What payment terms should I use for new clients?

Requiring an upfront deposit before starting work significantly reduces your risk with clients you don't have a track record with yet. Net 15 also protects cash flow better than the more common Net 30.

Should I charge a late fee on overdue invoices?

Many freelancers include a late fee clause (commonly 1.5% to 5% per month) in their contract or invoice terms. Stating it upfront tends to reduce how often payments are actually late.

What's the minimum information an invoice needs?

Your contact information, the client's details, an invoice number, a clear description of the work, the total due, the due date, and accepted payment methods.

Clients & Contracts

How to Invoice Clients and Get Paid Faster

A clear invoice isn't just paperwork — it's part of how quickly you actually get paid.

What every invoice must include

Your name or business name and contact information.
The client's name and billing details.
An invoice number, for your own records and easy reference.
A clear description of the work, with quantity and rate if hourly.
The total amount due and the due date.
Accepted payment methods.

Payment terms that protect you

Net 15 (payment due 15 days after the invoice) is friendlier to your cash flow than Net 30, which has become a default in many industries but isn't mandatory just because it's common. For new clients, requiring an upfront deposit before work begins reduces your risk significantly — you're not the one financing a stranger's project.

How to handle late payments

A polite reminder on the due date, assuming good faith, is the right first step. If it continues past a reasonable grace period, a firmer follow-up referencing the original invoice and due date is appropriate. Many freelancers include a late fee clause in their contract or invoice terms (commonly 1.5% to 5% per month overdue) — having it stated upfront makes it far less awkward to apply.

Generate a clean invoice with your calculated rate

The calculator builds a downloadable invoice with your numbers already filled in.

Generate an invoice

Best invoicing tools for freelancers

Simple invoicing needs don't require complex software — a clean template in a document editor or a free tier of an invoicing tool covers most freelancers starting out. As volume grows, dedicated invoicing platforms add automation (recurring invoices, automatic reminders) that starts to save real time.

Should you charge late fees?

Stating a late fee upfront, even a modest one, tends to reduce how often payments are actually late — it signals that your payment terms are real, not a suggestion. Whether you enforce it every time is a separate decision; having the option in writing gives you leverage either way.