As a freelancer, it is essential that invoicing practices be established and consistent. This is the best way to ensure that you get paid and stay organized. It is important to keep organized files of bills, invoices and receipts.
Instructions
1. Look professional with invoicing. It doesn't have to be elaborate and can actually be very simple. Make sure to list the name, address and telephone number of your business on the invoice, along with itemized details of the billing, and include accurate dates.
2. Download invoice forms from the Internet. You can find these online for free, although it's probably not the best to use in the long run (see link in Resources).
3. Make simple invoices in Microsoft Word. There are many invoice templates to choose from in Word, from work orders to service invoices.
4. Use Microsoft Excel for invoices. These are more detailed than the ones on Word. Create a standard invoice from the invoice template option.
5. Keep billing terms standard with the net 30 system. This means that the bill is due within 30 days of the invoice. Some professionals use 60 days. State the policies along with late charges clearly to the client in the beginning.
6. Consider using an online escrow billing service, such as I Escrow. This establishes a regular payment schedule throughout the project, instead of the entire amount coming due after completion of the project. The escrow service will send regular statements to the client. This is the safest way to collect large amounts of money (see Resources below).
