How to Send an Invoice for Freelance Work
It’s the freelance circle of life — you pitch the job, you get the job, do the job, bill the job, and get paid for the job. Right? If any piece of the circle fails, everything after it becomes a headache — especially not getting paid for the job.
Billing and getting paid for your freelance work are one of the best parts of being a freelancer. There are two common types of billing for freelancing: either fixed-price or paid hourly. Fixed price is a great option for some, especially if there’s an upfront payment made by the client.
So how do you make sure your invoice gets paid? You send your freelance invoice to your client the easiest way possible for both parties. Here are some tips on how to send an invoice for freelance work.
Keep a Record of Your Work
Make sure that you keep all detailed transactions for every project that you have made. This is to ensure that everything is settled the way it should be. Keep the list detailed so clients can see what they are paying for. It clears the water, which creates a harmonious client-freelancer relationship.
For some freelancer websites like Upwork, an application is installed for you to see that the provider is actually doing its work. And they have this weekly report for hourly jobs for you to see how much you’re earning or how much you will need to pay. There is a time allocation as well, which are meant for disputes just in case there is one on the job and the hours that have been rendered.
Choose a Web Application for Billing
If you’re not hired or did not hire from a freelance website, then the tendency is that you’ll be billing your clients using an application or perhaps the one given by the client itself. There are many web applications available that can be of great help for this, for example, Blinksale, Simply Invoice, Freshbooks, The Invoice Machine, etc. These are being used for you to send the bill for a project or for work done to the client.
Work Hard for Incentives
It has been known for some clients to offer incentives or bonuses for a job well done. Sometimes there is an additional amount given and will usually boost your confidence as a freelancer for giving such satisfaction to your clients.
Decide on a Method of Payment
You can pay or get your payment through credit card, but often, PayPal is the method of payment for freelance work. It depends on which country you belong to and how money is withdrawn from your account, but usually, a PayPal account is connected to your bank account either through a credit card or through ATMs of selected banks. You may need to check the website for further details.
Conclusion
Many freelancing invoicing tools are available to make your freelancing career better, more professional, and just all-around easier. And the best part? A lot of them are free! Take advantage of what the web has to offer and enjoy freelancing.
Ensure to develop a solid relationship with your client built on mutual trust, respect, and understanding. You can create and send milestone invoices for bigger projects to limit your financial exposure. Ensure to invoice your clients on time and follow up quickly if payment becomes overdue.
