Freelance Writer invoice template
Writing invoices should price the deliverable, not the word — and rights need naming. Build one below — prefilled freelance writer services, payment terms, PDF download, and a public payment link.
How freelance writer invoicing actually works
Per-word pricing rewards padding and punishes editing, which is where the value is. Pricing per piece against a defined brief — length range, research depth, interviews, SEO requirements, revision rounds — aligns what you are paid for with what the client actually wants. Where a client insists on a per-word rate, define what counts and cap the length.
Rights are the underpriced part. First rights, exclusive rights, ghostwriting with no byline, and work-for-hire assignment are meaningfully different products. Ghostwriting in particular should cost more, not less — you are giving up the portfolio value as well as the byline.
What belongs on a freelance writer invoice
Beyond the universals — your details, the customer's details, a unique invoice number, dates, totals and payment terms — these are the lines that matter in this trade.
- Deliverable and target length
- Piece type and word range, rather than an open-ended per-word count.
- Research and interviews included
- Number of interviews, source depth, and any subject-matter research time.
- Revision rounds included
- With the rate beyond them.
- Rights granted
- First rights, exclusivity, work-for-hire, byline or ghostwriting, and any republication terms.
Line items this template starts with
These are the prefilled starting values in the BillingDone freelance writer template — a starting point to edit, not a survey of market rates. Set your own prices once and they save for next time.
| Service | Unit | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Writing hourly | Hour | $75.00 |
| Blog article | Each | $350.00 |
| Website copy | Project | $900.00 |
| Email sequence | Project | $750.00 |
| Editing | Hour | $65.00 |
| Product description | Each | $75.00 |
| Monthly content retainer | Project | $1,500.00 |
| Rush writing fee | Each | $200.00 |
Getting paid as a freelance writer
- Deposit on new clients; established clients on net terms.
- Kill fees on commissioned work that is cancelled after you have started — agree the percentage before you begin.
- Invoice on delivery, not on publication. The client's editorial calendar is not your payment schedule.
Example invoice wording: Wrote and edited approved website copy for client review.
Freelance Writer invoicing questions
What should a freelance writer invoice include?
A freelance writer invoice should include your business details, the customer's contact information, itemized services, materials or fees, taxes, payment terms, a due date, and a clear total due.
Can freelance writers send invoices from a phone?
Yes. BillingDone is designed for fast mobile invoice creation so you can create, send, and collect payment while you are still on site.
Can I save common services?
Yes. Start with the built-in Quick Add Invoice Library, then save custom services, prices, and descriptions for your own repeat work.
Should freelance writers charge per word or per project?
Per project against a defined brief. Per-word pricing rewards length and penalises the editing that creates most of the value, and it leaves research, interviews and revisions unpriced.
Should ghostwriting cost more than bylined work?
Generally yes. The client is buying the byline as well as the words, and you are giving up the portfolio and reputation value the piece would otherwise carry. Name the rights arrangement on the invoice either way.
More creative & freelance templates
Deliverable-based work billed by project, retainer, or licensed usage.
Freelance Writer invoice generator
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e.g. "Invoice Mike for faucet repair $225 due Friday"Bill to
Items
Adjustments
Recurring schedule
Auto-generate this invoice on a schedule. Perfect for cleaners, lawn care, IT support, retainers.
Payments
Record cash, check, Zelle, Venmo, or any partial payment. The public invoice shows the remaining balance automatically.
Job photos
Before/after photos reduce disputes and look professional on the PDF. 0/8
Summary
- Subtotal
- $0.00
- Tax
- $0.00
- Total due
- $0.00