How to Invoice as a Copywriter
How to quote a copywriting project, bill per piece, per project or by the hour, show revision rounds and extras clearly, take a deposit, and follow up when payment is late.
A copywriting invoice should match the scope the client approved: which pieces you wrote, the number of revision rounds the price included, and anything extra they asked for, each on its own line.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and last modified October 29, 2026, states "Copywriters prepare advertisements to promote the sale of a good or service." It also says "Some writers and authors are self-employed or freelancers." If you work for yourself, send each invoice on delivery.
Here is a worked example using sample figures: a copywriter quotes five website pages at $350.00 each, 5 × $350.00 = $1,750.00, including two rounds of revisions. The client also wants a third round, quoted at $150.00, so the total is $1,750.00 + $150.00 = $1,900.00. The invoice has two scheduled payments of $950.00: a deposit before writing starts and the balance on delivery. $950.00 + $950.00 = $1,900.00. Billed's help center requires the installments to equal the invoice total, and these do.
Step-by-step invoicing guide
- 1
Send an estimate first
Set out the pieces, the price and the revision rounds included. Billed's features page says "Yes your clients can approve or reject your estimates online."
- 2
Convert the approved estimate
Billed's invoice software page says you can "convert an approved estimate into an invoice". On that step, its help center says "You can add and edit any information here."
- 3
List each piece and extra on its own line
Billed's help center says you can "fill this section to charge against new items and services". Put extra revision rounds on a separate line from the original fee.
- 4
Take a deposit on larger projects
Billed's help center says "Add a percentage or flat amount and the due date for each installment." and "Clients can pay several installments against a single invoice."
- 5
Set the due date and send
Billed's invoice software page says "Set a due date on each invoice so your client knows when to pay." and "When the invoice is ready, send it to your client by email."
- 6
Follow up on late payments
Billed's help center says "You can set a schedule of payment reminders before and after the invoice's due date." It also says "You can send up to three reminders."
Tips for copywriter invoicing
- State the number of revision rounds the price includes, and price extra rounds separately.
- Name each piece the way the client's brief does, such as home page or product launch email.
- For hourly work, bill from your time log: Billed's help center says "Billed allows you to generate invoices against billable time log entries."
- Store each per-piece rate as a saved service; Billed's invoice software page says you can "save the products and services you sell so you can pull them into an invoice instead of retyping them."
- Check what a client has paid before you start new work: Billed's client management page says "Each client profile in Billed includes a complete history of invoices, estimates, and payments."
Common invoicing mistakes to avoid
- Starting without an approved estimate, then disagreeing about scope when the invoice arrives.
- Billing extra revision rounds inside the original fee, so the client can't see what changed.
- Invoicing the whole of a large project after delivery instead of taking a deposit first.
- Leaving the due date off the invoice.
- Chasing a late payment only weeks after it fell due.
How this works in Billed
Estimates clients approve online
Billed's features page says "Yes your clients can approve or reject your estimates online."
Estimate to invoice
Billed's invoice software page says you can "convert an approved estimate into an invoice".
A line for each piece
Billed's help center says you can "fill this section to charge against new items and services". Billed's invoice software page says you can "save the products and services you sell so you can pull them into an invoice instead of retyping them."
Deposits on one invoice
Billed's help center says "You can make unlimited installments. However, the sum of all installments should be equal to the total balance of the invoice."
Invoices from tracked time
Billed's time tracking page says "Create an hourly rate project, set its hourly rate, and Billed tracks the charge for each task as you log it."
Frequently asked questions
Start Invoicing With Billed
Set up your account and send your first invoice with Billed.
At a glance
| What you bill | Where it goes on the invoice |
|---|---|
| A set of pieces | A line for each piece |
| Extra revision rounds | Their own line, apart from the original fee |
| Hourly work | An invoice built from your time log |
| A deposit | An installment due before writing starts |
When this isn't for you
Already happy with how you bill your writing clients? Then there's no need to switch.