Copywriter Invoice Template
A copywriter invoice bills project, lists services and labour on separate lines and states the terms (Net 15). This template is pre-filled for homepage, about page and a three-email welcome sequence for a small business website: 7 lines totalling $2,405.00 before tax. Edit it and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for a copywriter: homepage, about page and a three-email welcome sequence for a small business website. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Harbor Copywriting
855 Market Street
Salem, MA 01970
billing@example.com
(503) 555-0155
Invoice
Bill to
Taylor Brooks
140 Orchard Drive
Madison, WI 53703
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery call and messaging brief | 1.5 hr | $100.00 | $150.00 |
| Customer interviews30-minute calls to collect customer language | 2 interview | $75.00 | $150.00 |
| Homepage copyHero, benefits, objections, calls to action | 1 page | $800.00 | $800.00 |
| About page copy | 1 page | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Welcome email sequenceSubject lines and preview text included | 3 email | $225.00 | $675.00 |
| Meta titles and descriptions | 2 page | $40.00 | $80.00 |
| Additional revision roundAfter new stakeholder feedback | 1 hr | $100.00 | $100.00 |
- Subtotal
- $2,405.00
- Balance due
- $2,405.00
Notes
Thank you for choosing Harbor Copywriting. Terms: Net 15.
Payment details
Bank transfer or card. Please quote the invoice number.
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Copywriter invoice at a glance
| Typical job | Homepage, about page and a three-email welcome sequence for a small business website |
|---|---|
| Main billing unit | project |
| Usual payment terms | Net 15 |
| Deposit practice | Half the project fee is commonly paid before research starts, especially for new clients. |
| Sample lines | 7 lines, $2,405.00 before tax |
| Largest line | Homepage copy: $800.00 (33%) |
| Labour hours billed | 2.5 h, $400.00 |
| Trade-specific fields | Project name, PO number, Revision rounds included |
Sample copywriter invoice line items
Homepage, about page and a three-email welcome sequence for a small business website: 7 lines adding up to $2,405.00, split into services $2,005.00 (83%) and labour $400.00 (17%).
| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery call and messaging brief | 1.5 hr | $100.00 | $150.00 |
| Customer interviews (30-minute calls to collect customer language) | 2 interview | $75.00 | $150.00 |
| Homepage copy (Hero, benefits, objections, calls to action) | 1 page | $800.00 | $800.00 |
| About page copy | 1 page | $450.00 | $450.00 |
| Welcome email sequence (Subject lines and preview text included) | 3 email | $225.00 | $675.00 |
| Meta titles and descriptions | 2 page | $40.00 | $80.00 |
| Additional revision round (After new stakeholder feedback) | 1 hr | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Subtotal | $2,405.00 | ||
| Total before tax | $2,405.00 |
What a copywriter invoice should include
- Your copywriting business name, address, phone and email, plus a tax ID if you are registered
- The customer's name and billing address (Taylor Brooks in the sample)
- A unique invoice number (INV-6709) and the issue date
- Payment terms and a due date: Net 15
- Project name: for example Homepage, about page and a three-email welcome sequence for a small business website
- PO number: for example PO-5251
- Revision rounds included: for example See notes
- Line items in project or per item, each with quantity, rate and amount
- How to pay you: bank details, card link or cheque payee
How copywriters bill
Copywriters quote a flat fee per deliverable such as a web page, email or ad set, with research and strategy built in rather than counted by the word.
Copywriters commonly use "Net 15", so payment is due 15 days after the invoice date. Half the project fee is commonly paid before research starts, especially for new clients.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Writers and Authors $34.75 (employees, not contractor rates). The sample's $100.00 per hour for "Discovery call and messaging brief" is 2.9 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Copywriter invoicing tips
- Price per deliverable rather than per word: a sixty-word hero section can take longer than a long article, and a line per page or email reflects the real effort.
- Show research and interview time as visible lines, since it is the work clients never see and the first thing they try to cut when the total looks high.
- Specify that rights to the copy transfer on full payment; clients often launch the website weeks before the final invoice is settled.
- Date each extra revision round and bill it hourly, because rewrites triggered by a new decision-maker joining late are the usual reason copy invoices grow.
Copywriter billing disputes to head off
- Copy gets rejected when the strategy changes, not because the writing missed; referencing the approved brief on the invoice shows the work met what was agreed.
- Portfolio use is a quiet source of conflict, so note whether you may show the work publicly or are writing under the client's name only.
Work a copywriter can bill for
Core tasks of Writers and Authors (O*NET 27-3043.00, O*NET 29.x task statements, CC BY 4.0). Each can become a line on the invoice.
- Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.
- Present drafts and ideas to clients.
- Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
- Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
- Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.
- Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products.
How to make a copywriter invoice
-
Add both parties
Enter Harbor Copywriting (your business) and the customer, Taylor Brooks, then project name.
-
Number and terms
Give it a unique number such as INV-6709 and set the terms to Net 15.
-
List the work
One line per item: the sample runs from "Discovery call and messaging brief" (1.5 hr) to "Additional revision round" (1 hr).
-
Check the total
The 7 lines come to $2,405.00; add sales tax only if your state taxes copywriting.
-
Download and send
Download the PDF or print it, then keep a copy with the copywriting records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a copywriter invoice?
Add your copywriting business details, the customer, project name, po number and revision rounds included, then one line per item with quantity and rate. The template above is pre-filled with 7 lines for homepage, about page and a three-email welcome sequence for a small business website totalling $2,405.00; change the prices and download the PDF.
How do copywriters charge?
Mostly project. Copywriters quote a flat fee per deliverable such as a web page, email or ad set, with research and strategy built in rather than counted by the word.
When should a copywriter invoice be paid?
Net 15 is the usual arrangement. Half the project fee is commonly paid before research starts, especially for new clients. Put the terms and the due date on the invoice so there is no doubt.
How much do copywriters earn per hour?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Writers and Authors $34.75 (employees, not contractor rates). Self-employed rates are usually higher because they cover overhead and unbilled time.