Freelance writer invoice template

What to list on a writer’s invoice

• Your name or business name, address and contact details, and the client’s billing details.
• The project or content batch name and the date range.
• Each piece with its title or working title, the rate and the quantity or word count.
• Editing, research or interview time as separate lines if you bill for them.
• Any rush fee you agreed, listed on its own.
• The client’s purchase order number or contact name, if they gave you one.

Use the article title or the agreed working title, so the client can match each line to a file they received. Keep one invoice per batch of work or per month, not a running list across several months. If the client assigns a project code or a department, include it near the top.

Per word, per piece and retainers

Per-word pricing is clear for long-form work, and the invoice can show the word count times the rate. Per-piece pricing suits short posts or a set package, such as four blog posts. Retainers cover a set amount of work each month, so name the month and what was delivered.

List expenses such as stock photos, paid interviews or software separately from your fee. If you offer a number of revisions as part of the price, say how many. When a client cancels or holds a piece you have already started, a kill fee line, if it is in your agreement, goes on the invoice as its own item.

Payment terms for writing work

Net 14 and Net 30 are the usual terms with business clients, and some clients pay only on the first of the month. Ask early about their process and put the due date on the invoice. A deposit on large projects is reasonable. Our guide on how to write an invoice covers the basics.