Guides
Invoicing guides for freelancers and small businesses.
Short, practical answers to the questions that come up when you bill clients: what goes on an invoice, how to word a reminder, what Net 30 means. Each guide has an example you can copy, and a free invoice generator when you are ready to make one.
All invoicing guides
- How to format an invoice so it gets read and paid. How to format an invoice so it is easy to read and quick to pay: the order of the elements, header and footer, columns, a visual checklist and common mistakes. Read the guide
- How to generate an invoice in three ways. How to generate an invoice: compare Word or a spreadsheet, a free online generator and an invoicing app, with step-by-step instructions for each. Read the guide
- How to make a simple invoice with just eight fields. A simple invoice needs only 8 fields. See what an invoice looks like, copy a filled-in example, and learn when a simple invoice is not enough. Read the guide
- How to raise an invoice, step by step. To raise an invoice means to create and send it to a client. Learn the steps, when to raise one, what to check first and what to do after you send it. Read the guide
- Estimate vs invoice: what is the difference? An estimate says what a job will probably cost; an invoice says what is owed. See how estimates, quotes and invoices differ and how to turn one into the next. Read the guide
- How to charge late fees on invoices. How to add a late payment fee to your invoices: choose a rate, write the clause, apply it fairly and know the limits. Includes sample wording and a calculation. Read the guide
- How to invoice as a freelancer (and 1099 contractor). How to invoice clients as a freelancer in the US: what to send, W-9 and 1099 basics, deposits, payment terms and tax habits, with an example you can copy. Read the guide
- How to send an invoice by email, with a template. How to email an invoice so it gets read and paid: the subject line, the message, the attachment, when to send it, plus an email template you can copy. Read the guide
- How to write an invoice, step by step. Write a clear invoice in 7 steps: what to put on it, how to number it, which payment terms to use, and a filled-in example you can copy for your next client. Read the guide
- Invoice numbering: formats, rules and examples. How to number invoices: sequential, date-based or client-based formats with examples, the rules to follow, and how to fix a mistake without breaking the chain. Read the guide
- Invoice vs receipt: what is the difference? An invoice asks for payment; a receipt confirms it. Learn when to send each one, what goes on them, and why both matter for your books and your taxes. Read the guide
- Payment reminder email templates: friendly to final. Four ready-to-copy payment reminder emails: friendly, due today, overdue and final notice. Learn when to send each and how to stay polite and still get paid. Read the guide
- Recurring invoices: how to bill clients on a schedule. How to set up recurring invoices for retainers, subscriptions and rent: when they make sense, the schedule, the terms to agree and how to avoid common mistakes. Read the guide
- What does Net 30 mean? Payment terms explained. Net 30 means the invoice is due 30 days after the invoice date. Learn Net 15, Net 60, 2/10 net 30 and due on receipt, and how to pick terms that get you paid. Read the guide
- What is a proforma invoice? A proforma invoice is a preliminary bill sent before delivery. See how it differs from an invoice or a quote, when to use it, and a copyable example. Read the guide
- What to include on an invoice: the complete checklist. The must-have and nice-to-have items on a professional invoice, from the invoice number to payment terms, with a checklist you can run before you hit send. Read the guide
Make your first invoice in a minute.
The free invoice generator needs no account. When you want reminders, payment links and quotes your client can sign, the Jiffy app does that too.