around.

One final tip is to include any contact information for both your business and yourself on the invoice. If you're billing an hourly rate, it can be helpful to indicate how much time has been billed; this will ensure that clients aren't hit with surprise fees later.