How to invoice as a freelancer

Invoicing is the part of freelancing that actually gets you paid — and it only takes a minute once you know the five pieces that matter.

1. Decide how you’re billing

Freelancers bill in three common ways: hourly (track your time and multiply by your rate), by project (a fixed fee agreed up front), or on a monthly retainer (a set amount for ongoing work). You can mix them on one invoice — list hourly work and a fixed deliverable as separate line items. Whatever you choose, agree it with the client before the work, not on the invoice.

2. Include the essentials

Every freelance invoice needs: the word “Invoice” and a unique number; your name and contact details; the client’s details; the issue date and a clear due date; itemised work with quantity and rate; the total (plus any tax); and how to pay. Miss the due date or payment details and you’re inviting a late payment.

3. Set payment terms that get you paid

Spell out when payment is due — “due on receipt,” “Net 7,” or “Net 14” are common for freelancers (shorter terms than the Net 30 big companies use). Consider asking for a deposit on larger projects; in Plainvo you can record an amount paid and the balance due updates automatically. For more on terms, see payment terms explained.

4. Make it easy to pay you

The faster a client can pay, the faster you’re paid. Put your payment details right on the invoice, or paste a PayPal/Stripe/Wise link so the PDF carries a “Pay online” button. Because you’re using your own link, you keep 100% of the fee — no platform takes a cut.

5. Send it and keep a copy

Export a clean PDF, email it the day the work is done (not weeks later), and save a copy for your taxes. Then move on — a tidy, prompt invoice is one of the quiet signals that you’re a professional worth rehiring.

Make your freelance invoice now

Free, no sign-up, unlimited — and your client data never leaves your browser. There’s a freelancer-ready template pre-filled to start from.

Open the invoice generator →

A few freelancer invoicing tips

Number sequentially (INV-0001, INV-0002…) — it keeps your bookkeeping clean and looks established.
Invoice promptly. The longer you wait, the longer you wait to get paid.
Be specific in line items. “Homepage copy — 800 words” beats “writing.”
Follow up politely if a payment is late — see the tool to duplicate the invoice as a reminder.