If you are a graphic designer looking to invoice your clients for the design work you’ve completed, you’re in the right place. Sending an invoice for graphic design work can seem daunting, especially if you’re new to the process or looking to improve your current system. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about graphic design invoices, from understanding their essential components to creating and sending them efficiently. We’ll also introduce you to free tools that save up to 90% of your invoicing time and share tips to help you get paid faster. Whether you’re a professional graphic designer or just starting, these insights will help you streamline your invoicing process and ensure timely payments. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents:
How to Send an Invoice for Graphic Design Work?
Before we get into the steps of sending an invoice for graphic design work, it’s essential to understand what a graphic design invoice is.
What is a graphic design invoice?
A graphic design invoice is a clear document listing the services you provided, their costs, and the payment terms agreed with your client. This document is a crucial communication tool between you and your client, ensuring that both parties know what has been delivered and what is owed. This invoice generally contains your contact details, the client’s contact details, and a comprehensive list of the design services rendered, the date of service, the amount due, and the payment terms.
Now that you know what a graphic design invoice is, let’s look at how to create one:
Steps to Create a Graphic Design Invoice:
1. Choose an Invoicing Method:
- Manual Invoicing: You can create invoices manually using tools like Microsoft Word or Excel. This method is customizable but can be time-consuming.
- Invoicing Software: Writing invoices from scratch can be time-consuming, taking valuable time away from your graphic design projects. Fortunately, we at CheckYa offer a free pre-built graphic design invoice template perfectly adaptable for graphic designers. Our template saves you time, ensures that your graphic design invoices look professional, and includes all the necessary details. Tools like CheckYa allow you to input the required placeholders and hit send. The process takes less than two minutes, enabling you to focus more on your creative work.
Here are the benefits of using invoicing tools like CheckYa for graphic design Invoices:
- Free to Use: CheckYa is free and doesn’t require any credit card details. You can send invoices without cost, making it a budget-friendly option for freelancers and small business owners.
- Intuitive Pre-Made Template: CheckYa provides an intuitive pre-made template that allows you to input information quickly and easily. You fill in the necessary details, hit send, and have a professional invoice ready in minutes.
- Automated Payment Reminders: CheckYa offers automated reminders for due payments, eliminating the need for manual follow-ups. This feature helps ensure that your clients are reminded of their payment deadlines, improving the likelihood of timely payments.
- Multiple Payment Methods: With CheckYa, you can receive payments via various popular methods, including credit card, debit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, ACH, and PayPal. By providing multiple payment options make it convenient for your clients to pay you, increasing the chances of prompt payment.
- Split Payment Transaction Fees: CheckYa allows you to split payment transaction fees with your clients. Thisallows you to keep the full amount of your invoice, which is particularly beneficial for maintaining your revenue.
- Comprehensive Dashboard: CheckYa’s dashboard allows you to track all paid, unpaid, and overdue invoices in one place. This gives you a clear overview of your financial status, which is difficult to achieve with manual invoice creation.
Related Reads:
- If you are looking to make an invoice for graphic design work through Google Docs, here’s a detailed guide with step-by-step screenshots.
- You can also follow the detailed blog here to make an invoice for graphic design work through Google Sheets.
2. Use a Professional Invoice Template:
- Download a Template: Start with a professional template if you’re invoicing manually. Templates ensure you get all essential details and give your invoice a polished look.
- Customize the Template:Add your logo, brand colours, and any other branding elements to make the invoice look professional and consistent with your brand.
To help you get started, here are two handy templates specifically for graphic design work:
- Google Doc Graphic Design Invoice Template: This template is perfect for those who prefer working with Google Docs. It’s designed to include all the necessary fields, such as your contact information, client details, service descriptions, rates, and payment terms. You can also customize it by adding your logo, adjusting the colors to match your branding, and filling in the specific details of your project. Here’s a Google Doc template for invoicing your graphic design work that you can download for free.
- Google Sheet Graphic Design Invoice Template: If you prefer using spreadsheets, this template in Google Sheets is ideal. It allows for easy calculation of totals, taxes, and discounts. You can futher customize the columns and rows to fit your invoicing needs, add your branding elements, and ensure all relevant details are included. Here’s a Google Sheet template for invoicing your graphic design workhttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18lkXkelR6gfxTrHQFktJUoAJm3KfrT9QFay1McjO6C8/edit?usp=sharing that you can download for free.
3. Fill in the Essential Information:
If you decide to invoice templates, then provide the following details:
- Your Contact Information: Clearly include your name or business name, address, phone number, and email.
- Client’s Contact Information: Add the client’s name, company name, address, and contact details.
- Invoice Number and Date: Assign a unique invoice number and include the date of issue and the payment due date.
- Description of Services: Break down the services provided, detailing each task or project phase. Be clear and specific to avoid any confusion.
- Rates and Fees:List the cost for each service, whether it’s an hourly rate or a flat fee. Include the total amount due for each service and the overall total.
- Payment Terms: Mention the payment terms, such as net 30, net 15, or due upon receipt. Include accepted payment methods and any late fees or early payment discounts.
- Multiple Payment Methods: Offer multiple payment options to make it easier for clients to pay. CheckYa allows you to accept payments via credit card, debit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, ACH, and PayPal, giving your clients flexibility and convenience.
- Additional Notes:Add any relevant information, such as project notes, reminders about upcoming work, or specific terms and conditions.
4. Review and Proofread:
- Check for Errors: Ensure all information is accurate and free of typos. An error-free invoice reflects your professionalism and helps avoid payment delays.
- Verify Totals: Double-check the calculations to ensure the totals are correct.
5. Send the Invoice:
- Email the Invoice: If using invoicing software, you can usually send the invoice directly from the platform. If invoicing manually, save the invoice as a PDF and email it to the client.
- Set Up Automatic Reminders: Many invoicing tools, like CheckYa, allow you to set up automatic payment reminders, ensuring clients are notified before and after the due date.
By following these steps, you can create a clear, professional graphic design invoice that helps ensure timely payments and maintains good client relationships.
Conclusion
Now that you understand the key details needed to create a graphic design invoice and have tools like CheckYa at your disposal, you can send your graphic design invoices confidently and get paid on time. By incorporating detailed service descriptions, clear payment terms, and offering multiple payment methods, you ensure a smooth invoicing process.CheckYa simplifies the task with pre-built templates, automated reminders, and flexible payment options, allowing you to focus more on your creative work. Implement these practices to maintain professionalism, strengthen client relationships, and ensure timely payments.