Invoicing & Billing Tools / Software for Freelancers Needing Help with Invoices

The Invoice is an important part of any type of business out there, including for the freelancer as well. The basic definition of an invoice is a detailed list of goods shipped or services rendered with an accounting of all costs included in the document. As a freelancer, we might not feel comfortable dealing with invoices or money in general. The links below offer a vast variety of online invoicing and billing tools for the freelancer in all business types:

First I wanted to list the invoicing service that we use. We use Billing Orchard for our invoicing. It is a complete, secure, online billing application that maintains hourly service billing, flat fee billing and recurring charges. Integration with Authorize.Net and other leading payment gateways provides hands-free recurring billing with a sophisticated CRM system. Below are many more invoicing tools, software, and services that you, as a freelancer, will find very useful.

1. Billing Orchard - We use Billing Orchard for our invoicing. It is a complete, secure, online billing application that maintains hourly service billing, flat fee billing and recurring charges. Integration with Authorize.Net and other leading payment gateways provides hands-free recurring billing with a sophisticated CRM system.
2. Invoice Downloads: This link offers a variety of invoicing software for the freelancer. Some of the software packages are free and some are at cost.
3. More Invoice Downloads: This link is similar to the previous link.
4. Office Kit Link: This free Excel invoice template provides a fill-in-the blank invoice form and is capable of creating and calculating invoices. The freelancer can easily create invoice using its true what-you-see-is-what-you-get form.
5. Freeware Invoicing: This link offers a variety of invoicing software for the freelancer. Some of the software packages are free and some are at cost. Some of the software packages may be demos only.
6. AB Invoicing Version 5.6: A scalable business system that can meet the demands of freelancers. The program is a very easy-to-use system that lets the freelancer concentrate on the actual business but still be in full control of the money side of it. The system can handle all types of taxes and also produce all financial reports that the freelancer needs.
7. Excel Templates: This site offers a variety of Excel templates for the freelancer.
8. Microsoft Templates: This site is the official Microsoft site for all templates and a valuable resource for freelancers. Scroll to the middle of the webpage to browse templates. Includes invoice templates as well. Templates are free for download to be used in the Microsoft Office products (i.e. Word or Excel).
9. Invoice Place: This site offers four different invoice templates to download at no cost. The company's logo is permanently placed onto each template.
10. Online Invoice: This site contains an online invoice generator. Free and easy-to-use online program. This generator would be a valuable asset to the freelancer who needs to generate quick, simple invoices.
11. SimplyBill: SimplyBill brings simple invoice management for freelancers. Instead of using overly complex accounting software or trying to mash-up a spreadsheet into some sort of design, begin sending attractive invoices in minutes. Services will range from $5 to $25/month. Signing up for the service includes 30 day free trial. If you cancel a paying plan within 30 days of signing up you won't be charged. Simplybill is pay-as-you-go service and the freelancer can cancel at any time.
12. Blinksale: This site offers a similar service to the previous link. The costs of this service ranges from free to $49/month depending on the number of invoices the freelancer sends out each month.
13. Invoices Made Easy: Another invoicing service for the freelancer who wants to concentrate on their business. The registration for this service only takes a couple of minutes and no credit card information is required. After the free 30 day trial, Invoices Made Easy only costs $5/month (billed quarterly). Invoices Made Easy also offers a few add-on services that have an additional cost associated with them. Those services are listed on the main website.
14. The Invoice Machine: This site offers a free web 2.0 application that allows the freelancer to create free and beautiful PDF format invoices in a short time. Click on "Start The Invoice Machine" to begin creating a custom invoice. No information is stored on the site, read the site's privacy policy for more information.
15. PayPal Invoicing: This site is for those PayPal customers to create their own invoices. This service is free to PayPal members.
16. Invoice.com: Invoice.com allows freelancers to securely, conveniently, and cost-effectively present their invoices on-line. The company delivers a product ideally suited for the SOHO (Small-Office/Home-Office) and SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) markets, on-line merchants, consultants, or individuals who require an effective method of presenting invoices to their customers on-line. This site appears to offer this service at no cost.
17. Freelance Templates: This site offers a variety of free freelance templates, including an invoice. The site additionally offers software to decompress the files and make available for use.
18. Supreme-Invoices-Basic Version 1.0: Software will allow the freelancer to create invoices with a vast library of logos for many activities. The software can find, filter, preview, and print invoices. Software will allow a free 15 day trial, and $14.95 to buy.
19. CNET Invoice Links: This site offers a variety of invoice links for the freelancer. The majority of these software packages come with a cost. Link includes downloads, product reviews, and news stories.
20. Excel Invoice Creator: This site offers invoicing software for Microsoft Office Excel. The primary feature is a well-designed, automatically-calculated invoice that takes just minutes to produce. It can accommodate up to 25 products that only need to be entered once and may be referenced in all future invoices. Product mix may be changed at any time and the changes will flow through to future invoices. One-click printing further streamlines an already quick and easy process. Supports the 2007 Office system. The software costs $29.95 plus shipping.
21. Simply Invoices: This link offers invoice services at the range of free to $25/month depending on the number of invoice templates. Includes a free 30 day trial.
22. Freelancer Invoices: Vebio is an online invoicing system designed specifically for freelance professionals, independent contractors, and self-employed business owners. Vebio's invoicing tool simplifies the invoicing of clients, and eases the tracking and billing of client fees and business expenses. The cost of the services offered by Vebio ranges from: free to $39.95/month depending on the freelancer's needs.

We also created a list of helpful online guides to creating invoices. As a freelancer, I believe you should take a look. Good luck.

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