Arguably, photography is one of the most fun and rewarding jobs out there. However, if you want to get paid, besides providing your clients with gorgeous images, you also need to give them a photography invoice.

A photography invoice is an important document that should give your client a clear picture of what they’re paying you for

. But how do you create one, and what should you include in it?

If you want the answer, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we teach you everything you need to know about photography invoices and show you how to create them without a hitch!

Whether you’re a freelancer or a part-time/full-time photographer, you’ll need to provide your clients with an invoice once you’re done with the job.

Consider the photography invoice as an extension of the contract you have with your client and a continuation of the experience you provide them. The document needs to break down the services you’re contracted for, how much the client owes you, and how they can pay you.

Secondly, your invoice says a lot about you. A well-organized, neatly designed photography invoice can show your client that they’ve hired a professional—not an amateur.

Most importantly, a photography invoice can protect you if a client doesn’t want to pay for the services you provided. In such cases, you can use your invoice as proof of contract and file a lawsuit against them.

Lastly, a photography invoice can help you later on when you’re tracking your expenses and filing tax returns with the IRS. To file taxes, you’ll have to fill out W-2 and 1099 forms, which should contain some information that can be found on your invoices.

What Should Be Included in a Photography Invoice?

Now that you know why a photography invoice is important, let’s break down what you should include in it!

The first thing you want to include in your photography invoice is your name, place of residence, email address, and phone number

. This way, your client will know exactly who is sending them the invoice.

As a photographer, you most likely have a representative logo for your company, which you should add on top of your invoice. This will make it stand out, so your client will be more likely to remember you.

Then, you need to state to whom the invoice will be billed—state your client’s name, their physical and email addresses, phone number, etc.

#2. Photography Invoice Number and the Date

After listing the contact information of both parties on your invoice, you should write the date the document was made.

Next, you need to add a unique number to your photography invoice. Invoice numbers make aligning income and expenses with specific invoices easier, and they’re required by law in some states.

The best way to organize your invoice number system is to use numbers in sequential order and include the date in them.

For example, if you’re writing an invoice for 2022, use “22001” as your starting number. This way, you’ll be able to easily tell when you created the invoice.

In this section of your photography invoice, you need to state how, when, and how much you want to be paid.

First, choose your preferred payment method (e.g., cash, credit cards, payment systems, etc.). Then, enter the total amount of money you expect to receive for your work, and finally, add the date when your client should pay you.

Also, don’t forget to add your credit card number, PayPal email, or any other payment information your client needs to send you money.

#4. Description of Your Services and Products

After reading the net pay you expect for the project, your client will likely want to know what makes up the net price stated on your invoice

. That’s why you should break down all of the services or products you’re providing them with and the exact price they need to pay for these.

The best way to organize this section is to specify the service or product, add the rate you expect for it, and add the quantity (if necessary).

You should also provide any additional details you deem necessary about your services and products, as these should prevent any miscommunication between you and your client.

In this section, you need to include the tax you’ll be paying on the fees you collect from your products and services.

45 out of 50 states in the U.S. have a sales tax

. There is no standard rate for this tax, as it varies from state to state. On top of that, some states don’t even tax photography services, only photo sales.

That’s why your best bet would be to look up the applicable sales tax rules in your area or consult with your lawyer before filling out this section of your photography invoice.

Last but not least, if you want to give your photography invoice a friendlier tone, you should write a simple “thank you” in the additional notes

. Even though it’s a minor detail, this phrase will give a more human touch to your invoice.

—besides the photography invoice—that you might have to take care of if you’re going to be selling specific products or services:

To create a photography invoice, you can either write it manually from scratch or use an invoice template generator.

If you want to write a photography invoice by yourself, be prepared to invest a lot of time and effort into it. You’ll have to design your invoice, research each section, and do all of the payment and tax calculations manually.

Yet, if you don’t want to waste any time so you can focus on photography, you should use a generator and get an invoice template in no time.

 You'll be able to change it to your liking, and the chances of making a mistake will be minimized.

