Invoice guide
Freelance proposal template (free, with a payment schedule)
A freelance proposal template should say what you'll deliver, how many rounds of changes are included, when each stage is done, what it costs line by line, what's due up front, and who owns the work once it's paid for, ending with a page to sign. Invoice's freelance templates (design, consulting and photography) have all of that, and turn each payment into an invoice once the client signs.
What freelancers should always include
- Rounds of changes. "Two rounds of changes" stops a project from never ending.
- A deposit. 30 to 50% before you start is normal, and it's your protection if the client disappears.
- A kill fee. What they pay if they cancel part-way through.
- Ownership. Whether the rights pass to them on final payment, or they get a licence to use the work.
- Usage for photos and writing. Where and how long they can use it.
- Your availability. When you can start, and how quickly you reply.
Hourly, daily or fixed?
A fixed price per piece of work is easiest for the client to say yes to. If the work is open-ended, show a day rate with an estimated number of days, and say what happens if it runs over. Either way, give each line a quantity and a rate, so the client sees where the money goes.
After they sign
When the signed copy comes back, add it to the proposal in Invoice. It's checked against the one you sent, marked accepted, and you're offered the deposit invoice straight away. The remaining payments can all be drafted at once, each due on its milestone's date.
Questions
How much deposit should a freelancer ask for?
Between 25 and 50% is common. Larger or riskier projects justify more; repeat clients you trust can pay less up front.
Should a freelance proposal include a contract?
Include short terms in plain English: payment, changes, cancellation, ownership and confidentiality. A signed proposal with those terms works as a simple agreement for most freelance work. It isn't legal advice.
How many rounds of changes should I include?
Two is usual. Say what counts as a round and what happens after that, such as an hourly rate for further changes.
Can I save my own freelance template?
Yes, with Invoice Pro: save any proposal as a template and start the next one from it, with its sections, prices and payments.