How to make a invoice in one minute
- Three sample lines are prefilled. Replace each Description with your deliverable, set Qty and Rate, and change the Unit (article, issue, hrs) to whatever you bill by.
- Fill in From with your name or trading name and Bill to with the client. Put their job or purchase order reference in Reference / PO number.
- Check Invoice number and Date. Under Terms pick Net 14 or another term and the Due date is set for you.
- Under Totals, add a Tax line if you charge sales tax, and enter any deposit already received in Amount paid so Balance due is right.
- Edit the prefilled Notes and Terms and conditions, add your Payment details, then press Download PDF.
How to invoice for freelance work
Freelancers rarely sell one kind of thing: a writer bills an article at a flat price, a newsletter by the issue and revisions by the hour. The sample lines show that mix: a blog article at 350 per article, a September newsletter issue at 220, and 1.5 hours of revisions beyond the two included rounds at 60 per hour. Fixed and hourly lines sit happily on one invoice when each states its quantity and unit.
Change the descriptions first. Name the piece of work and the agreed scope (“two revision rounds included”) so there is no argument later about extras, then set each rate; the Amount column is calculated. The default unit is hrs, but any short label works: article, issue, page, sprint.
Net 14 is the norm for freelancers rather than Net 30, because cash flow matters more to you than to a large supplier. The prefilled Notes ask for payment within 14 days; the Terms and conditions add a 1.5% monthly late charge and say the work stays your property until paid in full. Edit either sentence to match what you agreed.
For a long project, ask for a deposit of 30–50% before you start and invoice the balance on delivery. Record the deposit in Amount paid so the balance due on the final invoice is right.
Two habits keep accounts departments happy. Put the client’s purchase order or job reference in Reference / PO number whenever they gave one; it is what they match your invoice against. And number invoices in one unbroken sequence (INV-0001, INV-0002): the editor increments the number and warns if you reuse one.
What the freelance invoice template prefills
When the page opens you get three example lines with quantities, units and rates, a Notes block and a Terms and conditions block. Nothing else is assumed: From, Bill to, taxes and payment details are yours to add. Replace the sample text rather than deleting it, so each description keeps naming the deliverable and the scope. Paper size, layout and currency are under Document settings.
Your data stays on your device
Your freelance invoices, client list and rates are saved in this browser only, never on a server. The PDF is generated in your browser by a small worker; nothing is uploaded, and there is no account to create. Drafts, clients and your business profile live in your browser's local storage (IndexedDB), and one button under "Your data" deletes all of it. To verify, open your browser's developer tools, watch the Network tab while you fill in and download a document, and note that no request carries your details. Read the privacy policy and how it works for the details.
Templates, currencies and PDF output
| Templates | Classic, Modern, Minimal, Compact, Ledger, Receipt (6 layouts; accent colour and logo are yours). Prefilled invoice and receipt templates by trade open in the same editor. |
|---|---|
| Currencies | 68 ISO currencies with the right symbol and decimals, for example USD, CAD, GBP, EUR, AUD, INR and JPY. Country presets also set the tax lines and ID labels. |
| Paper sizes | A4 and US Letter; page numbers on multi-page documents |
| Numbering | Sequential per type, default prefix INV-0001, editable |
| Output | PDF download (text stays selectable), print, or a prefilled email with the PDF attached by you; file name Invoice-number-client.pdf |
Frequently asked questions
Should a freelancer bill per project or per hour?
Both work, and both fit on one invoice as long as each line says which it is. A fixed price suits a defined deliverable such as an article, because the client knows the cost up front. Hourly suits open-ended or extra work, like the revisions line in the sample.
How do I show a deposit on a freelance invoice?
Enter the amount already received in the Amount paid field under Totals. The subtotal still shows the full project value and Balance due drops to what is left. For long projects, send a deposit invoice first, then a final invoice that deducts it the same way.
What payment terms should freelancers use?
Net 14 is common for independent workers because cash flow matters more than it does for a large supplier. It means the full amount is due 14 days after the invoice date, which is what the sample notes say. Shorten to Net 7 or Due on receipt for small jobs or a new client.
Do I need to add tax to a freelance invoice?
That depends on where you are and whether you are registered for a sales tax such as GST, VAT or state sales tax. If you are, add a Tax line under Totals with the name and rate, and put your registration number in the From block. If not, leave taxes off. Confirm current rules with your tax authority.
What happens if a client pays late?
The prefilled terms state that late payments may incur a 1.5% monthly charge and that the work remains your property until paid in full. When an invoice is overdue, open it from Recent documents, download it again and resend it with a short reminder; its status stays at Sent until you press Mark as paid.
Can I reuse this invoice for the same client every month?
Yes. Once your details, lines and rates are in, choose Save as template and it appears under New from template next time. For a repeat of last month, open the old invoice and press Duplicate: you get a copy with the next number and today's date.
Related
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- Invoice generator USA: invoices with sales tax, in US dollars
Last updated 2026-09-27. Presets are starting points — confirm current rates and requirements with your tax authority. PDF engine: pdfmake (MIT); fonts: Inter and Noto Sans (SIL Open Font License).