To raise an invoice means to create it and send it to your client, asking to be paid for work you did or goods you supplied. In the US you would say issue, send or create an invoice; "raise" is the common phrasing in the UK, Australia and India, and it means exactly the same thing.
In short: confirm the work is done, collect the details, write the invoice with a unique number and a due date, send it, and keep track until the money arrives. The examples here use dollars, but the steps are identical in pounds, euros or any other currency.
Short on time? Skip ahead: Open the free invoice generator
What "raising an invoice" means
The word comes from accounting: when you raise an invoice, you record a debt that your client now owes you. From that moment the invoice is a record in your books as well as a request for payment.
It is not a separate legal step. Raising an invoice is simply the moment you issue it. If you want to see what the document itself looks like, read how to write an invoice; this guide is about the process around it.
Before you raise it: a short preparation list
A few minutes of checking now saves a week of back and forth later.
- Is the work finished, or has the agreed milestone been reached?
- Do you have a written agreement, estimate or purchase order number to match? If the client gave a PO number, it must go on the invoice.
- Do you have the right name, billing address and email for the person who pays the bills? This is often not the person you work with.
- Have the hours, quantities and prices been checked against your notes?
- Do you know your payment terms, such as due on receipt or Net 30?
- Is there a deposit already paid that should be deducted?
The steps to raise an invoice
- Choose your tool. A free invoice generator, a spreadsheet or an invoicing app all work; the right one is the one you will actually use every time.
- Give the invoice a unique number from your sequence, such as INV-1042. See invoice numbering if you have not set up a system.
- Add your details and your client's details, and set the issue date and the due date.
- List what you are billing for, with quantity, rate and amount. Add sales tax if it applies to you; check your state's rules or ask your accountant.
- State how to pay: bank transfer, ACH or a card link, with the invoice number as the reference.
- Check the maths and the spelling of the client's name, then save the invoice as a PDF.
- Send it by email with a short message and the PDF attached. Our guide to sending an invoice by email has wording you can copy.
- Record it in your books or tracker as sent, with the due date, so you know when to follow up.
When to raise an invoice
The best time is as soon as the work is done or the milestone is reached. The longer you wait, the longer you wait to be paid, because the due date counts from the day you send it. Clients also remember the work best right after it is delivered.
How often depends on the job. One-off projects get one invoice at the end, or a deposit invoice up front. Longer projects are billed in stages. Ongoing work such as a retainer is billed on the same day every month. Whatever you choose, tell the client at the start so there are no surprises.
| Type of job | When to raise the invoice |
|---|---|
| Small one-off job | The day you deliver |
| Larger project | A deposit at the start, then at each milestone |
| Hourly work | Weekly or every two weeks, or at the end of the month |
| Retainer | The same day each month, ideally in advance |
| Goods supplied | When the goods are dispatched or delivered |
A raised invoice, filled in
From: Alex Rivera Design, 12 Oak Street, Austin TX
To: Juniper Bakery, [email protected]
Issued: Oct 28, 2026 Due: Nov 27, 2026 (Net 30)
PO number: PO-5521
Brand refresh, 12 hours at $75.00 $900.00
Printed menu design, 1 at $450.00 $450.00
Total due $1,350.00
Pay by bank transfer or ACH. Reference INV-1042.
After you raise it
Raising the invoice is only half the job. Within a day or two, check that it arrived and that nobody has a question. Put the due date in your calendar, and plan one friendly nudge a few days before it, and another the day after if nothing has come in.
If the invoice goes overdue, stay polite and keep a paper trail. Our payment reminder email templates give you the wording for each stage, and late fees explains when and how to add one. Doing this by hand is where many freelancers fall behind; automatic reminders in the Jiffy app (from the Pro plan, see pricing) take that job off your list.
Common mistakes when raising invoices
- Waiting until the end of the month "to batch them". Every week of delay is a week of delayed payment.
- Sending to the wrong person. Ask who handles accounts payable and send it there, copying your contact.
- Leaving out the PO number or a reference the client's system needs, which can get the invoice rejected.
- Reusing a number, or skipping one with no explanation.
- No due date. "Please pay soon" is not a date.
- Not following up. A polite reminder is normal business and rarely offends anyone.
Making it routine
The easiest way to raise invoices on time is to make it a habit tied to an event: the day you finish a job, you raise the invoice before you start the next one. A saved template means it takes two minutes. Open the free invoice generator when you are ready, or see how the app handles quotes, reminders and payment links.