Practical guides for freelancers and small businesses: invoicing, payment terms, recurring billing, and everything in between.
Looking for a quick definition? Browse the invoicing glossary
SolidInvoice 3.1 adds payment terms with automatic due dates, designer invoice templates, reorderable line items, locked invoice currencies, and easier Stripe and PayPal setup.
How to write an invoice in 10 steps: what to include, an annotated example with real numbers, common mistakes, and what changes by industry.
Invoice vs receipt vs quote: what each document does, when to send it, and how a proforma and a credit note fit in, traced through one real job.
How to number invoices: five invoice number formats with examples, which one suits your business, what to do with a voided invoice, and the UK and EU rules.
Progress billing means invoicing a job in stages as the work gets done. See a worked $18,000 remodel with a deposit, two draws, a change order and sample invoice wording.
A day-by-day plan for an overdue invoice: when to email, when to call, when to add a late fee or pause work, and when to send a final notice or go to small claims.
How to invoice a deposit and the final balance, worked through a $6,400 kitchen job with a 30% deposit. Compare one invoice with a partial payment against a separate deposit invoice.
Stripe vs PayPal fees worked out on a $2,000 invoice: $58.30 for a domestic Stripe card payment, $70.29 for PayPal, plus international, conversion, dispute and card surcharge rules.
Is labor taxable? In most US states labor is untaxed and materials are taxed, but some states tax repair, cleaning, lawn care or nearly every service. Rules by trade, checked against seven state tax agencies.
What to do when a customer won't pay an invoice: demand letter, payment plan, small claims, mechanics lien, collection agency or write-off, with costs, limits and deadlines from official court sources.
A complete guide to invoice payment terms: what they mean, which to use, and how they affect your cash flow as a freelancer or small business.
Net 60 means payment is due 60 days after the invoice date. See due date examples, net 60 vs net 30 and net 90, what it costs you, and how to negotiate.
Payment in advance means the client pays before you start work or deliver. Learn what CIA, PIA, CWO and COD mean, when to ask for them, and how to invoice.
2/10 net 30 means a 2% discount if the client pays within 10 days, or the full amount in 30. See the math, the 37% annual rate, and when it is worth offering.
Net 45 means payment is due 45 days after the invoice date. See due date tables, net 45 vs net 30 and net 60, who uses it, and invoice wording to copy.
Net 7 means payment is due 7 days after the invoice date, and net 10 means 10. See due date tables, net 7 vs net 15 and net 30, and when to use each.
31 sourced late payment statistics for 2026: how many invoices are paid late, how late, what it costs small businesses and freelancers, and what speeds up payment.
Net 30 means payment is due 30 days after the invoice date. See due date examples, common variations, cash flow impact, and when freelancers should offer it.
Due upon receipt means payment is expected as soon as the client gets the invoice. Learn how it differs from net 30, when it is late, and when to use it.
Net 15 means payment is due 15 days after the invoice date. See due date examples, net 15 vs net 14 and net 30, and when it beats shorter terms.
Being profitable but broke is a cash flow problem, not a client problem. Here is why it happens to freelancers, and the simple money system that fixes it.
SolidInvoice 3.0 brings a full UI redesign, AI integration via MCP, Google OAuth, 2FA, Meilisearch, custom fields, and a full tax system overhaul.
SolidInvoice ships with a built-in MCP server, so you can create invoices, chase payments, and answer billing questions from Claude, ChatGPT, or Cursor.
Copy-paste overdue invoice email templates for day 7, 21 and 30+, plus subject lines and tips for asking for payment politely without losing the client.
Stop sending the same invoice every month manually. Learn how to automate recurring billing for retainer clients and subscription services.
Learn how to create professional invoices, set clear payment terms, and get paid faster as a freelancer. What to include, when to send, how to follow up.