Freelance Graphic Designer Invoice Template
A freelance graphic designer invoice allows an independent graphic designer to request payment from both one-time and ongoing customers for designs and services rendered. Graphic designers often charge for their services on an hourly basis ($/hr), although charging on a per-design basis is also common.
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How to Create an Invoice for Your Freelance Graphic Design Services
The invoice should be provided to the client as soon as the services are rendered, and payment should be received within 30 days. If the client does not pay within 30 days, the freelancer can send a reminder invoice or contact the client directly to request payment. If the client still does not pay, the freelancer can take legal action to recover the owed funds. It is important for freelancers to keep accurate records of their invoices and payments to avoid any misunderstandings or disputes with clients.
What Does a Freelance Graphic Designer Do?
A freelance graphic designer is a designer who offers design services and is not affiliated with a particular company. They contract for gigs, which can be either a single project or longer-term. Compared to being a salaried employee, freelancing gives designers the freedom to take on projects they want to take on and allows them to get a sense of the market before committing to a single company. A freelance graphic designer generally:
- Creates logos
- Designs flyers
- Designs book covers
- Customizes business cards
How to Become a Freelance Graphic Designer
Some graphic designers have degrees in design or marketing, but formal education isn’t necessary in order to find work as a freelance designer. Many freelance graphic designers don’t have formal training but all have a good, solid understanding of how to use such design software as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. They can be self-taught and assisted by courses posted on Youtube and Udemy. They should also be familiar with Content Management Systems (CMS) including WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. Other prerequisites for developing a robust clientele are a creative mind and good business sense. Designers should create an online portfolio of past work.
Freelance Graphic Designer Salary & Hourly Rate
The following are the average salary and hourly rates for graphic designers working as freelancers in the United States:
How to Charge as a Freelance Graphic Designer
There is an ever-growing market for freelancers of all kinds, especially graphic designers. While many freelancers take on jobs at a discounted rate to get work and build their resumes, more experienced professionals often enjoy equal (if not greater) rates compared to their salaried counterparts. It’s wise to research and keep up to date with what other designers are charging, and to keep your expenses (e.g. insurance, software, utilities, etc.) in mind as you calculate your desired rate. There are many different types of freelance graphic designer invoices, but the most common and popular type is the hourly rate invoice. This type of invoice simply charges the client an hourly rate for the time that the designer spends working on the project. This is the most straightforward and easy-to-understand type of invoice and is often the preferred method for clients who are new to working with freelancers. Another common type of freelance graphic designer invoice is the project-based invoice.
Where to Find Work as a Freelance Graphic Designer
Some popular online job boards where graphic designers can advertise their services are:
Key Features of a Freelance Graphic Designer Invoice
When you create a freelance graphic designer invoice, you will need to include the following information:
- Your name and contact information (e.g. address, phone number)
- The name and contact information of the client
- Invoice date
- A description of the work performed
- The date the work was performed and number of hours worked
- The amount charged for the work
- Acceptable payment methods (e.g. PayPal, check, cash)
- Due date for payment
Helpful Tip: Use an invoice to bill clients before or after a project is completed. If requiring payment upfront, including a satisfaction guarantee or language that allows the customer to make revisions to the graphic design at no extra cost when delivered.