The invoice structure never changes — what changes is how you describe the work and whether you bill by the hour or by the deliverable. Here's how that looks across six common freelance fields, with real line-item wording you can copy.
Freelance invoice templates, by industry
Web & app development
Usually billed by the hour for ongoing work, or per feature/milestone for fixed-scope projects.
- Backend API development — 12 hrs
- iOS app — App Store submission & review fixes
- WordPress plugin — custom checkout integration
Graphic & web design
Almost always priced per deliverable, with the number of concepts and revision rounds spelled out so there's no ambiguity later.
- Logo design — 3 concepts + 2 revision rounds
- Landing page design — Figma file, 4 sections
- Brand style guide — colors, type, usage rules
Writing & content
Priced per piece, per word, or per hour depending on the client — state which one on the invoice itself.
- Blog post — 1,200 words, SEO-optimized
- Email newsletter — 4 issues
- Product descriptions — 20 items
Photography & videography
Usually a session or package rate, with deliverable count and turnaround spelled out.
- Product photography — 25 edited images
- Event coverage — 4 hours, same-week delivery
- Promo video — 60-second cut, 2 revisions
Consulting & coaching
Hourly for one-off sessions, or a flat monthly retainer for ongoing advisory work.
- Strategy session — 1.5 hrs
- Monthly retainer — 10 hrs advisory
- Workshop facilitation — half-day
Virtual assistant & admin support
Almost always hourly, often billed as a recurring monthly block of hours.
- Inbox & calendar management — 20 hrs/month
- Data entry — 500 records
- Customer support coverage — 15 hrs/week
Hourly vs. fixed price: what goes in Qty and Price
If you bill by the hour, Qty is the number of hours and Price is your hourly rate — the description should still say what the hours were spent on, not just "hours." If you bill per deliverable, Qty is usually 1 (or the count of that deliverable) and Price is the agreed flat amount. Nothing stops a single invoice from mixing both: one line at an hourly rate, another at a flat fee, side by side.
Do I need a different invoice template for every industry? No — the structure (invoice number, dates, totals) never changes. Only the wording of your line items and whether you bill hourly or per deliverable does. Chit's blank line items adapt to either.
What if my project mixes hourly and fixed-fee work? Put each on its own line — one row priced per hour, one row priced as a flat deliverable. The Qty and Price columns don't need to mean the same thing on every row of the same invoice.
For the full picture on numbering, currencies, and payment terms, see the invoicing guide. Or skip straight to filling in your own line items.
Open the invoice generator →