Stepping into the world of freelancing is just that—freeing! Long gone are the days of being trapped at a desk or behind a counter, twiddling your thumbs and watching the clock. You’re courageously embracing your passions under your terms and conditions, but not without compensation. But just how do you collect on what you’re owed?
Invoicing is the tricky part about fully diving into your freelancing dreams. It can be challenging to find the right invoice template for freelance work, because they either seem too generic or too specific and may not apply to your specific expertise. Luckily, you don’t have to spend hours editing templates that vaguely represent what you do or starting over from scratch. Customizable invoice templates are at your fingertips.
Let’s dive in and uncover what an invoice is, why it matters, and how freelancers like you can customize the perfect invoice template.
What Is an Invoice?
You’ve probably heard the word “invoice” before and have a vague idea of what it means. It’s a receipt, right? Well, sort of.
An invoice is essentially a bill issued by you, the freelancer or servicer, to a client or customer. Your invoice is a document that breaks down the costs of money owed to you by a client, much like a receipt. This can include billable hours, materials, flat rates, taxes, discounts, and more. Your payment terms and conditions, including how clients can pay you, is also stated on this document.
Why Is Invoicing Important?
The purpose of invoicing is to supply a client with a detailed break-down of their total bill owed for your services and to ensure you get paid. It is mandatory to send an invoice if you want to be paid for your services. Without an invoice, clients will not know how much to compensate you for your work, or understand the breakdown of the costs. When clients don’t know what they’re paying for, this opens up room for cost disputes, which just prolong your payday.
Additionally, invoices set the terms and conditions regarding payment. Clients will know exactly how to pay you (wire transfer, cash, credit card, etc.) and by what date before it is considered past-due. You can even include late fees or penalties in your contract (as long as the client agrees ahead of time in a signed document) to enforce these terms and conditions.
How Can I Create an Invoice?
We’ve really just touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to invoicing. Invoices require a wide array of information, and so much of that information relies on one thing: you.
Nobody understands your industry and your specific services like you do. However, you may not know all of the information you need to include on your invoices. That’s where Invoice Ninja comes in!
With our customizable invoicing templates, you can include all of the unique information you need on your invoices and ensure you’re covering all of your bases. These templates allow you to maintain consistent brand messaging by allowing you to choose a color scheme or stamp your logo on your invoices. You can also include customized content, such as the terms and conditions we mentioned above or detail your costs break-down in a way that reflects your work best. Templates don’t have to restrict you—they’re simply a jumping off point.
Get Paid for Your Passions With Invoice Ninja
At Invoice Ninja, we streamline your invoicing process so you don’t feel bogged down by the bookkeeping. We offer free services that include four professional templates, help you set up and track expenses, alert you when you’ve been paid, and more!
Have a larger clientele, want integration with third-party applications, or want a wider variety of templates? Our Ninja Pro plan does all that and more. Stop stressing over when you’re going to get paid, and let us take care of it for you.
