How do you charge your client?

[ron13315]

Hi there, as a freelancer designer, how do you charge your client for their remaining balance when you finish the project?
Did you invoice them?

Can you show me your sample letter or invoice?

 

[elcidofaguy]

Hiya Ron,

My best advice is as follows:

1) Upfront payment before work commences. Say charge 50-70% and remainder on completion.
2) On final completion provide the deliverables with watermark if its graphics or if its a website on your own hosting e.g. host it temporarily as a subdomain. Once approved and final payment received provide the final product e.g. graphic without watermark or transfer/install website.
3) Prior to work commencing you need to send a simple SOW (statement of work) together with the cost and agreement on payment on milestones.

In addition you could also consider escrow services as a third party to hold the funds whilst work is under way... Personally I would only consider doing the work if the percentage upfront or all of it is paid before starting...

Regarding invoices... Well there are plenty examples online... just search for "invoice examples" and adapt it to fit your business i.e. add your company, vat details etc ... e.g.

Source: http://www.invoiceberry.com/img/hom...creenshot_invoiceberry_invoice_template_1.jpg

Hope that helps!

Best Regards,

Sid

 

[jonathan85]

Hey elcidofaguy,
why don't you suggest generate an invoice from Paypal to customers, it has already function to do that in Paypal. should I use it instead of using invoice form as you showed above? it's accepted?

 

[elcidofaguy]

elcidofaguy

Yeah I don't see why not... Its a good idea... But that would be a receipt and not an invoice which is presented before payment is made.... Its an important difference.... Prior to work commencing you need to get agreement on terms and conditions, the agreed scope of work and payment on milestones... Fail to do that and you may get into disagreement/misunderstandings...

[Edit Note]: Interesting to note/learn that PayPal provides invoicing capability. I think its okay for micro businesses, but it still falls way short of agreed SOW/Scope/Project Plan/Deliverables and any legal contracts. In addition my preference would be direct payment to business account.

 

[Hassan]

Paypal helps in creating professional and customize invoices to your customers. people even dont need paypal account can pay you. Paypal Accept payments from 190 markets around the globe you can Track and manage invoices and payments.

 

[ClassifiedWarrior]

If you use Paypal or 2Checkout, I know they both have invoice options that let you email them and they get a notification to pay invoice. It is professional, clean and easy to do.

 

[GeekGoddess]

I just use Paypal invoice. It's user friendly and gives me no hassle.