Make invoices as a creative freelancer

Have you recently taken on freelance work and wondering how to invoice your clients? If you are based in the UK we have put together a (relatively) simple guide for you.

Whether you decide to make a nice template or a simple google doc including the following information in bold is the minimum requirement for it to be considered a legitimate legal document. The information not in bold isn’t essential, however, unless otherwise stated, recommended. There is really no limit to the amount of additional information you can add.

• The word ‘invoice’
• A unique invoice number. Start with #1 for your first invoice, #2 for your second (regardless if it is a new client), to keep things simple and sequential.

• Your name, address, and contact (telephone number/email).

• Your business name, if you have one.

• The business or name of the person you are invoicing, their address, and contact (telephone number/email).

• The date the invoice was created.

• The due date for the payment. (i.e. net 15).

• • Option to include a statement for late fees (i.e. "A 10% fee will be added if payment is late").
  • A clear breakdown of what you are charging the client for, the price per item, and the quantity (i.e. Logo design, cost per unit £X, number of units completed 1)

• The total amount payable.

• A purchase order number, if you have one.
• If you are a VAT registered business, include your VAT number and the amount of VAT that is owed.
• Bank account details for you to be paid (sort code, account number, account holder's name).
• For international transactions include a Swift/bic code, and IBAN.

Tips!

*Save and file all your invoices

**Don't be afraid to follow up on an unpaid invoice

***Save the file with your full name before your send it to your client

****There are many (mostly paid) software that you can use to help you in generating invoices like Xero

Words: Georgia Canning
Source; Sage (2020)