On top of that, creating a photography invoice with a generator is easy, as all you have to do is:

Benefits of Using an Online Invoice Generator

Using an online invoice generator comes with many benefits. Most people opt for it because it:

. An invoice generator will provide you with a template that is neatly designed and looks professional. With such a template, you’ll be able to make an easy-to-read invoice that will likely increase the level of customer confidence and raise the chances of your clients coming back in the future.

. By using an online invoice generator, you save a lot of time that you’d otherwise spend on manual invoice creation. On top of that, you can reuse invoice templates for multiple clients, which means you can focus on your photography work instead of wasting time on handling paperwork.

. When you download your digital invoice, you can save it either somewhere on your computer or on a cloud, such as Google Drive. This makes your invoices easily accessible at any time and, most importantly, secures them from cyber threats and natural disasters.

Paperwork is required in all fields of work. Whether you’re a part-time or full-time photographer, you’ll have to provide your clients with an appropriate invoice. But luckily, making this important doesn’t have to be hard.

Check out our invoice generator and get a personalized photography invoice in no time!

A photography invoice is used by people who provide all kinds of photography services, and it serves as an extension of the contract they have with their client.

Usually, a photography invoice includes the contact information of the photographer and their client, payment details, a description of the services, and other job-related details.

Undoubtedly, the easiest and most efficient way to make a photography invoice is to use an online invoice generator.

Using an invoice generator gives your documents a professional look, saves you plenty of time, and makes your bookkeeping easy.

Professional photographers need adequate and professional invoices. Read our guide and learn how to easily make a photography invoice!

What is a Photography Invoice, and How to Create One in a Snap?

Providing your clients with an accurate contractor invoice is an essential step if you want to be professional and also ensure you get paid on time.

Creating this key legal document can be difficult for you as a contractor, especially if you are handling several projects with different billing terms at once. But don’t worry—we’ve got your back!

We’ll tell you everything you need to know about a contractor invoice and show you how to use an online generator to create one in a few simple steps.

A contractor invoice is a legal document that you, as an independent contractor, can use to bill your clients for the goods or services you provided them with.

Keep in mind that contractors are not employees. They are independent of a company’s payroll system and are essentially self-employed. For example, you can use a contractor invoice if you’re a freelancer, photographer, or even a writer.

The entries in a contractor invoice depend on the type of business you run, so if you work in the 

, logically, you’ll have a different list of supplies compared to a writer.

But which information should you specify in your contractor invoice exactly? Read on and find out!

everyone specifies different information in their invoices

, here’s what a contractor invoice should always include:

#1. Your Business and Your Client’s Information

First things first, a contractor invoice needs to include your business details, such as your name, address, phone number, and other contact information.

 You should also add your company’s logo (if you have one), as this will help you market your name.

Then, add similar information about your client. Enter their name, physical and email addresses, phone number, etc. To make sure you enter everything correctly, you should reach out to your client before writing the invoice and inquire about or double-check their personal details.

After you fill out this section, check it for any spelling errors, as everything needs to be 100% correct in case the client needs to contact you later on.

Next, you need to add the date you created and handed out your contractor invoice.

Besides the date, you must also give your contractor invoice a unique number, which can help you identify the document easily later on. This is required by law in some states, and some businesses won’t even accept an invoice that’s not numbered.

The best way to number your invoices is to use a chronological numbering system. For example, if it’s your first contractor invoice, use "001" for that one, “002” for the second, etc.

You can also add the last two numbers of the year before the number so that you can organize your documents even more easily. For example, if you’re writing an invoice for 2022, your unique numbers should look something like this: “22001,” “22002,” etc.

Now, you must specify the payment details, such as:

Choose whether you want to be paid in cash, via credit cards, or any other payment system such as PayPal or 

Make sure to clearly state the payment deadline and any penalties for delayed payments.

 If you’re offering any discounts, you should mention that in your contractor invoice, too.

 Lastly, specify exactly how much your client is due for the services or goods you provided.

#5. A Breakdown of Your Services, Required Materials, and Tax

The final section of your contractor invoice should include a detailed breakdown of your services, materials required for the job, and tax.

