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This is one way to do an invoice. It’s simple to do, looks decent and it works; I know because this is the form I use to bill my writing clients.
When you invoice for your freelance writing and/or editing you want to inclue:
- The complete contact information for the person/company you’re billing
- Your complete contact information
- Enough detail so the person you’re billing recognizes what was done
- The total due and instructions on how to get the money to you.
| Invoice
To: Client name From: Your Name Date:
(add any special instructions,like make check payable to or your paypal address) Thanks so much |
Proof it, mail it, and log it in so you know when payment is due.
Invoice Tips
- Make up a blank invoice and save it. When it’s time to invoice open that file and use save as with your client’s name, then just fill it in and you’re all set. I include the date sent in the file name.
- Make a note in your calendar about when you expect to receive payment… that way, if it doesn’t come, you can take action to collect.
See also: How to Create an Invoice for Your Freelance Writing Clients
Write well and often,
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Nice, Anne. Very specific. Very sparse. I have one or three suggested tweaks for your readers:
Reader-san: I like to put my business name and logo at the top left. Sometimes I use a photo, too. I think it helps build identity with the client. The name in big letters makes it easier for them to file, too, but see below regarding larger clients, who usually file by PO Number.
Anne’s invoice is very simple and would work for most writers. However, many businesses are not expecting something that plain. For that reason, I use a downloaded msword-based sample invoice. In msword, select the Office Button (top left gizmo), then Word Options (bottom right), Resources (left, at bottom), then “Go to Microsoft Office Online.” Or use this link:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx
There, select the Templates tab (top bar), then “All template categories” (left, near top), and scroll down to Invoices (or anything else you want). There are 130 sample invoices. Go nuts, guys & gals. Download the one(s) you like.
Any unnecessary fields or information can be deleted, but be cautious. Some fields you should retain are PO Number and Invoice Number. A big company won’t pay until they can associate the invoice with an outgoing Purchase Order Number AND a Project Number, where applicable.
When in doubt, just leave unused fields blank. Some forms will do the math for you. I typically don’t take advantage of that feature, unless it’s an Excel form. I do make my invoice number tie into the date, e.g., INV09-02-29A.
‘Nuddah ting, very ‘portant: Nevah, nevah start filling out an invoice before you save the blank (or template) file with Save As, using your invoice number for the file name. Open the sucker and immediately Save As, exactly as Anne said above. If you’re worried that you might overwrite a previous invoice, give every client his own directory folder, and copy your template into each folder when you start the job. Open, insert the client data, then close. Setting the template files to Read Only is another option, though I’ve not done that, yet. That can be the subject of another post.
jorgekafkazar´s last blog ..Tenirax, Ch V
I actually do have “letterhead” I designed in color – no pix of me – that’s on various websites. But bare bones will work. And yes, save under a new file name before you fill it out for sure!
I use zoho application to make invoices, Its a very good application and it automates most of the part
career counselling´s last blog ..Business Strategy Consultant Job at Client of Quadrangle
Is that http://www.zoho.com/invoice/index.html? How much does it cost?