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Freelance

Freelance Invoice Template

Free freelance invoice template with a working editor, live totals and PDF, Word or Excel downloads.

Freelance invoices are usually milestone invoices. This template shows project fees as separate lines and records the deposit, so the balance is unambiguous.

Step 1 · The basics

Who is this invoice for?

Autosaves as you type
Business details, address and tax information
Tax, website and legal details
Client details
Issue date, validity and referenceINV-TPL-FREELANCE

Step 2 · The work

What are you billing for?

Line 1
More line details
Line discount
Line 2
More line details
Line discount

Step 3 · Totals and terms

Adjustments, terms and branding

Optional. Your lines already make a valid invoice, so open a block only when this deal needs it.

Discounts, fees and taxNone
Fees (shipping, setup, delivery)
Terms, payment instructions and notes
Payment and due date
Logo, colours and footer

Logo

Add or replace it directly in the document preview. PNG or JPG, up to 330 KB.

Preview the invoice
PageA4 · 210 × 297 mm

Northwind Studio

Northwind Studio LLC

18 Mission Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94105 hello@northwind.studio +1 415 555 0132 northwind.studio

Tax / VAT: US-4821-9930

Invoice

INV-TPL-FREELANCE

Issued Nov 7, 2026

Due Nov 21, 2026

Bill to

Acme Ltd

1200 Market Street, Floor 9, San Francisco, CA 94102 maya@acme.test Tax ID: ACME-9

Project

Freelance Invoice

USD

Milestone 1: research and wireframes$1,800.00

1 milestone × $1,800.00 · tax 0%

Milestone 2: design and build$3,200.00

1 milestone × $3,200.00 · tax 0%

Items (excl. tax)$5,000.00
Total$5,000.00

Payment terms

50% deposit, balance on delivery.

Payment instructions

Pay by bank transfer and quote this reference.

Northwind Studio LLC · 18 Mission Street, San Francisco · hello@northwind.studio

Total

$5,000.00

Blank template downloads

The blank version contains this template's row structure, units and terms with no figures. Use it to print and fill by hand, or to keep a master copy in Word. Your finished document is exported from the generator above, so the two are never confused.

Blank PDFBlank WordBlank Excel

Example total in this preview: $5,000.00 across 2 lines.

Go straight to the generator

Prefer to start empty? Open the general invoice generator and build the document from scratch.

Free invoice generator

Who this template suits

Suits freelancers and self-employed professionals billing a project in milestones or stages.

What to include

  • Each milestone or project phase as its own line.
  • The deposit or retainer already received.
  • The balance due and the date it is payable.
  • Payment instructions, including the reference to quote.

How to complete it

  1. Step 1

    Name the milestone rather than just 'project work'.

  2. Step 2

    Enter any deposit received so the balance calculates itself.

  3. Step 3

    Set the due date and add your bank or payment link.

Before you send

Pricing, pitfalls and proof

  • How it is pricedInvoice each milestone as it completes rather than one large final invoice.
  • Common mistakeForgetting to show the deposit already paid, so the client pays twice and asks for a refund.
  • Keep as evidenceKeep the milestone sign-off and the payment reference for the deposit.

Questions about this template

Should I invoice the deposit separately?

Yes. A deposit invoice records the payment and leaves the final invoice to bill the remaining balance cleanly.

What payment terms suit freelancers?

Seven or fourteen days is common. Thirty days is common with larger clients; whichever you choose, put it on the invoice.

Can I invoice several projects at once?

Keep them on separate invoices. One invoice per project is easier to track and to dispute if something is questioned.

Do I need a tax ID?

Only if you are registered. Leave the field blank until you are; the layout closes up when it is empty.

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