Now that you’ve drummed up some business as a freelancer, a web design and development shop, or a creative agency, it’s time to start collecting money owed. Billing clients is easily done with an invoice. If you use an accounting program like QuickBooks or an online project management application like Intervals, they will create an invoice for you. However, if you want to design your own invoice take a look at the example below along with the details of what should be included on an invoice. This design is based on a free invoice template from Adobe.

1. The Anatomy of a Well Designed Invoice
Now that you’ve drummed up some
business as a freelancer, a web design and
development shop, or a creative agency, it’s
time to start collecting money owed. Billing
clients is easily done with an invoice. If you
use an accounting program like QuickBooks
or an online project management
application like Intervals, they will create an
invoice for you. However, if you want to
design your own invoice take a look at the
example below along with the details of
what should be included on an invoice. This
design is based on a
free invoice template from Adobe.

2. 1) Your Identity and Address
Include your logo and address in this space
so the client knows who is invoicing them
and where to send the check.

3. 2) Date and Invoice Number
The date is important as it tells the client
when the invoice was issued. The invoice
number is used by both the client and the
designer to reference the invoice. Both of
these fields are important for getting paid on
time.

4. 3) Client Name and Address
This is usually the part you see sticking out
the plastic window on the front of the
envelope. Most invoices are sent
electronically these days, however, this
information is still important to avoid any
confusion.

5. 4) Terms
These can be whatever you want them
to be, though we recommend issuing all
invoices as due upon receipt.

6. 5) Purchase Order Number (optional)
Useful if your creative agency commonly
issues purchase orders. This field is rarely
used in web design and development.

7. 6) Project
Include the project name to differentiate
this invoice from one the client may have
already received from another project. It
is common to work on several projects for
one client. This field helps simplify billing.

8. 7) Line Items
This itemized breakdown details what is
being billed. In the case of this example, the
invoice was for the total owed on a design
and development time and materials
maintenance contract. These line items
could also include hours worked, milestone
payments on a flat-bid, or project expenses.

9. 8) Description (optional)
A description of work can be useful for
summarizing the invoice for the client.

10. 9) Total Due
The invoice total is the most important
number on the invoice.

11. Check out the Inter vals blog for more ar ticles…
The Inter vals Blog
A collection of useful tips, tales and opinions based on decades of
collective experience designing and developing web sites and web-
based applications.
www.myinter vals.com/blog