Invoice Generator

What an invoice needs to do

An invoice is not a receipt — it is a request for payment, and it has to carry enough information that the client can pay without asking questions. A good one shows who is billing whom, a unique invoice number, the date and the due date, an itemised list of work with quantities and prices, any tax, and one unambiguous total. This generator builds that document live as you type, so you can check it before you send it.

How the generator works

• Header fields hold your business name and email, the client, the invoice number, and the date and due date. The date defaults to today and the due date to fifteen days later.
• Line items each have a description, quantity, and unit price. Each row total is quantity × unit price, and the subtotal is the sum of the rows. Add or delete rows as needed.
• Tax is applied as a percentage of the subtotal and shown as its own line when it is not zero.
• Total due is subtotal plus tax, and the preview updates on every keystroke.
• The header details are saved to the URL, so a partly filled invoice can be bookmarked or shared; line items are not, since they are dynamic.

A worked example

The default invoice: two line items and no tax.

Set the tax rate to 10% and the tax line becomes $175.00, making the total due $1,925.00. The generator calculates that from the subtotal, so it always matches the line items above it.

What belongs on every invoice

• Your details — business name and a contact email at minimum.
• The client’s name as they expect to see it, especially for a company.
• A unique invoice number that increases over time, so both sides can reference it in accounts.
• Issue and due dates, which set expectations and start any late-payment clock.
• Itemised work, so the client can see what each charge is for.
• Tax, if it applies, and one clear total.
• Payment terms and how to pay: bank details, a payment link, or whatever route you use.

Common mistakes

• No invoice number. Without one, reconciling a payment to an invoice becomes guesswork for both parties.
• Vague line items. “Consulting — $2,000” invites queries; “Strategy workshop, 2 days × $1,000” does not.
• Missing the due date. A due date is what makes a payment late; without it, there is nothing to be late against.
• Applying the wrong tax treatment. Tax rules for services, digital goods, and cross-border clients vary; check before adding a rate.
• Rounding line totals badly. Small rounding differences across many rows make the invoice fail to add up, which undermines trust.

Frequently asked questions

What payment terms should I use?

Net 15 and Net 30 are the most common for freelancers and small businesses; Net 15 (due fifteen days out — the default here) is friendlier to cash flow. State the terms on the invoice so there is no dispute later.

Can I set my own tax rate?

Yes — enter any percentage in the tax field and it is applied to the subtotal. The generator does not know your jurisdiction, so it is up to you to apply the correct rate. For a quick check of the tax on a single amount, the sales tax calculator handles add and reverse calculations.

Is a PDF download included?

The on-screen invoice and print view are free, and you can save either as a PDF through your browser’s print dialog. A branded PDF export is part of the one-time Pro upgrade.

Do I need to send the invoice as a PDF?

Not strictly — a clean printed or PDF version is simply the most portable format. What matters is that the client can read it, save it, and reference the invoice number when paying.

If you are still setting your prices, work out your freelance hourly rate first; the invoice is much easier to build once the numbers behind it are deliberate.