Invoice templates / consultants
Consulting Invoice Template
Consulting is billed by the hour, the day or the project, and clients' finance teams often want specific references. An invoice with the engagement, the period and the basis of the charge gets through approval without questions.
Example line items for consulting
These are examples of how to word lines, not prices. Use your own rates.
Consulting, per hour
State the hours and the period they cover.
Day rate
State the number of days and the dates.
Workshop or training session
Name the session and its date.
Report or deliverable, fixed fee
Name the deliverable as in the proposal.
Expenses at cost
Show travel and other expenses separately, with receipts available.
What to put on a consulting invoice
- The engagement or project name
- The period the invoice covers
- The client's purchase order number
- A breakdown of hours or days
- Expenses shown apart from fees
For the basics every invoice needs, see what to put on an invoice.
Payment terms
Large clients often pay on Net 30 or longer and may require a purchase order number before they will pay. Ask for it at the start of the engagement and put it in PO number.
Type Net 30 (or Net 7, Net 15) in the Payment terms box and the due date fills in. Payment terms explained.
Questions
- Where does the purchase order number go?
- In the PO number field beside the date and terms. Many finance departments reject invoices that do not quote it.
- How do I show expenses?
- As separate lines from your fees, described plainly, for example Train to client site. Keep the receipts in case the client asks.