How to make a graphic design invoice.
To express your creative ability requires the right business tools. Follow these steps to create a graphic designer invoice.
Technology enables companies to run from just about anywhere. It takes hard work to keep a graphic design service company profitable, but creating an effective invoice can help lighten the load. Whether a one-person design studio or part of a team, the ability to use versatile software tools across desktop, mobile, and web will free you to do what you do best — be creative. We’ll show you how to make a graphic design invoice, along with a sample you can work off of.
How a graphic design invoice protects you.
Aside from invoicing, understanding how to craft a solid graphic designer contract is crucial to help ensure the successful execution of your creative visions. A well-prepared graphic design invoice protects you in several ways:
- Legal agreement. It establishes a legally binding agreement.
- Payment clarity. It clearly defines payment terms and due dates.
- Tax compliance. An invoice assists in establishing accurate income and expense tracking for tax purposes.
- Transparency. It avoids misunderstandings by specifying the work scope and pricing.
- Record keeping. A graphic design invoice maintains a transaction history for financial management and legal use.
- Professionalism. Using an invoice projects professionalism and builds trust with clients.
Important items to include in a graphic design invoice.
Information you should include when creating your graphic design services invoice:
- A unique invoice number
- The date the graphic design project was delivered
- A description of the deliverables
- An indication of whether the project is complete or still in progress
- The date of the invoice
- The amount payable
- The payment due date
- Freelance graphic design invoice terms and conditions
- The last payment amount and date
- Contact information (for client invoice questions)
Freelance graphic design invoice terms and conditions.
Terms and conditions will help protect both parties’ interests and support a smooth working relationship.
- Payment terms. Clearly state the payment due date, specify the preferred payment method (for example, bank transfer, PayPal, or check), and include late payment penalties or interest rates.
- Invoice details. Provide a unique invoice number and date for reference, and include your full contact information and that of your client.
- Scope of work. Clearly state your hourly or project-based rates, and mention any additional charges (such as rush fees or revision fees).
- Ownership and usage rights. Specify who owns the intellectual property rights to the design work. Make sure you define any usage or licensing terms for the final deliverable
- Cancellation and termination. Detail your cancellation policy, including any fees for early termination.
- Confidentiality. Include a confidentiality clause to protect sensitive client information.
- Dispute resolution. Outline the procedure for resolving disputes or disagreements.
- Additional expenses. List any reimbursable expenses, such as travel costs or software licenses.
- Taxes. Note whether your fees are inclusive or exclusive of taxes and specify the tax responsibilities.
Graphic design invoice sample.
Now that you have the terms and conditions, let’s go over how to make a graphic design invoice with an example.
Your company name
Your address
Phone number
Email address
Invoice date: [Date]
Invoice number: [Invoice number]
Bill to:
Client’s name
Client’s company
Client’s address
Project details:
Project: [Brief description]
Timeline: [Timeline]
Rate: [$ rate per hour or $ total amount]
Terms:
Payment due: [Payment terms, for example, 15 days] via [payment method].
Ownership: Transferred upon full payment. [Include usage rights or licensing terms (if any)]
Revisions: [The number of included revisions, such as 3]
Approval process: [Explain the approval process]
Cancellation: [Cancellation fee (if any)]
Late payments: [Interest rate] interest.
Confidentiality: All project info is confidential.
Total amount: [$ total]
Payment instructions: [Payment details]
Tips for how to invoice graphic design work beautifully.
Invoicing graphic design work beautifully not only helps ensure you get paid promptly but also reflects your professionalism and attention to detail. Use your creative talents to make your business documents shine. Create and customize your business documents to reflect what’s unique about your graphic design service. Here are some tips for how to make an invoice for graphic design work visually appealing and effective:
- Use the same color schemes, images, and logos throughout your printed and digital materials.
- Maintain a clean and organized layout for easy readability.
- Choose legible fonts, and maintain a consistent style.
- List services with clear descriptions and costs.
- Highlight payment terms, the final due date, and instructions.
- Deliver invoices as PDFs for design preservation.
Build a graphic design invoice template with creative tools.
The sheer number of business software programs available today can make picking the right one confusing. It’s critical to choose the right tools for business document management applications that integrate with your other vital company software.
Explore what more you can do with Acrobat to find the e-signature plan that's right for you.
