Consulting invoice template

As a consultant you have the specialized skills and knowledge to help your clients meet their goals – but since each client has different needs and requires different levels of service, invoicing can get complicated. Make invoicing a breeze by selecting from our wide variety of elegantly designed, fully customizable invoice templates in Word, Excel, PDF, Google Docs, and Google Sheets – and get back to focusing on your clients instead of worrying about how to invoice for your expertise.

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Choose the best invoice template for your consulting business

Consulting business

This invoice template is flexible so it can be used to bill all your clients – no matter what their needs. Simply add or subtract lines to describe specific details and services. Your clients will clearly see the work you supplied and the cost.

Business consulting

You help clients create efficiencies and improvements in their businesses. Now do the same for your business by downloading this free invoice template. It can be easily tailored to include every aspect of your consulting service.

Software consulting

You have the technical expertise to help your clients define or develop the software solution that is right for them – so don’t waste your valuable brain power on creating invoices. This free invoice template is the perfect solution for your billing needs.

You have the technical expertise to help your clients define or develop the software solution that is right for them. Don’t waste time or effort creating invoices from scratch. This free software development invoice template is the perfect solution for your billing needs.

Interior design consulting

It takes time and energy to create an invoice. Use that energy to create beautiful spaces for your clients instead. This easy-to-use invoice template ensures you are paid properly for your great sense of design.

It takes time and energy to create an invoice. Use that energy to create beautiful spaces for your clients instead. This easy-to-use invoice template for interior designers ensures you are paid properly for your work.

Communications consulting

Your clients look to you for guidance on how to communicate to different audiences using various media. Detail your own services clearly by downloading, customizing, and sending this consulting invoice to all your communications clients.

Take the next step

You’ve made your life easier with a great invoice template. Now find out how much more Wave can do for you and your business by trying our 100% free invoicing and accounting software.

Alternatives to using consulting invoice templates

Make your consulting business a success by finding out more about what Wave can offer you. Save time and take work off your hands by trying our free automated invoicing and accounting.

Why consultants should send professional invoices

Whether you are consulting on a continuing basis for a company, or completing one-off consulting projects – you need an invoice that clearly details the services you’ve provided.

That means a cookie-cutter invoice won’t do, as your consulting clients can have wildly different needs and challenges. Your invoice needs to be flexible enough to capture the unique work you have done for them.

Besides being clear and understandable, your invoice needs to be polished and professional. Every point of contact with your client reflects on you and the quality of the consulting you provide – so make sure your invoice adds to your stellar reputation.

How to fill out your consulting invoice

Once you've downloaded your free invoice template, you'll need to customize it to fit your specific business. Here are the 10 key things to include on your invoice:

1. Title and Description: Name the project and briefly describe what type of work your client is being invoiced for.
2. Company Details: Add your company name, address, phone number, and logo to the top-right corner.
3. Customer Details: Under "Bill To", add your customer's name, address, and contact information.
4. Invoice Number: Include a unique invoice number to help you track down this invoice in the future. You can format this based on sequence and customer. For example, if you're sending your very first customer their first invoice, the invoice number could be 001-001.
5. Dates: Include the date when your invoice has been issued and the date when payment is due.
6. Line Item: Add individual line items for each unique good or service you provided. For each line item, include a brief description, quantity, individual unit price, and total price.
7. Subtotal: Add up the subtotal of your goods or services, before tax has been applied.
8. Tax: Indicate the tax rate applied to the subtotal. This is legally required to provide on invoices, and your rate may differ depending on where you run your business.
9. Total: Outline the total amount due from the customer, after tax.
10. Notes: Include any additional info your customer should know, including terms of service and payment terms (for example, payments are due 30 days after the invoice has been issued).

What should be included on an invoice for a consultant

Create a clear, concise invoice that covers all the details you need to bill for as a consultant. No matter how large or complicated the project was, make it easy to get paid by following these important steps.

• Look through the variety of consulting invoice templates we offer in different designs and colors, and select the one you want in your preferred format – Word, Excel, PDF, Google Docs, or Google Sheets.
• Download the template for free!
• Insert your business name, phone number, email address, and other contact information
• Also insert your logo, website address, and any other graphics or promotional images
• Put in your client’s name and contact information
• Add a unique invoice number
• Add in the date of the invoice and the payment due date
• Include a detailed list of the consulting services you provided along with a description of each service and the billable hours or flat rate
• Include a list of miscellaneous products or services you used for your work that are billed to the client

• Add or subtract lines to ensure you include all the pertinent details. The template is easily customized to make sure your clients know exactly what they are paying for
• If you are including a discount for a high volume of work, or to woo a first-time client, make sure you add a line explaining the discount so your client knows they are getting a great deal for your consulting expertise
• Calculate the total price, including all applicable taxes, and list the total prominently at the bottom of the invoice
• Include your payment terms, such as the methods of payment you accept
• As a consultant, you’ve likely formed a close relationship with your client, so add a special line at the end to say how much you enjoyed working with them, and thank them for their business
• Make sure you save a copy – and then send the invoice to your client!

Ready to send professional invoices?

When is the right time to send an invoice to your consulting clients?

Send your invoice as soon as you finish a consulting project. If you have been retained for an extended period of time, discuss the option of invoicing monthly, or at certain significant milestones in the project.

As an independent consultant, you need to keep the revenue coming in, so you might even want to ask for a percentage of the estimated cost up front, with the remainder upon completion of the project.

If you are in sales, send your customers a beautifully designed sales invoice.

Quick invoicing tips for consultants

Add a timesheet

Many consultants bill by the hour, so keeping an up-to-date timesheet can help you accurately track your billable hours. Include your timesheet as an attachment to your invoice so you client can see the amount of work you put into helping them reach their goals.

Include an expense report

If you need to travel for your consulting work, or incur expenses on-site at a client’s company, include an expense report along with the applicable receipts when you send in your invoice. Make sure there’s room on the report to explain exactly what the expense was for so clients know why they are being billed.

Be clear about the payment due date

A payment due date really does encourage on-time payment. It reinforces your professionalism, and acts as a gentle, but clear, indication of when you expect to be paid.

Accept a variety of payment methods

Technology is changing our world, and has also changed how we pay for goods and services. Make it super convenient for clients to pay you by including electronic options such as e-Transfers, direct bank deposits and other online payment methods. It also shows you are up-to-date with technology.

Send your invoice to the attention of your client contact

If you are doing a consulting project for a large company, make sure you add an “Attention to:” line on your invoice so it is sent to the right person. That way it won’t end up getting lost on someone else’s desk and cause a payment delay.

Personalize your invoices