Can I charge late fees?

Yes, in most US states, up to your contract terms or state usury limits. 1.5%/month (≈18% APR) is standard and rarely contested. State the policy on every invoice — courts won't enforce a late fee you didn't pre-disclose.

What about sales tax?

You're responsible for collecting + remitting sales tax in jurisdictions where you have nexus. For services, most US states don't apply sales tax; for goods, they usually do. When in doubt, ask an accountant — getting this wrong is more expensive than asking.

Should I include a "thank you"?

Yes. It costs nothing and humanises the transaction. Studies suggest invoices with a brief "thank you for your business" get paid 5-10% faster on average.

Invoice Template

Professional invoice with itemised line entries, tax, and totals — use for any client billing.

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INVOICE

Acme Design LLC
123 Main St
San Francisco, CA 94103
tax id: 12-3456789

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Invoice #: INV-2026-001                Date: May 4, 2026
Due date:  On receipt

BILL TO:
Client Corp.
456 Oak Ave
Austin, TX 78701

──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

DESCRIPTION                                QTY        UNIT          TOTAL
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Brand identity package                       1    $3,500.00    $3,500.00
Logo design (3 concepts)                     1    $1,200.00    $1,200.00
Brand guidelines document (20 pages)         1      $800.00      $800.00
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

                                                Subtotal:    $5,500.00
                                                    TOTAL:    $5,500.00

PAYMENT TERMS
Net 14 days. 1.5% per month late fee on past-due balances.

PAY BY
Bank transfer to:
Acme Design LLC
First National Bank
Routing: 123456789
Account: 987654321

Thank you for your business.

About this template

A clean, professional invoice is one of the highest-leverage business documents — clients pay faster when invoices are unambiguous and easy to process. The line-item format here parses one item per line: "Description | Qty | Price". The tool calculates subtotal, tax, and total automatically. Three details that most amateur invoices miss: (1) a unique invoice number (use a sequential format like "INV-2026-001" — your accountant will thank you), (2) explicit payment terms with a late fee policy ("Net 14, 1.5%/month late fee" is standard and legally enforceable in most states), and (3) bank details right on the invoice — every extra step between the client opening the file and paying is a chance for the invoice to get buried. Avoid sending PDF invoices that require the recipient to type bank details from a screenshot.

When to use it

Any client billing — services, products, recurring retainers.
Freelance work after each project or milestone.
Subscription billing where you don't use a payment processor.

What to include

Sequential invoice number (one per invoice, never reused).
Issue date and due date.
Both parties' full legal names + addresses + tax IDs.
Itemised line entries with quantity and unit price.
Subtotal, tax, total — clearly separated.
Payment terms with explicit late fee policy.
Bank or payment-method details directly on the invoice.

Frequently asked

No — clean and clear beats fancy every time. AP departments scan for: invoice number, due date, total, payment instructions. Make those obvious and you'll get paid faster than fancy designs that bury the same info.

⚠ Legal disclaimer. This template is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified attorney. Always consult a licensed professional before using this document for any binding agreement.