Freelance Copywriter Invoice Template (Free)

As a copywriter, crafting words that resonate, persuade, and inspire is your art. It demands your full creative energies and an unwavering commitment to your craft.

So why spend precious time and mental bandwidth on the administrative tasks of running your freelance business, like invoicing clients?

With a thoughtfully designed copywriter invoice template, you can streamline the invoicing process, allowing you to focus on what you do best – delivering impactful copy that elevates your clients' brands.

No more wrestling with formatting headaches or reinventing the wheel for every project.

Why do You Need a copywriter Invoice?

A well-crafted invoice isn't just a mandatory document for getting paid; it's a reflection of your professionalism and a vital tool for maintaining a healthy cash flow.

Invoices establish a clear understanding between you and your client, minimizing potential disputes or miscommunications down the line.

Without a proper invoice, you risk delays in payment, confusion over the scope of work, and even legal complications.

A diagram showing what should be included in a copywriter invoice

What Should Be Included in a Copywriter Invoice?

A well-crafted copywriter invoice goes beyond just listing the services rendered and total amount due.

It's a professional document that reinforces your brand, provides crucial details for accounting purposes, and ensures a smooth payment process.

Here are the key elements to include:

Basic Information

Your company name and logo
Your contact information (address, phone, email)
Client's name and billing address
Unique invoice number
Issue date and payment due date

Project Details

Description of the copywriting services provided
Itemized list of deliverables (e.g. website copy, email sequences, product descriptions)
Number of rounds of revisions included
Word counts or project scope

Pricing Breakdown

Fees for each service item
Hourly or flat project rates
Any discounts applied Taxes or additional charges
Total amount due

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What types of copywriter invoices are there

What Types of Copywriter Invoices Are There?

As a freelance copywriter, you may work on a variety of projects with different pricing structures.

To accommodate this, there are several invoice formats to choose from:

Per Word Invoice

Some copywriters, especially those working on lengthy projects like ebooks, white papers or book manuscripts, will charge a per word rate rather than a flat project fee.

In this case, the invoice would outline the total word count of the completed work and the agreed per word rate, calculating the full amount due.

Additional details like a pricing tier for different word count ranges may also be included.

Per word invoices ensure payment is properly tied to the scope of writing completed.

Time-Based Invoice

A time or hourly invoice breaks down your fees based on the hours worked. It includes an hourly rate, the number of hours for the project, and a total sum.

Time-based invoices work well for longer copywriting engagements or open-ended retainer agreements.

Project-Based Flat Fee Invoice

For defined projects with a fixed scope, you can invoice a single flat fee.

This is commonly used for things like website rewrites, email campaigns, or other copywriting work with clear deliverables and milestones.

Hybrid Invoice

This combines time-based and flat fee elements into one invoice.

For example, you may charge a flat fee for the initial copywriting draft, then an hourly rate for requested revisions beyond an agreed number.

Recurring Invoice

If you have a recurring copywriting engagement like an ongoing content marketing retainer, you can automate a repeat invoice to be sent weekly, monthly or whatever the payment schedule is.

Enhancing Your Invoice with Automation Tools

While a well-designed invoice template lays the foundation for professional and consistent billing.

Tech-savvy copywriters can take it a step further by leveraging automation tools, like oto.

These powerful solutions streamline the entire invoicing workflow, saving you time and reducing the potential for errors.

Invoice Generation Software

Ditch the manual data entry with invoicing software that auto-populates templates with project details and customer information.

oto also allows you to batch-generate recurring invoices with a single click.

Online Payments

Upgrade from chasing paper checks by enabling online payments directly from your invoices.

oto integrates with payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, providing a seamless way for clients to pay you electronically as soon as an invoice is received.

Automated Reminders

Lengthy payment cycles can cripple cash flow. Automate payment reminders to gently nudge clients as due dates approach and overdue invoices linger.

Customize reminder emails or texts to fit your brand voice and communication preferences.

Time Tracking Integration

If you bill hourly rates, sync your invoices with oto's time tracking app to accurately capture work logs without manual time entry. This data can then be invoiced with one click.