Someone recently emailed to ask how I billed people. I remember in the early days of my business, I had the same question. I’d never owned a business before and had no idea how to create an invoice.
And then came that fateful day when someone said they would pay me as soon as they had the bill.
“What bill?” was my first thought. And I scrambled to look for sample service invoices on the internet.
I don’t remember where I came up with this sample but I’m sure it isn’t my original creation. I’m sorry I can’t give credit to my source. It may have been one of my word processing programs.
Here’s a link to get a Word.Doc copy of the invoice I used. I’ve never had a client complain about it and can testify that it works.
Here’s what it looks like when filled out:
For invoice numbers, I developed a method. I gave each client a personal identification number, then added three digits to indicate which invoice this was. For example if ABC Construction was my customer number 43 and this was the seventh time I’d billed them, the invoice number was 043007.
Often I exported this invoice as a .pdf file and attached it to email. Alternatively I’ve sent them by mail or delivered them in person.
Keeping track of the time is another issue! I will put some information here soon about the time-tracking software I used to compute the amount I charged for hourly contracts.
Linda – I stumbled here today when looking for a sample invoice for my first-ever paying website client. Looks pretty good to me – thanks! I hope that you return with more – this is already a useful place for me to visit.
Like you, I am a stay-at-home mom, with a need for extra income. Not sure that webdesign is the best source for it, but I seem to have this client for now, so any help is very welcome.
If you do get around to posting about your time-tracking software I would be very interested – I find it difficult to decide how much of my time is fair to bill, given that I am still learning.
Thanks again
This is great – Thanks!
Hi! Ms. Jo Martin,
I happen to come across your site and it really caught my attention. For about 3 years it has been my dream to start a web design biz and I have finally gotten to the point of putting up my site but only the links that are actually working. I hope that you read this and give me some input. I have worked on two sites where I got payed for it but now I want to get more clients. Regarding the time tracking software do you have one that has worked for you or recommend.
Hopefully you get to this post and reply to me, would love to know what you have to say. A Californian
This was my first time doing a contract job and my boss asked me to submit an invoice. So, I did a frantic search on the web and came to your website. Stumbling onto your website was one of the best things that ever happened to me, you’ve got some great information to help all of us who are new to the world of freelance and your freebie invoice template saved my hide!
Great website!
This example was just what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing. BJ
thankyou very much, I have just started a consultancy business.lets see how it goes, many thanks and regards
Thanks for the invoice form. This will help immensely!
I was searching for a free service invoice as I just finished an interior design job for my husband’s office. I too am a SAHM (with a design degree) and hadn’t done this before- so thank you for sharing the invoice for free! I so appreciate that I was able to look proffesional without it costing me money or time.
Thanks a big time for the invoice.
Very nice of you to post this on the web. Came in really handy for me! Thanks a million!
Saved a life dude, just what I was looking for. I have designed countless websites throughout the Caribbean and was kinda using a verbal contract with the agreed price. This should make things alot easier after I break down the individual pricing.
Thanks a mil.
Thanks for sharing this invoice format. I m ready 2 help u anytime.
Thanks for the invoice form… found it REALLY quick with a google search. Know that your help is EXTREMELY needed 🙂
Enjoy the holidays!
Thanks for format! Very helpful!!!
Awesome, thanks! Totally used this to bill a client (my first in a long time).
thanks a lot buddy ! i was searching you provided me
i love it
Hi,
Thanks for this template. Going to invoice my first customer using this template.
🙂
Thanks for the Great Help. Format suggest by you works… for me.. Cheers to You….
great work. good presentation. i liked above all invoices style i have ever seen. I’m gonna use this for my first project invoicing. thanks a lot to the author.
Thanks a ton..
this is awesome!
Thanks a million I encountered the same issue. Clients wants a bill before he pays…This really helped.
Thanks for this template.
Thanks for sharing with us
Thanks!
This was useful information…
Excellent, saved me lots of time messing about with creating one for myself!
Thank you very much for this kind share.
This is a great invoice option. I too have a self made invoice but was looking for a better format, since the one I have been using is 10 years old and broken, having originally been created using an Excel version back in the late 90’s. I stumbled on your site and will “borrow” your ideas and incorporate into my 10-yr+ business. It’s a slow business for me, only because it is a part-time thing for me, but I enjoy it. My web pages on my own site haven’t been updated for a few years. This upcoming couple weeks, I hope to simplify it so I can market my business better. Thanks for the information. I would be interested to see what you use for time-tracking software, so if you get this message, please email me back. Happy Holidays!
Thanks much! Just finished my first two sites for clients and was told to “send me an invoice.” Wasn’t real sure about what the format should be. This is a very nicely formatted document. Appreciate it!
Thanks,
I started my computer repair business over 8 years ago ( a part time income source) and have also designed and maintained websites. I have Quickbooks etc.. but what I really got from visiting this site is the comments from other people that have adopted your website – and that is ” I am not alone “.. I can’t count the number of clients that are “waiting for an Invoice..”
Sure i can produce one ( And I WILL use your template if only to give it recognition ) but I read where so many people are saying ((tho they don’t realize it)) Sending an Invoice is the toughest part of the job.
I have so many clients who want to pay me – but I have difficulty charging people for my skills and time !!
Am alone ?? – I don’t think so !!
What’s wrong that I don’t place a value on my time and skills but readily acknowledge other peoples Invoices and pay THEM ??
Any suggestions??
Thanks
Greg S
Greg, we all deserve to be paid for the work we do. I know a lot of us like to do our work as a hobby more than as a profession, but if that means that we’re suffering financially there’s something wrong with the balance in our lives. We need to be willing to take that last step – to bill for our services. I too have failed to send out all the bills I should have, and I think it turned out that those people valued the work I’d done less! Billing is a matter of self-respect and professionalism. Now, go get that money! You deserve it!
Thank you
Great Form, Helped me too !!
THANKS
This helped lots thank you
I like this.. it will help a lot.. thank you
Thanks it helped
Thanks for your service
Many thanks for your template. Recently I went sole trader, and had to provide an invoice. Your template really helped me in making mine.
Thanks,
I was really looking for an hourly version. I cant find any.
Thank you very much! You website is very helpful.
Thanks for this, its been really helpful!
Thanks,
it really helpful
Linda
Thank you very much sharing with us.
and really appreciate ur reply to Greg…
i was needed such push
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I will be using this in my first invoice as a freelance web designer.
Hi, this was quite helpful. There are many web designers who struggle to get these things. Thanks.
Thanks a lot for this invoice template.
Thanks a million! This will now be my new invoice as Freelance Web Designer.
Just wanted to come to say thanks! I used that invoice a few times before it became cost effective to switch to this online service
-Andy
Thanks a lot for template. Its really helpful.
This information was very use full for our invoice purposes. now we are following this template for all our customers. Thanks to the author .
thanks,
Grete sample.
It is very useful for me.
thanks again for share
Thanks very helpfull.
Thank you so much ! I needed an invoice, did a search and clicked on your site. My invoice was created in less than 5 minutes. Have subscribed to your newsletter. Very impressed !
This post helped me design an Invoice for my Website design services I offer to local clients.
The invoice is simple and with lot of scope to add charges if you cross sell or up sell a client.
I used your template as a base to create my own invoice template that matches the style of my interior design business and related paperwork. Thank you for figuring out the hard part!
Thanks for template.. My invoice was created in less than 5 minutes. Have subscribed to your newsletter. Very impressed !…. Thank you so Much…
Wow, Just what i was looking for.Thanks, very helpfull