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Freelance Invoice Template
Writers, designers and developers mostly bill by the project or milestone, and the invoice is often what releases the final files. This freelance invoice template fills in and downloads as a PDF without an account.
Free, no signup. Reviewed by M. Humza.
Columbus, OH 43201
alex@example.com
(614) 555-0106
| Invoice no. | INV-1042 |
| Invoice date | 09/28/2026 |
| Terms | Net 15 |
| Due date | 10/13/2026 |
Columbus, OH 43215
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website copywriting: 5 pages | 1 job | $1,500.00 | $1,500.00 |
| SEO product descriptions | 20 ea | $35.00 | $700.00 |
| Extra revisions beyond two included rounds | 2 hr | $60.00 | $120.00 |
Pay by bank transfer or check. Please reference the invoice number.
Thank you for working with me. Final files are delivered on receipt of payment.
| Subtotal | $2,320.00 |
| Total | $2,320.00 |
| Balance due | $2,320.00 |
Sample data. Names are invented and prices are placeholders to show the layout, not market rates.
Project, milestone or hourly
Freelancers usually bill per project, per milestone or by the hour. For larger projects a deposit up front and the balance on delivery protects both sides; enter the deposit as a payment received and the invoice shows what is still due.
Before paying someone new, most companies ask for Form W-9 so they have your taxpayer ID. If one client's payments to you for services reach $2,000 in a year, expect a Form 1099-NEC from them early the next year; card and app payments are reported by the processor on Form 1099-K.
What clients need before they can pay you
- Project and deliverables. What you handed over, one line per deliverable or milestone.
- Hours and rate. For hourly work, with dates or a task note.
- Revisions. Rounds beyond the number agreed, billed on their own line.
- Client purchase order. Many companies cannot pay an invoice without it.
- How to pay you. Bank transfer, check or a payment link.
Invoicing a finished project
- Name the project and each deliverable. "Website copywriting: 5 pages" says more than "Writing services".
- Bill extra revisions. Rounds past the agreed number, at your hourly rate.
- Enter the PO number. If the client gave you one, in the notes.
- Take off the deposit. Record it under Payments received, so the balance due is right.
- Send it with the delivery. Many freelancers invoice the day files go out and release final files on payment, as the sample's note says.
Freelance invoice example
A website copywriting project with two extra revision hours, as the generator totals it.
| Line | Quantity and rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Website copywriting: 5 pages | 1 job at $1,500.00 | $1,500.00 |
| SEO product descriptions | 20 each at $35.00 | $700.00 |
| Extra revisions beyond two included rounds | 2 hr at $60.00 | $120.00 |
| Subtotal | $2,320.00 | |
| Total, net 15 | $2,320.00 | |
No sales tax applies to this copywriting sample. Writing and design delivered as a service are untaxed in most states, though not all; the FAQ covers the exceptions.
Payment terms: Net 15
Net 15 keeps a freelance project from dragging on. Some agencies and larger clients pay only on Net 30 or longer, which is worth agreeing before you start rather than discovering on the invoice.
Word and Excel versions
There is a Word and an Excel version of this freelance template too, starting from the copywriting sample.
- Freelance invoice template for Word (.docx)
- Freelance invoice template for Excel, with formulas (.xlsx)
- Blank printable invoice form (PDF)
- Fillable invoice form (PDF)
Blank copy in Google DocsBlank copy in Google Sheets
Deposits and new clients
For a new client, a priced freelance estimate template with a deposit sets expectations before work begins. Once the deposit arrives, a freelance receipt confirms it.
Sources
- Washington Department of Revenue, services newly subject to retail sales tax
- IRS, About Form W-9
- IRS Instructions for Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC