Free invoice templates for professional services
Consulting, accounting, legal, real estate and IT invoice templates — hourly, retainer and fixed-fee billing.
Professional-service firms bill by the hour, on a monthly retainer, or per matter — often with a purchase order and Net 30 terms. These templates open configured for that, so an invoice looks the part for a corporate accounts-payable team.
Hourly, retainer or fixed fee
Hourly and day-rate work goes on as quantity × rate with the period stated. A retainer is a single line for the agreed monthly fee, ideally with a note of what it covers. Fixed-fee or per-matter work names the deliverable. Ambiguity here is the single most common reason a services invoice sits unpaid in an approvals queue.
Get the PO number and state the terms
Most mid-size and enterprise clients raise a purchase order before work starts, and their AP system will reject an invoice that doesn't quote it — so ask for the PO at kickoff and put it in the PO field. State Net 30 with an explicit due date rather than only the term, and keep numbering strictly sequential for your own reconciliation.
Professional services templates — common questions.
Do I need a PO number on the invoice?
Only if the client uses purchase orders — but if they do, an invoice without one will typically be rejected automatically. Ask at the start of the engagement and enter it in the PO field.
What's the difference between a retainer and a fixed-fee invoice?
A retainer bills a recurring agreed amount that reserves your availability, usually monthly. A fixed-fee invoice bills a set price for a defined piece of work. Both are single-line, but a retainer repeats on the same date each period.
BillCrafter is a document tool, not an accounting or legal service. Tax and contract rules vary by country and state — check anything material with a qualified professional.