4 invoicing mistakes to avoid as a freelancer
One of the biggest drawbacks to freelancing is the amount of paperwork that accompanies this career path. When you aren’t signing (what feels like) million-page contracts, you are having to generate quotes and invoices to make sure that you get work and get paid. For someone new to the freelancing world, or even a veteran with a distaste for admin, it can be overwhelming.
It is also crucial that invoices are well-crafted and concise, and free of the following faux pas, before you hit ‘send’.
1. Not including important info
When you send an invoice, you are stipulating the rates and the payment terms for work that you have done. It should also include all the details your client will need in order to make sure that you get what you are owed. This means providing them with your bank account details, your tax number and, if relevant, your business registration number.
2. Not stipulating a due date
All companies work differently, and so do their payrolls. This means that while some clients might be able to pay you upfront, others might pay you at a later date. It’s up to you to decide by when you would like to (or would have to) be paid, and make sure that this is *very* visible on your invoice so that they have no excuse for late payment.
3. Not sending your invoices timeously
Sometimes it’s not about what you say, but when you say it. Sending a professional invoice with all the necessary details in it is great, but not if you have been dragging your heels and submitted it late. This not only causes an inconvenience to clients when it comes to their payroll, but it also means that you might have to wait until their next cycle until you get your cash.
4. Not giving your invoice a thorough once-over
This should go without saying, but before you send anything to clients, whether it be work or your invoice, you should go through it to make sure that all your details are correct, that your spelling and grammar are A-okay and that you give a breakdown of the work you are billing for so that both you, and your client, are keeping track of deliverables and output.
Top tip
We get it. Invoicing is a drag. So let Guild do it for you! With Guild, you can sync your profile to your account, get an overview of your business and personal finances, create clients and generate and send professional quotes and invoices all from your phone. Click here to download SA’s first money app for growth-minded freelancers.
