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How to write an invoice for design services

5 min read

Feb 17, 2025

A designer looks at a design on their laptop.

What to include in a design service invoice

A well-crafted business invoice for design services should include the following essential elements:

Client and freelancer details

Whether you create a new invoice for every project or use an invoice template, your document will begin with accurate contact information for both you and your client.

You should include your name (or your business name), address, phone number, and email address. This information is crucial for your clients to easily reach out to you for any questions, concerns, or updates regarding the projects you work on together. Providing up-to-date contact details ensures effective communication between you and your clients.

Similarly, you should also provide the client’s company name, address, phone number, and email address. This allows you to easily reach out to the client for feedback, approvals, or anything else related to the project. It also makes record keeping much easier—you’ll know who the invoice was for, when it was created, and the project it refers to.

Having clear and accessible contact information helps to streamline the design process and ensures that any issues or changes can be addressed promptly.

Invoice date and due date

When specifying the date the invoice was issued, it’s important to include the day, month, and year to clearly indicate when the payment request was generated. This information helps you and your client keep track of when the transaction took place and when payment is expected.

You should also clearly state the due date for payment on the invoice. This date should be reasonable and align with industry standards, to avoid any confusion or delays and ensure that your client has enough time to process the payment.

You can then use this information to generate a unique invoice number to help you, your client, and potential tax auditors manage specific invoices. For example, if you work with a particular client regularly, you may want to create your invoice numbers by combining a unique customer code with the invoice date such as DBX-2024-01-01.

A designer works on a design on their tablet. They have their Dropbox account open on the computer screen in front of them.

How to manage design invoices with Dropbox

If you're manually sending your invoices as email attachments, Dropbox offers a convenient solution for storing, organizing, and sharing your invoices. Simply upload your invoices to your Dropbox account and they'll instantly sync to all your devices. You can easily share documents directly from your cloud storage in just a few clicks.

Do all the work you love from one secure platform

Save time, collaborate seamlessly, and deliver work faster. Dropbox works with your existing tools to get design work done.

Dropbox interface shows file management options, with a cursor selecting the Share button on a folder.

Freelance design invoicing made easy

Invoices play a crucial role in the success of freelance design businesses. They serve as legal documentation of transactions, ensuring that both the designer and the client are protected. Dropbox simplifies the invoicing process for freelance designers, making it easy to complete and send invoices to clients.

With Dropbox, you have a centralized hub to store, edit, and share your invoices, streamlining the process of creating, customizing, and sending invoices. Embrace Dropbox and revolutionize your freelance design workflow today.

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