ClauseryFreelance writing invoice template
Writers bill per piece or per word, with research, rush delivery and the occasional kill fee on top. This template starts with those lines and adds them up.
Opens with the lines below already in. Add your prices; the subtotal, tax and total are calculated, and your next invoice starts with your business details and the next number.
No sign-up. Your answers stay in your browser. Who it is for: Freelance writers, copywriters, journalists and editors. · Updated
Example: a freelance writing invoice
| Description | Qty | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Article (about 1,500 words) | 2 | $450.00 | $900.00 |
| Rush delivery fee | 1 | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Research and interviews (hours) | 3 | $60.00 | $180.00 |
| Kill fee for a cancelled piece | 1 | $150.00 | $150.00 |
| Subtotal | $1,330.00 | ||
What to put on a freelance writing invoice
Every invoice needs your details, the client's, an invoice number, the date, what you charged and when payment is due (see how to write an invoice). For freelance writing work, also:
- The title or working title of each piece, with its word count and the publication or client.
- Rush fees and extra research or interview time as separate lines.
- A kill fee, if a commissioned piece was cancelled, with the original commission date.
- The editor's name or purchase order number, so accounts can match it.
Getting paid
- Invoice on acceptance of the piece, not on publication, unless your contract says otherwise.
- Publications often pay on fixed schedules; ask when their payment run is and invoice before it.
- Keep a list of what each client owes; small invoices are easy to forget on both sides.
Before the work: the paperwork
An invoice is easier to get paid when it points back to something the client signed. Use the free freelance writing contract to agree the price, scope and payment terms first, and the independent contractor agreement or the price quote when you need them.
Guide: What is a kill fee? How to set one in a freelance contract
Free tool: Freelance rate calculator, to work out what to charge.
Questions
Should I invoice on acceptance or publication?
Acceptance is better for you, since publication dates slip. Agree it in your contract and put the acceptance date on the invoice.
How do I invoice a kill fee?
As its own line naming the cancelled piece, at the percentage your contract sets. Clausery has a guide to kill fees.
Do I charge per word or per piece?
Either works; per piece is easier to invoice. If you charge per word, show the final word count.
Invoice templates for other trades
- Contractor invoice template
- Handyman invoice template
- Cleaning invoice template
- Landscaping and lawn care invoice template
- Photography invoice template
- Video production invoice template
- Graphic design invoice template
- Web design invoice template
- Consulting invoice template
- Tutoring invoice template
- Personal training invoice template
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules on what an invoice must show vary by country and trade; check yours.