What to include on a consulting invoice
- A reference to the engagement letter or purchase order. Larger clients often won’t pay without a PO number.
- Day rates or hourly rates as agreed, with dates for each session.
- Expenses with receipts, billed at cost unless agreed otherwise.
- Payment terms that match the contract, often 30 days.
And the basics every invoice needs: a unique number, the issue date, when it is due, your details and the client’s, and how to pay.
A tip for consultants
Ask the client’s accounts payable team what they need on an invoice before you send the first one. A missing PO number is the most common reason consulting invoices get paid late.
Questions
What should a consulting invoice include?
Your details and the client’s, an invoice number, the issue and due date, a line for each piece of work, the total, and how to pay. For consultants it also helps to include: a reference to the engagement letter or purchase order. Larger clients often won’t pay without a PO number; day rates or hourly rates as agreed, with dates for each session; expenses with receipts, billed at cost unless agreed otherwise; payment terms that match the contract, often 30 days.
Is this template free?
Yes. Edit it here and download a PDF. There is no account and no watermark, and your details stay in your browser.
Invoice from your tracked time
Sheaf tracks hours per client and project and builds the invoice for you, with a link your client can open. Free during beta.