Consulting Invoice Template
The person who hired you probably won't process your invoice. Someone in accounts payable will, and they've never heard of your workshop. They just need to match it to a statement of work. Reference the engagement, list the days or hours, and give them nothing to query.
Bill by the hour, by the day, or as a monthly retainer, then download a PDF that looks as put-together as the deck you presented.
Tip: in the print dialog choose “Save as PDF”.
INVOICE
#INV-0001
Issued: —
Due: —
From
—
Bill to
—
| Description | Qty | Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy consulting — daily rate | 3 | $1,200.00 | $3,600.00 |
| Workshop facilitation | 1 | $1,500.00 | $1,500.00 |
Subtotal$5,100.00
Tax (0%)$0.00
Total$5,100.00
Invoicing tips for consultants
- Put the engagement or SOW number in the notes. That one reference is often the difference between a quick approval and a week of back-and-forth emails.
- For retainers, write down what's included each month and how overage is billed. Vague retainers have a way of turning into unlimited ones.
- Invoice on the same day every month (the 1st is easy to remember). Clients get used to it, and your cash flow gets a lot less lumpy.
Frequently asked questions
- How do consultants usually bill clients?
- Hourly, daily, per project, or on a monthly retainer. Pick the one that fits the engagement, add it as a line with the right quantity and rate, and the total calculates for you.
- What should a consulting invoice include?
- Your details, the client's details, a reference to the engagement, itemized services with rates, any tax that applies, payment terms, and a due date. Skip the engagement reference and it may well bounce back from finance.