Professional invoice template

You are a professional who delivers a unique service to your clients – you can’t afford to spend time on administrative tasks like constantly creating different invoices. You need to get paid for your expertise, so why not get a little help with running your business by using one of our easy-to-use, fully customizable professional invoice templates in Word, Excel, PDF, Google Docs, and Google Sheets. Spend your know-how on your clients – not on invoicing.

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Choose the best invoice template for your business

Professional business

This invoice template is supremely flexible so it can be used to bill all clients – no matter what services you provide. Add or subtract lines to describe all the details while making an impression with this elegantly designed template.

This business invoice template is supremely flexible so it can be used to bill all clients – no matter what services you provide. Add or subtract lines to describe all the details while making an impression with this elegantly designed template.

Agency clients

Don’t waste your energy designing an invoice. Use your time and effort delivering professional services to your valued agency clients. This free template can be easily customized to meet all your agency invoicing needs.

Retainer services

Download, customize, and send this invoice to your long-term clients who hire you on retainer. It can be modified to be sent monthly for your retainer fees, with extra lines to fill in any special services.

Download, customize, and send this invoice to your long-term clients who hire you on retainer. With extra lines to fill in any special services, this retainer invoice template can be modified to be sent monthly to your clients.

Consulting services

If you help clients create efficiencies in their business or in their life – do the same for yourself by using this free invoice template. Save time with an organized, clear invoice that lets clients know exactly what they are paying for.

If you help clients create efficiencies in their business or in their life – do the same for yourself by using this free invoice template. Save time with an organized, clear consulting invoice that lets clients know exactly what they are paying for.

Technical

Are you a technical pro who works hard to make your client’s lives easier? Capture the costs for the work you have done with this free professional invoice template – and make sure you are compensated for your unique knowledge and skill.

Alternatives to using invoice templates

Make your business a success by finding out more about what Wave can offer you. Save time and take even more work off your hands by trying our free automated invoicing and accounting.

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Why professionals should invoice effectively

Illustration of invoice being sent

As a professional, you bring your experience, skill, and knowledge to everything you do for your clients. That means you need to use clear, organized invoice templates that include enough detail to ensure your clients understand the advantage of working with you. Your invoice also serves as a reminder of the work you have done long after the project is over – so your clients will remember to call you again, as well as refer you to their friends.

Sending organized, well-designed invoices also instills confidence and credibility in the services you provide. You are an expert in your field – make sure your invoice reflects your skill and professionalism.

How to fill out your professional invoice

Once you've downloaded your free invoice template, you'll need to customize it to fit your specific business. Here are the 10 key things to include on your invoice:

  1. Title and Description: Name the project and briefly describe what type of work your client is being invoiced for.
  2. Company Details: Add your company name, address, phone number, and logo to the top-right corner.
  3. Customer Details: Under "Bill To", add your customer's name, address, and contact information.
  4. Invoice Number: Include a unique invoice number to help you track down this invoice in the future. You can format this based on sequence and customer. For example, if you're sending your very first customer their first invoice,  the invoice number could be 001-001.
  5. Dates: Include the date when your invoice has been issued and the date when payment is due.
  6. Line Item: Add individual line items for each unique good or service you provided. For each line item, include a brief description, quantity, individual unit price, and total price.
  7. Subtotal: Add up the subtotal of your goods or services, before tax has been applied.
  8. Tax: Indicate the tax rate applied to the subtotal. This is legally required to provide on invoices, and your rate may differ depending on where you run your business.
  9. Total: Outline the total amount due from the customer, after tax.
  10. Notes: Include any additional info your customer should know, including terms of service and payment terms (for example, payments are due 30 days after the invoice has been issued).

What should be included on an invoice for professionals in any field

You always deliver your best work. After a job well done, make sure you send out an invoice that reflects all your time and effort. It’s easy if you follow these quick steps.

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  • Look through our wide range of professional invoice templates in different designs and colors, and pick the one you like in the format you want – Word, Excel, PDF, Google Docs, or Google Sheets
  • Download the invoice template. It’s free!
  • Add your business name and contact information. If you provide emergency or 24 hour service – make sure you mention it here where your clients will take notice
  • Insert your logo, website, and any other professional-looking business graphics
  • Add in your client’s name and contact information
  • Generate a unique invoice number and add it to the template
  • Include the date of the invoice and/or the dates the work was started and competed, and the payment due date
  • List the work you’ve done, and the price for each portion based on your hourly rate or a flat rate. This can help eliminate any potential misunderstandings about the amount of money you have charged
  • Add or remove lines to customize the invoice format to meet your billing needs for that particular client
  • If you are including a discount for a high volume of work, or to encourage more work from a first-time client, add a line explaining the discount so your client knows they are getting a great price
  • Calculate the total price of the project, including applicable tax, and list the total at the bottom of the invoice
  • Include your payment terms, such as the methods of payment you accept
  • Why not add a personal line at the end, such as a thank you, or how much you enjoyed working with the client. It could lead to more work and some valuable referrals!
  • Save the invoice – and send it off to your client!

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When is the right time to send an invoice to your clients?

The right time to send an invoice can vary with the job and the client. Some professionals wait to send an invoice at the end of a job or project. As an independent business owner, you need to keep the revenue coming in, so many professionals ask for payment up front, or for a percentage of the estimated cost up front, with the remainder on completion of the project.

If you have been retained for an extended period of time, discuss the option of invoicing monthly, or at certain significant milestones in the project.

Illustration of hourglass timer

Handy invoicing tips for professionals

Keep a record of your work with numbered invoices

Always include a ‘payment due’ date

Include professional recommendations

Change your payment terms

Don’t be shy about following up

Free Invoice Template vs. Wave Invoicing Software

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Free Invoice Template
Price
FREE
FREE
Send unlimited invoices and see when clients open them
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Invoice anytime & accept payments online
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Send automated late payment reminders
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Know customers automatically get a receipt when they pay
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Track sales and sales tax for accounting
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Add business partners or accountants as collaborators
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Connect your bank account easily
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Access accountant-approved reporting for year-end
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