Hourly Invoice Template

As a freelancer, you need to take care of a myriad of details when working with your clients. One of the essential documents that you have to establish for your solo business is the hourly invoice template. 

This is a template which contains the basic details about the payments you’ll be receiving. By sending it, you charge a client on the basis of your hourly rate and the time you have spent on a certain project. There are smart principles to follow when creating your invoices, so that you use their potential to the fullest. 

Here’s how to go about creating your own template and how to handle the hourly billing in your freelancing practice. 

1. Create a design for your hourly invoice template

Consistency is key in building a brand, and that’s important for freelancers as well. You need a template for invoicing clients, so that you don’t create the same document from scratch every time. But it can also serve as a branding tool if you craft it in the right way. 

That’s why it’s worth to set up a distinctive design for your hourly invoice template. You can include your logo or personal signature, which makes immediately obvious who is the sender. Then choose an uncomplicated and functional structure, so that the information is clearly visible to the client. 

2. Determine rates and track hours 

Besides the looks of your invoice template, you need to take care of the content too. When starting work with a new client, you have to agree on the billable hours rate. This is what you will input in the invoice as the unit price for your work. 

Having settled the rate, you then need to diligently track the hours you have spent working on the project for that client. It’s good to determine a system for rounding the time, such as 15 minutes to half an hour. You have to inform the client how you will handle the tracking and rounding. That’s how you can prevent misunderstandings and discrepancies in the invoice information, and thus ensure timely payment.

3. Include the essential details in the template

There are a few basic elements that should be in your hourly invoice template. First and foremost, you have to include details about your business, such as company name and tax ID (or other relevant identification number). Typically, you also need to note your business address. The client’s company name and address should also be placed in the invoice. 

The invoices have to be numbered for practical reasons. You should always include the date of issuance, as well as the due date for payment. Then, of course, you have to include the name of the project that you’re billing for, the billable hours you’ve worked on it, and the hourly rate that you’ve settled beforehand. Lastly, you should include the final sum that the client owes you, as well as the tax rates and the currency you’re using.  

You may also want to set in the template the payment conditions, late fees, and your contact information. The more details you deliver to the client, the easier the payment process can go through. 

The best part about setting a template is that you don’t need to redo it every time. You just have to modify the company’s details of the client and the project information - but the design and structure are easily reusable. 

Need inspiration to start with your own hourly invoice template creation? Generate one right now!

Hourly Invoice Template Google Docs

Freelancers and web developers are notable for using an hourly rate billing method. The style gives room for handling recurring tasks or services, and it is near perfect for charging revision. If you provide services that require you to bill your client hourly, adopting a solution that will help you create and send invoices effectively would be a priority. With an hourly invoice template Google Docs, you are sure to get the needed flexibility and effectiveness in billing your client.

Google Docs is a cloud-based solution that allows you to create and send invoices to your customers faster than you think. If you are considering your unique billing method, the platform offers a simple and intuitive solution to accommodate the peculiarity of your billing style. With Google Docs invoicing, you can create a custom invoice template that includes your hourly charge. Since you can save the hourly invoice template Google Docs for future billing, you don't reinvent the wheel whenever you have to do invoicing for another client. 

Google Docs billing, along with other electronic billing solutions, are gradually displacing the traditional methods of invoicing. Hand-written documents are prone to avoidable errors, which may be harmful to your business. Besides, you get to waste so much time and labor efforts that you could have channeled into other meaningful projects.

You don't have to be a tech geek to create an hourly invoice template Google Docs. The platform is simple to use, and it is intuitive in correcting simple mistakes like spelling errors and date formatting. Besides, you can always learn how to use it, considering the myriad of free online videos and resources created to help new users. 

Benefits of using an hourly invoice template Google Docs

You don’t have to spend so much on accounting software and invoicing solutions if you run a small business. You can achieve faster electronic invoicing with a reliable cloud platform.

Find out why business owners and freelancers are turning to hourly invoice template Google Docs.

• Get access to create professional hourly invoices at no cost.
• Create fast invoices and send them to clients for faster payment
• You don't have to worry about storage as the solution keeps your files in the cloud.
• Stay organized with your records and send invoices electronically.
• Keep track of client records and account receivables.
• Makes bookkeeping fast and straightforward especially for tax season
• Eliminate avoidable mistakes that can cause lingering payment 
• Create an hourly invoice template Google Docs for automatic and recurring billing

How to create your hourly invoice template Google Docs

Follow these simple steps to create a perfect hourly invoice template Google Docs.

1. Go online and select a Google doc template
2. Create a professional header to include your business name and logo. Don't forget to change the background color of the document to your theme if you so desire
3. Add your contact details-mailing address, email, phone number, and website
4. Add recipient details, including email, phone number, and website. You make it easier for your clients to claim responsibility for the bill with if you include their details
5. Include the date you created the document and generate your preferred invoicing number. The number is essential for tracking the bill
6. Now, list your services each on a line. Include your hourly fees and state the billing policy once again
7. Sum the amount before tax before adding other fees that affect the total on a separate line
8. Add the fees after-tax and put the total due somewhere at the bottom of the page
9. Include your payment policy-preferred payment method, due date (Net 30, or 45 etc.)