First, you should add each service that you’re billing the client for and add the rate. Next, provide a detailed list of the materials you’ve used, which the client should pay for. And finally, add the 

After you’ve entered all these details, you should add a thank-you note to maintain a healthy relationship with your client.

To make a contractor invoice, you can use a program such as Microsoft Word and write it yourself. However, creating this important legal document from scratch is quite difficult and time-consuming.

That’s whyyou should use accounting software that can generate a perfect contractor invoice tailored to your preferences and projects.

 Don’t know where to find one? Why not use our 

Our online generator can make you a personalized contractor invoice in no time, and on top of that, it’s easy to use! All you have to do is:

Fill in the required fields in the template

Once you’re done, you’ll be able to forward your invoice to your clients via email or print it out and mail it to them.

Now that you know how to make contractor invoices the easy way, 

here are some things you should keep in mind when invoicing to avoid any mistakes:

The chances are that, if you’re working as a contractor, you’re billing your clients at an hourly rate. That’s why 

you should always track the time you invest in the project as soon as you start.

You can do this manually by writing down the precise time when you started and finished working each day. If you want a simpler solution, you can use tracking software and log your time directly, which makes the entire process much easier.

As an independent contractor, you will likely be hired by clients who require different types of work. This means that you will have to fill out invoices differently depending on the job you do for each specific client.

The best way to not get lost in the paperwork when invoicing is to use a template.

Luckily, our invoice generator allows you to save a template and reuse it later for different clients. This feature can take a lot of time off your workload and allow you to focus on your work instead of dealing with paperwork.

Most importantly, with our invoice template, your branding will be consistent each time you bill your clients. 

On top of that, you’ll be less likely to forget any important information that goes on this key document.

Even though you aren’t obligated by law to keep invoices after sending them to the client and receiving the payment, you should still keep track of them.

Collecting your invoices can help you with your tax duties every year. Namely, you have to fill out a W-2 form every year and send it to the IRS. To complete this form, you’ll have to know precisely how much you’ve earned and how much you’re due in taxes.

Keeping track of your invoices can also save you a headache in case a client is late with the payment. If that happens, you can just pick up the invoice for the specific client and send them an 

When is the Best Time to Send a Contractor Invoice?

Once you have your contractor invoice ready, you need to send it at the right moment. 

The best time to do so depends on the scale of the project you’re working on.

 Check out the table below for more details:

At the end of the day, invoicing your clients properly as an independent contractor is a must if you want to avoid any legal issues and get paid on time.

 But luckily, you can create and send an invoice without difficulties if you use an online invoice generator!

You can make a contractor invoice in a few easy steps, without wasting any time writing it yourself or missing some important details. On top of that, you can reuse the template for future clients at any time!

So, check out what we have to offer and create your contractor invoice the easy way!

A contractor invoice is a document independent contractors use for billing clients for the goods or services provided.

Your contractor invoice should contain your and your client’s contact information, date of issuance, a unique invoice number, payment details, and a list of your services or goods.

The easiest way to make a contractor invoice is to use an online invoice generator.

When invoicing, you should remember to track your hours and format your invoices consistently.

Why do you need a contractor invoice, and how do you create one? Read this comprehensive guide and find all the answers you need!

What is a Contractor Invoice and How to Make One Effortlessly

As a tax-registered business owner in the US, you must issue tax invoices so that you can send them to the relevant authorities at the end of each fiscal year

. But what exactly is a tax invoice, and what should be included in it?

In this article, we’ll tell you all about this document and show you how to create one with an 

A tax invoice is a legal document that you, as a seller of a service or product, must give to the buyer when collecting payments for taxable sales.

If you’re rendering a service, you need to provide your client with a tax invoice 30 days after the service takes place. On the other hand, if you’re selling a product, you can hand them the invoice at the time of payment or delivery of the product.

Most importantly, you are obligated by law to send tax invoices to the relevant tax authorities at the end of each fiscal year.

But what makes this document different from your standard invoices?

