A freelancer who gets paid late almost always has the same problem, and it is rarely that the client is broke. It is that the invoice left a question unanswered. What exactly is this for? When is it due? How am I supposed to pay it? Every unanswered question is a reason to set the invoice aside, and set-aside invoices are how a 30-day term quietly becomes 60.
A clear invoice removes those questions. Here is what belongs on it.
The line items that have to be there
These are not optional, and a missing one is a common reason an invoice gets queried instead of paid:
Your business name and contact details, and the client's. If you operate under a trade name or have a tax registration number, put it on. It signals you are a real business and it is what their accounts team needs to file the payment.
A unique invoice number. Sequential is fine. It is how both sides reference the invoice later, and most accounting systems reject an invoice without one.
The issue date and a specific due date. Not "net 30" alone. Write the actual date the money is due, for example "Due 14 June 2026." A date is harder to ignore than a term.
A clear description of the work. Not "design services." Write what was delivered: "Brand identity, final logo files and one-page style guide, as agreed in the 2 May contract." The description should match the contract so there is nothing to reconcile.
The amount, any tax or VAT, and the total. Show the math. If you collected a deposit, show it as a credit so the balance due is unambiguous.
How to pay. This is the line freelancers forget most often. Spell out the payment method and give the client a way to act immediately.
Payment terms that actually get you paid sooner
The default "net 30" is a habit, not a law. A few choices move money faster:
