Create Your Freelance Invoice

A freelance invoice is a billing document sent by a freelancer or independent contractor to a client requesting payment for completed work. It includes the freelancer's business details, the client's information, an itemized list of services rendered with quantities and rates, and payment terms. Unlike employee pay stubs, freelance invoices are created and sent by the worker themselves and are essential for tracking income, filing taxes, and maintaining professional client relationships.

This invoice supports five billing methods: Hourly (bill by the hour with decimal support), Per-Project (flat fee per deliverable), Per-Word (standard for writers and translators), Per-Image (for photographers and illustrators), and Retainer (monthly fee for ongoing engagements). The billing method you select changes the column labels on the invoice — for example, "Hours" and "Hourly Rate" for hourly billing, or "Words" and "Rate per Word" for per-word billing.

Several states have enacted Freelance Worker Protection Acts that establish minimum standards for freelance payments. New York's Freelance Isn't Free Act (NYC Admin Code §20-928; NY Labor Law §191-d) requires written contracts for work over $800 and payment within 30 days, with double damages for violations. California's law (CA Labor Code §2810) mandates written contracts for work over $250 and payment within 30 days. Illinois's law (820 ILCS 252) covers contracts over $500 and requires payment within 60 days, with treble damages available. This invoice automatically adds the applicable notice for these states.

Yes. The Deposit Paid field lets you enter any advance payment the client has already made — this amount is automatically deducted from the total, showing the remaining balance due. The Expense Reimbursement toggle opens a separate table where you can itemize reimbursable expenses like software subscriptions, stock photos, travel costs, and printing fees. Both appear clearly on the PDF so the client understands the full breakdown.

In most states, no. Most professional services provided by freelancers — writing, consulting, design, development, marketing, translation — are not subject to sales tax. However, four states tax nearly all services by default: Hawaii (4% General Excise Tax), New Mexico (5.125% Gross Receipts Tax), South Dakota (4.5%), and West Virginia (6%). Some other states tax specific categories like computer services (Connecticut, Pennsylvania) or digital products (New York, Washington). If sales tax applies, enter the percentage in the Tax % field and the amount is calculated automatically. If you are unsure, consult a tax professional.