Your invoices should help you get paid and boost your brand. Let yourself be inspired by these 14 invoice examples to create invoices that stand out.
Invoices are used to request payment from your clients. These invoice examples can inspire you to create professional, customized invoices.
But first, what should be included in an invoice?
What to include in an invoice
An invoice is a legal document. It documents sales, supports your bookkeeping and helps calculate the correct amount of income tax.
That’s why there are rules for what you have to include on an invoice:
- The header invoice, or tax invoice, if the invoice includes consumption tax
- The name and organization number of your company, as well as your address
- The name of your client—or company name and organization number if it’s a B2B sale—and their address
- The date the invoice was issued, usually called invoice date
- The date the payment is due, called due date
- A unique invoice number. Your invoices should be numbered in ascending order, so that they can be reviewed by an accountant, auditor or the government
- A description of what was sold, including unit price or hourly rate, quantity, and tax rate
- The total sum due
- Instructions for how to pay
It’s also a good idea to include your logo. This makes your invoice look more professional, and it’s more easily recognizable to your client.
What is consumption tax?
Consumption tax is the word for taxes that you add to your invoice, such as VAT or GST. In the US, consumption tax is simply called sales tax.
Usually, if you earn above a certain threshold, you have to register for consumption tax, and invoice with tax. In the US, you have to do it if you operate in a state that has sales tax, and you sell items that are subject to sales tax.
Invoice examples
1. Hourly rate invoice
This is an example of an hourly rate invoice:
The invoice includes all the necessary information, and also features a logo and repeating brand elements to give the invoice that professional touch, as well as make it more recognizable to the client.
This is a striking invoice that’s less likely to get relegated to the bottom of the pile!
2. Tax invoice
This is an example of an elegant tax invoice:
This invoice has a cleaner look, with a serif font to make it look more elegant, which will be a great fit for an upscale brand.
Note that while a signature usually isn’t required, it can elevate the look of your invoice.
3. Consulting invoice
This is an example of a stripped-back consulting invoice:
The focus of this invoice is to convey important information rather than to serve as a brand statement. If you want to keep it simple, this might be the perfect invoice template for you.
4. Freelance invoice
This is an example of a freelance invoice:
The color makes it a bit more playful, but it is balanced out by a clean, professional vibe. The point of an invoice is to request payment and document the sale, but it doesn’t mean you can’t add a personal touch.
Note that this invoice doesn’t include consumption tax, and so the header is simply invoice rather than tax invoice.
5. Small business invoice
This is an example of a small business invoice:
This is a bold invoice for a bold brand. The big, playful logo, the use of color and shapes all help establish this brand identity. Of course, this is a look that should be repeated on your website, in your emails, and in your store.
Don’t be worried to experiment until you find a look that suits your small business.
See also: How to build a strong brand for your startup
6. Modern invoice
This is an example of a modern invoice:
This invoice is modern and bold, while still being clean and elegant. It’s perfect for companies that have a strong brand and tone of voice.
The layout is also unusual, with the invoice number, invoice date and due date on the side, which means you’ll be remembered.
7. Minimalist invoice
This is an example of a minimalist invoice:
This invoice includes all the necessary information in a clean and simple layout. This is perfect for brands that want to be professional and consistent, and it looks equally good in print and on screens.
8. Invoice for services
This is an example of an invoice for services, in this case copywriting:
The striking color and playful curves helps you establish a memorable and distinct brand. However, the design still makes it clear what the invoice is for, and how to pay you.
9. Invoice for goods
This is an example of an invoice for goods, in this case a dress and a skirt:
The invoice is inspired by the logo, which is sewing thread, and features the same colors, as well as a sewing border around the green box.
This is an example of an invoice that supports your brand, while still serving its function as a sales document and a request for payment.
10. Printable invoice
This is an example of a printable invoice:
An invoice that you’re going to print should be sleek, simple and sophisticated. Adding a background color, most likely won’t look good in print—you’re going to get a white border on a printer, unless you print and then crop the invoice.
This is a type of invoice that will look good using most printers.
11. Medical invoice
This is an example of a medical invoice:
This invoice is clean and simple, and the blue colors invoke calmness and trust. It also echoes the blue logo. It makes it clear what the hospital is billing for, and ensures the patient that everything is in order.
12. Construction invoice
This is an example of a construction invoice:
This invoice outlines what the construction company is charging for, while referring back to a more comprehensive agreement that includes all the details. The touch of orange evokes a hi-vis vest or a safety helmet.
13. Graphic design invoice
This is an example of a graphic design invoice:
As a graphic designer, you shouldn’t be afraid to play around with colors and shapes and promote your skills even in your invoices. This invoice looks modern, cool and clean. It perfectly complements the striking logo.
14. Standout invoice
This is an example of a standout invoice:
It features a strong background color, as well as some shapes that evoke graphs.
As a virtual assistant, this invoice perfectly complements your brand—the green color and the graphs emphasise growth, while the orderly layout shows off your organizational skills.
How to create an invoice?
You can create an invoice in several ways. The most old-fashioned way is to use an invoice pad, with prenumbered forms that you fill out. This is bare-bones billing. You can also download an invoice template—or create your own with inspiration from the templates above.
Another alternative is to use an invoice generator, but then you won’t have as much control over the look, and you’ll have to re-enter all the information every time you use the generator. It is, in other words, not a great long-term solution.
You can also create invoices using invoicing software. These are the perks of invoicing software:
- Get paid more easily: Having a good invoicing solution makes the process much smoother by for example automating parts of the process and reminding you if there’s anything you need to follow up on.
- Stay consistent and and professional: With professional, branded invoices you can establish a solid brand, and maintain great client relationships.
- Save valuable time: With free invoicing software, you never have to start from scratch. Clients, products, and services are saved and can be added to your invoice with the click of a button.
- Invoice on the go: With a free mobile app, it’s easy to keep on top of your billing, and you can invoice when you want to.
- Make it easier to follow up: With Conta, all your invoices are saved in one place, and you’ll be notified if any invoices are overdue, so you can follow up with clients.
- Reduce errors: Invoice software lets you know if you’ve forgotten any important information, and prices and taxes are calculated automatically.
Hopefully these 14 invoice examples have inspired you—good luck with your invoicing!
Psst? Did you know you can create professional invoices for free with Conta?
