Short answer
An invoice should include your name or business name, your customer's name, a unique invoice number, the date, a clear list of what you're charging for with prices, the total, the due date, and how to pay you. Send it as soon as the work is done, and keep a copy so you can track whether it's been paid.
An invoice is a formal request for payment. A clear one gets paid faster.
What to include
- Your name or business name, and contact details
- Your customer's name
- An invoice number, so both of you can refer to it later
- The date you issued it
- Each item or service, with the quantity and price
- The total amount due
- The due date
- How to pay: your bank details or a payment link
Tips for getting paid faster
- Agree the price upfront with a quote. See the difference between a quote and an invoice.
- Send the invoice as soon as the job is done, while it's fresh.
- Use a short due date, such as seven or fourteen days.
- Make paying easy by putting your account details right on the invoice.
- Be specific about what you delivered, so there's nothing to query.
Do you need a registered business?
No. You can invoice as an individual using your own name. See how to invoice clients without a business bank account, and how freelancers send invoices straight from their phone.
After you send it
Track which invoices are paid and which are still outstanding. If one is late, follow up politely but firmly.
Doing this in Gripd
Gripd creates a clean invoice with your details, logo, line items, and payment details in under a minute. You can email it to your customer, share a link, or download it as a PDF, then mark it paid when the money arrives. The free plan includes one invoice a month; Basic includes 15, and Pro is unlimited.
Last updated 29 Sept 2026
Related questions
How do I follow up on an unpaid invoice?
Send a friendly reminder a day or two after the due date with the invoice attached, then follow up again after about a week if you haven't heard back, more directly and with a phone call if you can. Keep every message polite and factual, and note each follow-up. Most late payments are forgotten invoices, not refusals.
Read the full answerHow do I keep track of who owes me money?
Keep one list of every debt owed to you, with the person's name, the amount, what it's for, and when they said they'd pay. Update it the moment anyone pays, and check it weekly so you can follow up on anything overdue. Money you're owed but not tracking is money you're likely to lose.
Read the full answerHow much should I charge for my services?
Work backwards from what you need to earn: add up your monthly income goal and business costs, divide by the hours you can realistically bill, and that's your minimum hourly rate. Then check what others in your field charge and adjust for your experience and results. Many new freelancers undercharge by forgetting unpaid admin time, tools, and tax.
Read the full answerWhat is the difference between a quote and an invoice?
A quote is an offer sent before the work starts, telling a customer what a job will cost so they can agree to it. An invoice is a request for payment sent after the work is agreed or done. A quote isn't a bill; an invoice is.
Read the full answerTrack it all in one place
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