Essentially, besides listing the price of your services and products, it also displays the amount of tax payable and includes taxes such as:

It’s important for a business owner to have a tax invoice since they can use it to:

Support a tax-registered business’s claim for the deduction of input tax from the VAT liability

Determine the time in which your claim for input tax can be lodged based on the date included on the invoice

Figure out exactly which purchases are going to be included in a taxable time period

Lastly, submitting tax invoices to the authorities helps them identify which companies and businesses are evading ta

x. This is a significant issue in the US, as the state annually loses 

What Information is Included in a Tax Invoice?

As you’re going to be submitting your tax invoice to the government, you need to make sure you include all essential information in it.

 If you don’t, you or your buyers/clients won’t be able to claim the tax credits due.

For this reason, make sure to include the following information in your tax invoice:

The first thing you want to do when creating this document is to add the words “tax invoice” at the top of it.

By doing this, you will make your tax invoice stand out from the rest of your invoices. This can be beneficial for you later on when you’re gathering tax invoices to submit to the authorities.

Next, you need to specify the date when the tax invoice was written and handed out to the client/buyer.

After adding the date to your invoice, you also need to give it a unique number, which will help you align profits and expenses to specific invoices easier later on. An invoice number is also 

Note that your invoice numbering system should be in chronological order. For example, for your first tax invoice, you should use "001," for the second, “002,” and so on. By giving your invoices sequential numbers, you minimize the chances of losing track of them.

If you want to be even more organized, you can also add the last two numbers of the year the invoice is issued next to the three-digit invoice number.

Let’s say that you are writing an invoice for 20

." This way, you’ll know both the year the invoice was issued and its number.

In this section of your tax invoice, you need to provide your client’s name, physical and email addresses, place of residence, ZIP code, and phone number.

Then you need to enter the same information about your company, including the 

. This is an identification number used by the IRS to administer tax laws. You need it to file your tax returns correctly and claim any treaty benefits.

Some of the taxpayer identification numbers you can use in this section are:

Preparer Taxpayer Identification Number (PTIN)

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions (ATIN)

Once you’ve added all the required client and company information, you need to specify:

. This can be either cash, credit cards, payment systems such as PayPal, or even a direct transfer.

. You can select any payment date up to a year after issuing the tax invoice.

. The two most common discount types you can offer in this section are “percent” and “flat amount” discounts.

. Your client needs to know the net price of your services/goods, which includes the total sum before taxes and after discounts are applied.

#5. Description of the Goods or Services and Taxes

Here, you need to list all the goods or services you’re charging the billed party for. Be as detailed as possible in this section, specify the quantity for each of the items, and add the taxes applied for them.

Finally, you must add the tax payable, or the total amount of taxes you need to pay for the sales of your items, as part of the transaction.

For example, suppose you are selling $200 worth of products or services and you collect a 10% sales tax. According to these numbers, you should list:

The subtotal of all items you listed in the invoice

The tax payable is 10% (or $20 in this case)

Now that you know exactly what to include in your tax invoice, here’s what you should do if you want to ensure a solid invoicing process:

. The rules on what you should include in a tax invoice are different in every state. Hence, you should consult with your local tax authorities before or after making this document to ensure you don’t miss out on anything.

. When making your tax invoice, you should avoid piling up information without order, as your client needs to easily digest everything you write down.

. After making and submitting your tax invoices, you should collect them in a specific folder or cabinet so that you can easily access them and find what you need quickly when the time comes. Arguably the best place to keep your records would be cloud storage, such as Google Drive, for example, as it's safe from data breaches, natural disasters, and cyber attacks.

Without a doubt, the easiest way to make a tax invoice is to use an online generator

. Why waste time creating this document from scratch via Excel or Word when you can get a template that you can easily fill out and be done with it in no time?

The biggest benefit of using an online generator is that it’s super simple to use. To get a tax invoice with its help, you only need to:

Fill in the required details in the template

Once you’re done, you’ll instantly be able to print out your tax invoice or send it to your client via email.

As a small business owner, you are obligated to provide tax authorities with tax invoices at the end of each fiscal year. 

Although paperwork can be headache-inducing, making a tax invoice doesn’t have to be hard

Use our online invoice maker, fill out the template, download it, and feel free to use it whenever you need such documents!

