Invoicing Professionally as a Freelancer
Â
Â
By Business Desk
Â
Â
Thursday, June 1, 2017.
Â
Although receiving money for those first freelance jobs is undoubtedly one of the greatest moments of your life, creating and sending invoices to your clients isnât exactly much fun, especially if you havenât done it before and your design skills arenât exactly the best. Unfortunately, sending invoices is an important part of being a freelancer, and itâs vital that any invoices you do send are as professional as possible if you want to make a smooth transaction and win repeat business from your clients.
Â
With that in mind, here are some tips to help you invoice more professionally as a freelancer:
Â
Use Professional Invoicing Software
Generating your invoices with the help of professional invoicing software is probably the single most effective thing you can do to ensure that your invoices look professional and are well-received by your clients. There are lots of great invoicing software packages available on and offline, but you will want to choose one that allows you to create attractive invoices and which enables you to track their progress if you want to be as professional as possible.
Â
Create a Solid Invoicing Policy
When big companies send out invoices, they always include well-thought-out policies, which state, when the invoice should be paid by, which methods of payment are acceptable and whether penalties will be imposed, should a payment be received after the deadline. When youâre creating your own invoices, if you want to appear more professional, and if you want to increase your odds of getting paid on time, you should include your own payment policies too.
Â
Image source
Â
Stand by Your Policies
Once youâve set your policies and youâve sent those invoices out, stick to what youâve said you will do. Clients do not like to be confronted with any changes once the invoice has gone out, so if you do want to rethink your policies, wait until your invoice has been paid and notify clients before they commission any additional work from you.
Â
Charge What Youâre Worth
Image source
Â
When youâre a new entrepreneur, it can be tempting to charge a lower amount than the completion or less than you think youâre really worth, in a bid to attract more clients. However, if youâre cheap, a lot of potential clients will begin to wonder why and it could actually end up losing you work. So, donât overcharge, but work out how much your skills and experience are worth and always charge accordingly.
Â
Make Your Charges Clear
When youâre writing up an invoice, itâs important that you are absolutely transparent. Be sure to include every single service you have provided, along with a breakdown of the charges for each, so your clients know exactly what they are paying for and can maintain their records. Doing so will also help you to maintain your own records as accurately as possible.
Â
Add Your Contact Details
Finally, when youâre creating an invoice, you should always include your own contact details, including name, address, phone number and even email address. If the client knows who you are and how to get in touch with you if necessary, itâs likely you will be paid much more promptly.