How Often Should Freelancers Invoice?
Find the optimal invoicing schedule for your freelance business and get paid consistently without annoying clients.
The frequency of your invoicing affects your cash flow, client relationships, and admin workload. This guide helps you choose the right schedule for your business type.
The 4 Main Invoicing Frequencies
1. After Every Job
Invoice immediately when each piece of work is complete.
✓ Best for:
- • One-off projects
- • Quick turnaround work (logo design, small repairs)
- • New or untested clients
- • High-value individual jobs
Pro: Fastest payment, simple tracking
Con: Can feel pushy for ongoing relationships
2. Weekly
Invoice every Friday for work completed that week.
✓ Best for:
- • Hourly consulting
- • Short-term contracts (1-3 months)
- • Businesses with tight cash flow
- • High daily rates (£300+/day)
Pro: Regular cash flow, small invoice amounts
Con: Admin-heavy, can irritate some clients
3. Monthly
Invoice at the end of each month for all work done.
✓ Best for:
- • Retainer clients
- • Ongoing contracts (3+ months)
- • Multiple small tasks per client
- • Most freelance businesses
Pro: Professional, predictable, less admin
Con: Cash flow gaps, larger invoices to chase
4. Milestone-Based
Invoice when specific project phases are complete.
✓ Best for:
- • Long projects (3+ months)
- • Phased work (design → development → launch)
- • Large projects (£5,000+)
- • Construction/building work
Pro: Matches project flow, shares payment risk
Con: Requires clear milestone definitions upfront
Real-World Invoicing Schedules by Industry
👨💻 Web Developers
Typical: 50% upfront, 50% on completion
For projects under £5k. Monthly for longer contracts.
✍️ Content Writers
Typical: After each piece OR monthly
Depends on client volume and article frequency.
🎨 Designers
Typical: 50% upfront, 50% on approval
Protects against scope creep and unpaid revisions.
💼 Consultants
Typical: Monthly or weekly
Weekly for short engagements, monthly for retainers.
🔧 Tradespeople
Typical: After each job
Deposit for materials, balance on completion.
📸 Photographers
Typical: 50% booking fee, 50% on delivery
Booking fee non-refundable to secure date.
The Cash Flow Problem
Many freelancers invoice monthly and offer 30-day payment terms. That means:
Work completed: 15th January
Invoice sent: 31st January (end of month)
Payment due: 2nd March (30 days later)
Actual payment: 15th March (clients often pay late)
= 2 MONTHS between work and payment!
Solutions for Better Cash Flow:
- ✓ Invoice twice monthly - 1st and 15th of each month
- ✓ Shorter payment terms - 14 days instead of 30
- ✓ Upfront deposits - 50% before starting work
- ✓ Milestone billing - Don't wait until project end
- ✓ Automated reminders - Get paid on time more often
What Most Successful Freelancers Do
Based on surveys of established freelancers:
- 63% invoice monthly
Balances admin vs cash flow - 22% invoice per project
For one-off or milestone-based work - 12% invoice weekly
High-value hourly consultants - 3% invoice bi-weekly
Compromise between weekly and monthly
How to Choose Your Schedule
Ask yourself these questions:
- 1. How's your cash flow?
Tight? Invoice more frequently (weekly/bi-weekly). - 2. How long are your projects?
Under 2 weeks? Invoice on completion. 3+ months? Use milestones. - 3. What do clients expect?
Corporate clients often prefer monthly. Agencies might want weekly. - 4. How much admin can you handle?
Weekly invoicing = 4x the admin of monthly. Use software to help! - 5. What's your invoice value?
£5k+ invoices? Monthly is fine. £500 invoices? Consider more frequent.
Pro Tips for Any Frequency
- 💡 Be consistent - Clients should know when to expect invoices
- 💡 Communicate upfront - Discuss payment schedule in your proposal
- 💡 Don't wait - Send invoices immediately when due, not "when you get around to it"
- 💡 Automate - Use software to send on schedule without thinking about it
- 💡 Track everything - Know which invoices are unpaid at all times
Invoice On Schedule with Experi
Whether you invoice weekly, monthly, or per project, Experi makes it effortless. Set up automated reminders so you never forget to send an invoice.
- ✓ Save client details - invoice in 30 seconds
- ✓ Payment tracking - see what's overdue instantly
- ✓ Automatic reminders - get paid faster
- ✓ Scheduled sending - set it and forget it
Summary: Find Your Rhythm
There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Monthly invoicing works for most freelancers because it balances admin workload with reasonable cash flow. But adjust based on your business type, project length, and cash needs. The key is consistency - invoice on the same schedule every time, and use tools like Experi to make it effortless regardless of frequency.
Invoice consistently, get paid predictably
Experi helps you stay on schedule with automated reminders and tracking.
Try Experi Free