What a professional invoice needs
A complete invoice has seven things: your name and contact details, the client's details, a unique invoice number, the issue date, a due date, itemized charges, and the total due. Missing any of these gives a client's accounts-payable department an excuse to delay payment.
Payment terms belong on the invoice too. 'Due within 30 days' is standard, but shorter terms (14 days, or due on receipt) are common for freelancers and small studios. Stating a late fee — 1.5% per month is typical — makes it enforceable in most places and noticeably improves on-time payment.
Numbering and recordkeeping
Use a consistent numbering scheme (INV-001, INV-002, …) and never reuse a number. Sequential numbers matter for your own bookkeeping and for tax records — most tax authorities expect invoices to be uniquely identifiable.
Keep a copy of every invoice you send. Since this tool stores nothing, download the PDF and save it with your records before closing the page.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this invoice generator really free?
- Yes. There's no account, no watermark, and no limit on the number of invoices. The tool runs entirely in your browser.
- Is my data stored anywhere?
- No. The invoice is generated locally in your browser and nothing you type is sent to a server. If you refresh the page, the form resets.
- How do I save the invoice as a PDF?
- Click 'Download PDF / Print' and choose 'Save as PDF' as the destination in your browser's print dialog. Every modern browser supports this.
- When should I send an invoice?
- Immediately on completing the work or hitting the agreed milestone. Invoices sent the same day the work ships get paid measurably faster than ones sent at the end of the month.