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Freelance writer invoice template
Fill in the form to bill an article, a blog series or an hourly job, and download a PDF, Word or Excel file. No account. The sample is two articles per word. Change it to your work.
| Invoice no. | MS-2026-41 |
|---|---|
| Invoice date | 11/08/2026 |
| Project | Q4 buyer guides, PO 88213 |
| Due date | 12/08/2026 |
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Article: choosing a heat pump, 1,800 words | 1,800 | word | $0.25 | $450.00 |
| Article: tankless vs tank, 1,400 words | 1,400 | word | $0.25 | $350.00 |
| Revision round beyond the agreed one | 1.5 | hour | $80.00 | $120.00 |
| Subtotal | $920.00 |
|---|---|
| Total due | $920.00 |
Rights: All rights in the listed articles transfer to the client when this invoice is paid in full.
Late fee: 1.5% per month on any balance after the due date, as agreed in our contract.
Article 1 delivered 28 Oct. Article 2 delivered 4 Nov.
Pay by: ACH or PayPal to Maya Stone
What you type stays in your browser. The form runs in your browser and makes the files on your device. It does not send form values to us. We count page visits and downloads with Google Analytics. If you close the page, the form data is gone. The files are PDF, Word and Excel, not an e-invoice format.
What to show on a freelance writing invoice
The invoice shows the work by word count or hours, the rights that pass, the due date and how to pay. Add a PO number if the client asks for one.
| Field | Why it matters on writing work |
|---|---|
| Title and word count | Show the count so that the editor can check it. |
| PO or assignment number | Add it if the client gives you one. |
| Rights statement | A copyright transfer has to be in a signed writing. The invoice is a useful reminder of the deal. |
| Kill fee | If the piece was stopped, bill the agreed fee on its own line. |
| Revisions | Show extra rounds apart from the fee. |
| Your tax details | A client that files an information return on you asks for your taxpayer number on Form W-9. |
Filled example: monthly retainer
A second writer job at sample prices.
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blog posts, 4 per month, retainer | 4 | post | $375.00 | $1,500.00 |
| Ghostwritten LinkedIn posts | 6 | post | $75.00 | $450.00 |
| Editorial calendar and calls | 2 | hour | $90.00 | $180.00 |
| Total | $2,130.00 |
Writing line items, with ranges from the sources
Tap Add to put a line on the form. The range comes from the source in the same row, and the button adds a sample inside it. The Editorial Freelancers Association chart shows median rate ranges from a survey of its members.
| Line item | Median range (EFA, 2026) | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghostwriting, blog posts, per word | $0.25–$0.40 per word | EFA | |
| Ghostwriting, blog posts, per hour | $75–$100 per hour | EFA | |
| Ghostwriting, articles and essays | $0.15–$0.30 per word | EFA | |
| Ghostwriting, business and marketing | $0.50–$1 per word | EFA | |
| Work-for-hire, blog posts | $0.25–$0.45 per word | EFA | |
| Work-for-hire, business and marketing | $0.32–$0.875 per word | EFA | |
| Work-for-hire, journalism | $0.40–$0.50 per word | EFA | |
| Copyediting, business and marketing | $50–$60 per hour | EFA | |
| Kill fee | Your price | No source: use your own price | |
| Extra revision round | Your price | No source: use your own price |
Rights and tax rules for writers
Copyright transfer
Under 17 U.S.C. 204, a transfer of copyright is not valid unless it is in writing and signed by the owner or the owner's agent. An invoice that you sign can be evidence, but your contract should hold the transfer. 17 U.S.C. 204
Work made for hire
17 U.S.C. 101 limits this to employees and to commissioned works in listed categories with a signed written agreement. Ask a lawyer before you write work for hire on an invoice. 17 U.S.C. 101
Form 1099-NEC
The IRS instructions call for reporting nonemployee compensation of $2,000 or more. Check the instructions for the tax year. Keep your own invoices for every client below that amount, too. IRS 1099-NEC instructions
Freelance writer invoice questions
Do I bill the word count I wrote or the published count?
Use the count in your contract. If it says nothing, use the delivered count and state it on the line.
How do I write a per-word rate on the form?
Enter the word count as the quantity, word as the unit and the rate in dollars, such as 0.25. The total calculates by itself.
When do I add a kill fee?
When the client stops a piece after you started and your contract has a kill fee. Add it as its own line with the article title.
Can I bill for research time?
Check your agreement. Show research hours on a separate line, or include them in your per-word or project price.
When a form is not enough
The InvoiceSnap app saves customers and past invoices. It records payments that you get outside the app. It drafts estimate lines from a job description with optional online AI, and you review each draft. The free plan has 3 invoices and 3 estimates in total, not per month. The app has 19 invoice designs. Plans and prices are in the app.
Sources and how this page was checked
Published by 731labs, the maker of InvoiceSnap. Last checked 11/09/2026. An AI tool helped draft this page. An automated check compared the legal facts and price ranges with their sources, using two AI models. No person reviewed this page. The sources are listed below. This page is general information. It is not tax or legal advice.
- Editorial Freelancers Association, 2026 rate chart, 2026 chart. Checked 11/09/2026.
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers and authors, May 2025 data. Checked 11/09/2026.
- 17 U.S.C. 204, execution of transfers of copyright ownership. Checked 11/09/2026.
- 17 U.S.C. 101, definitions. Checked 11/09/2026.
- IRS, instructions for Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC. Checked 11/09/2026.
- IRS, about Form W-9. Checked 11/09/2026.