Invoice template for designers
Design work is easy to underbill: concepts, extra revision rounds and file handover all take time. A clear invoice shows what was agreed and what the client now owns.
What to include on a design invoice
- Your business name, address and contact email, plus your VAT or tax number if you have one
- Your client's name and address
- A unique invoice number and the issue date
- A due date, so "when do I pay?" has one answer
- Each deliverable named plainly: logo concepts, brand guidelines, final artwork
- Revision rounds included, and any extra rounds charged
- Any deposit already paid, taken off the amount due
- Usage rights: what the client can use the work for, and when rights transfer
- Subtotal, any tax (rate and amount shown separately) and the total due, with the currency clear
Example line items for a designer
| Description | Qty | Unit price | Amount | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand identity: logo concepts and final artwork1 × $1,800.00 | $1,800.00 | |||
| Brand guidelines (PDF)1 × $450.00 | $450.00 | |||
| Extra revision round2 × $150.00 | $300.00 | |||
| Total | Total | $2,550.00 | ||
Example figures before tax. Use your own rates.
Tips for design invoices
- Quote the project or PO reference from the brief, so the client's accounts team can match it.
- Ask for a deposit before you start: the invoice can show the deposit due now and the balance.
- Say that rights transfer on full payment, if that's what your contract says.
Try it on your next invoice
There's nothing to download. Open the invoice creator, paste your notes or fill in the form, and check the result.
Questions
Should I bill design work by the hour or by the project?
Either works. Project prices are simpler for clients, and hourly lines suit open-ended work. Whichever you use, name the deliverable so the client can see what they're paying for.
How do I show a deposit on a design invoice?
Set a deposit percentage on the invoice in TheInvoiceAI. It shows the deposit due now and the balance, and your client sees both.
Should usage rights go on the invoice?
A short note helps, for example the agreed use and that rights transfer on full payment. Your contract is what counts, so keep the wording consistent with it.
How do my clients pay me?
They pay you directly, using the payment details on your invoice. Pay links from your own Stripe account are coming soon. TheInvoiceAI is invoicing software, not a payment service: we never hold, process or transmit your money, and we take no fee.
General guidance, not tax or legal advice. Rules change, so check what applies to you.