The first invoice

The first invoice is where a side project becomes a business. It is also where most people undercharge, send late and wait.

Send it the day the work lands

An invoice sent with the work reads as part of the work. One sent a week later reads as a request. Attach it to the delivery email.

Seven lines, no more

1. Your name or business name, and how to reach you.
2. The client and the person who approves payment.
3. An invoice number. Start at 1001; nobody needs to know it is your first.
4. The date sent and the date due.
5. One line per piece of work, each with its price.
6. The total, and any tax on it.
7. How to pay: one method, written out in full.

The line that gets it paid

Due 14 days from today, on 26 May.

Name the date, not the terms. "Net 14" asks the client to count. A date goes straight into a calendar.

The template

INVOICE 1001                         Sent 12 May 2026
                                     Due  26 May 2026
From  Your Name, you@mail.example
To    The Client, accounts@client.example

Logo design, three rounds                     600.00
Business letterhead                           150.00
                                     Total    750.00

Pay by bank transfer to the account below.

When it is late

Send one short reminder the day after the due date. Issue 9 holds the three reminders that follow it.