Freelance billing · free checklist
How to invoice clients without the admin spiral
You finished the work. Now you need a clean PDF in their inbox — not a 20-minute signup flow. Here’s the short path freelancers actually use.
Create your invoice PDF See field checklist
1. Invoice when the milestone is clear
Best moments: project delivery, end of sprint, or the date in your contract. Vague “sometime this month” emails get ignored. Put a due date on the PDF (Net 7 / Net 14 is common for freelancers).
2. Put only what accounting needs
- Who you are (name/studio + email)
- Who pays (client name + AP email)
- Invoice number (unique, searchable)
- Line items with rates — not a single mysterious lump sum
- Tax if you charge it
- How to pay (notes: bank, Wise, PayPal, card link)
Full field walkthrough: freelance invoice template guide.
3. Send a PDF, not a login wall
Clients forward PDFs to finance. If your tool forces an account before export, you lose time and sometimes the send entirely. Inkvoice runs in the browser: fill → preview → download PDF. No signup for core export.
4. Follow up once, politely
If unpaid after the due date, reply on the same thread with the PDF attached again and the due date restated. Keep records on your side (Inkvoice can remember recent clients in localStorage on your device).