Copywriter invoice template for web copy, articles and retainers
Copywriters invoice per project, per piece or per hour, and often all three on the same invoice: a website as a fixed fee, articles at a price each, and editing by the hour. Projects over about $1,000 usually take a 50% deposit before work starts, with the balance due on the final draft. Monthly content retainers are invoiced on the first of the month.
Agencies pay on 30 or 45 day terms and need a purchase order number; platforms pay you weekly minus a fee and you should still record the gross amount as income. Say how many rounds of revisions the price includes so extra rounds can be charged without a fuss.
Opens the free generator with these line items, terms and notes filled in. Add your details and download the PDF. No account, nothing uploaded.
What the invoice looks like
Sample business, sample client and the preset lines. The generator uses the same renderer, so your PDF matches this.
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price | GST | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Website copy: home, about and services pages (5 pages) | 1 | project | $1,800.00 | 10% | $1,800.00 |
Blog articles, 1,000 words, SEO-optimised | 4 | article | $350.00 | 10% | $1,400.00 |
Email welcome sequence, 5 emails | 1 | set | $650.00 | 10% | $650.00 |
Editing and proofreading | 3 | hr | $95.00 | 10% | $285.00 |
Four styles and your own accent colour are available in the generator.
The preset line items
Starting points, priced ex GST. Change the descriptions, quantities and rates to match the job; add or delete lines as you go.
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price | GST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Website copy: home, about and services pages (5 pages) | 1 | project | $1,800.00 | 10% |
| Blog articles, 1,000 words, SEO-optimised | 4 | article | $350.00 | 10% |
| Email welcome sequence, 5 emails | 1 | set | $650.00 | 10% |
| Editing and proofreading | 3 | hr | $95.00 | 10% |
Suggested payment terms
50% deposit before work starts on projects over $1,000; balance due within 14 days of the final draft. Retainers are billed on the 1st of the month. Agencies: 30 days from invoice date.
Suggested notes
Includes two rounds of revisions per piece; further rounds are charged at the hourly rate. Copyright in the final copy transfers to you on full payment.
What must be on a tax invoice
The ATO's list. The template lays each one out for you; it is general information, not tax advice.
- The words "Tax invoice" (an invoice without GST can just say "Invoice")
- Your identity: your business or trading name
- Your ABN
- The date the invoice was issued
- A description of what was sold, with the quantity and the price of each item
- The GST amount, shown separately or as "Total includes GST of $X"
- Which items carry GST if some do and some do not
- For sales of $1,000 or more, the buyer's identity or ABN as well
Worth adding for your trade
- What each piece is (page, article, email) and the word count where that set the price
- How many rounds of revisions are included
- The deposit received and the balance due
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
Questions about invoicing
Do I need to charge GST as a copywriter?
Only once you are registered, which is required at $75,000 a year of turnover. Under that, issue plain invoices with no GST. Once registered, add 10% to every line for Australian clients and issue tax invoices.
A platform takes a fee before paying me. What do I invoice?
Platforms usually generate the invoice or statement for you. Record the gross amount as income and the fee as an expense so your figures match theirs. For direct clients, invoice the full price with this template.
Should I take a deposit?
For anything over a few hundred dollars, yes. A 50% deposit invoice before you start and a balance invoice on the final draft is the norm. Each is a tax invoice in its own right if you are registered.
General information only, not tax advice. Check your own situation with a registered tax agent or the ATO.
Want it numbered, sent and chased automatically?
FlowFi keeps your clients and invoice numbers, emails each invoice with a pay-online link, marks it viewed when the client opens it, and sends polite reminders at 1, 7 and 14 days overdue. Quotes, recurring invoices and your BAS from the bank statement are included. Pro is $29 a month, the first 14 days are free, and there is no card to enter.
Start your 14-day free trialRelated templates
A fixed-price brand identity, stationery, a social template set and extra revisions by the hour, with deposit and file-release terms.
A build milestone, extra development by the hour, monthly hosting and a re-billed domain, with milestone and hosting terms.
A fixed-fee engagement phase, extra days, a workshop and expenses billed at cost, with 30-day terms and an engagement reference.