Freelance writers often struggle with the transition from submitting an article to actually getting paid for it.

Whether you are a copywriter, a technical writer, or a content marketer, submitting a clear, professional invoice is the key to getting paid on time without awkward follow-up emails.

Should You Bill Hourly or Per Word?

One of the biggest decisions freelance writers face is how to bill for their work. Your invoice will look different depending on your pricing model.

1. Per-Word Billing

This is the most common method for blog posts and articles.

On your invoice, your line item should look like this:

Service: "Blog Post: 10 SEO Tips"
Quantity: 1,500 words
Rate: $0.15/word
Total: $225.00

2. Flat Project Fee

Common for copywriting, whitepapers, or website landing pages where the value is in the conversion, not the word count.

Service: "Landing Page Copywriting (Includes 2 revisions)"
Quantity: 1
Rate: $800.00
Total: $800.00

3. Hourly Billing

Common for editing, proofreading, or consulting.

Service: "Developmental Editing"
Quantity: 5 hours
Rate: $50/hour
Total: $250.00

Essential Information to Include

When sending your invoice to an editor or a company's accounting department, make sure you include:

Your Name and Contact Info: Ensure your name matches the name on your bank account.
The Client's Information: Address the invoice to your specific editor or the company's billing department.
Invoice Number: Always use a sequential number (e.g., INV-001).
Date of Submission: The day you sent the invoice.
Payment Terms: Specify when payment is due (e.g., "Net 30" or "Due Upon Receipt").
Payment Instructions: Clearly state how you want to be paid (Bank Transfer, PayPal, Stripe, etc.).

How to Send Your Writing Invoice

Don't just attach an invoice to an empty email. Write a polite, brief message when delivering your work.

Example Email:

Hi [Editor Name],

Attached is the final draft of the article, along with my invoice for the project.

Please let me know if you need any revisions. Otherwise, the invoice is due on [Date].

Thanks!
[Your Name]

Use an Invoice Generator to Save Time

You didn't become a writer to spend hours formatting spreadsheets and Word documents. The easiest way to create a flawless writing invoice is to use a free tool.

With FluxInvoice's Free Invoice Generator, you can select your currency, add your line items, and download a beautiful PDF in less than 60 seconds.