A tax invoice is a document that you, as a seller of a service or product, are required to provide to your customer for taxable payments.

Besides being legally obligated to provide a tax invoice to your customers, a tax invoice can also help you determine the time in which your claim for input tax can be lodged.

A tax invoice usually includes the words “tax invoice,” a unique number, company information, payment details, and a breakdown of the goods and services sold.

The easiest way to make a tax invoice is to use an online generator, as you’ll only need to fill out a template to get the document.

When filling out your tax invoice, you should check tax rules in your state and make sure your document is easily readable.

What is a tax invoice, and why should you care about it as a business owner? Our article explains it in detail and shows you how to get one fast.

What is a Tax Invoice, and How to Create One Step-by-Step?

Building a solid seller-buyer network requires you to give your buyers trade credits

. One of the most popular trade credits is the 2/10 net 30.

The 2/10 net 30 credit gives your buyers a discount if they pay you on time, which promotes bulk purchases and makes them more convenient.

This article will provide you with a breakdown of the 2/10 net 30 trade credit, explain how it works, and show you how to implement it in your invoice, easily created with an 

Before understanding 2/10 net 30, you should first get familiar with trade credits.

Essentially, trade credits are used by sellers to allow the buyers of their goods to pay after the exchange has been made

. The terms of the credits are established by the seller most of the time. They also mostly depend on the cash flow that the seller wants to have.

For example, let’s say that you’re selling a batch of paper to a buyer for $1,000. When the trade credit terms are set, the buyer will receive the paper and pay the invoice amount at the agreed-upon date in the future.

Now, let’s get down to dissecting the meaning of 2/10 net 30.

The 2/10 net 30 refers to a popular method that allows sellers to extend trade credits to buyers and give them a discount if they pay the price of the goods early.

The “2” in the term represents a discount of 2%, whereas the “10” signifies a period of 10 days. This means that if the buyer pays the invoice amount within 10 days of purchase, they will get a 2% discount on the net price.

“Net” in the term refers to the net price of the goods being sold, and “30” represents a period of 30 days. This indicates that if the buyer doesn’t pay the full price of the goods within 10 days, they will not get any discount, and they must pay the net price within 30 days of purchase.

Let’s take a look at an example of the net 2/10 net 30 trade credit so you can have a crystal clear picture of how it works in practice:

Now, as you can see, starting on the 1st of August through the 10th of August, the 2/10 discount will be applicable to the total amount the buyer owes you. This means that they will receive a 2% discount on your goods if they pay on or before the 10th of August.

But, if they pay after the 10th of August, the buyer will be required to pay the invoice in full, that is, $1,000.

Should You Take Advantage of 2/10 Net 30?

As a rule of thumb, you should take advantage of the 2/10 net 30 discount only if your company has sufficient cash flow.

You can also use this discount if you have access to supply chain financing from the providers of the goods you’re selling. But, as there is no definite answer to whether you should give the 2/10 net 30 discount to your buyers, it usually depends mostly on you.

The best way to see whether you should opt for the 2/10 net 30 discount is to compare its pros and cons.

The biggest advantages of this discount are:

It is a great way to build a great supplier/vendor network that respects and understands your accounting cycles.

It promotes and makes bulk purchases more convenient, as they give more time to buyers to arrange the payment, which can also help them avoid late payments.

It builds strong vendor/buyer relationships if the buyers respect the invoice amounts and pay on time.

But, like everything in life, even the 2/10 net 30 has a downside, too. Although it goes a long way for the buyers, they might default on the payment, which means you can lose money.

2/10 net 30 is a trade credit you can offer to the buyers of your goods. Read our article to learn how to include it in your invoice!

Blog

What is a Photography Invoice, and How to Create One in a Snap?

What is a Contractor Invoice and How to Make One Effortlessly

What is a Tax Invoice, and How to Create One Step-by-Step?

What is 2/10 Net 30 Exactly and How to Calculate It

What is a Year-to-Date Payroll? YTD Meaning Explained

How to Create a Pay Stub if You Are Self-Employed