Template

Contractor Invoice Template — Free Download (2026)

6 min read

Whether you're a 1099 contractor, independent contractor, or self-employed professional, your invoice needs to meet client AP requirements without giving away sensitive information. Here's exactly what to include.

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What a contractor invoice must include

INVOICE header — Required to distinguish from a quote or statement. Use the word 'Invoice' clearly at the top.

Your legal name — Independent contractors bill under their personal name or business name (LLC, sole proprietor). Use the name on your bank account.

Your address — Your business or home address. Required for many client accounting systems.

Your tax ID (optional) — EIN if you have one; SSN if you don't. Many companies request this for 1099 reporting. You can omit it and provide separately if preferred.

Client company name — The legal business name of who you're billing — not just your contact's name.

Invoice number — Sequential: INV-001, 2026-001. Required by most client accounting systems. Never reuse.

Invoice date — The date you issued the invoice. Payment terms run from this date.

Due date — Net 14 or Net 30 from the invoice date. Write the actual date, not just 'Net 30.'

Work description and amounts — What you did and what it costs. Detailed enough for AP to match to a PO or SOW.

Subtotal and total — Show both. If no tax, the subtotal and total will be the same — still include both for clarity.

Payment instructions — ACH details, check payable to, or payment link. Corporate clients often require bank routing information.

Contractor invoice template (visual)

Copy this structure into Word, Google Docs, or use the generator above for an instant PDF:

INVOICE

[Your Full Legal Name]

[Your Address]

[your@email.com] · [Phone]

Invoice #: INV-001

Date: [Invoice Date]

Due: [Due Date]

Bill To

[Client Company Name]

[Client Address]

[AP Contact / billing@company.com]

Description

Rate

Amount

[Work / service description]

$0.00

[Additional line item]

$0.00

Subtotal$0.00

Tax—

Total Due$0.00

Payment terms: Net 14 — due by [date]

Pay to: [Bank name, routing, account] or [Venmo/PayPal/Zelle]

W-9 on file. EIN/SSN provided separately upon request.

Orange = fill in. Note the W-9 line — keeps your SSN off the invoice itself.

5 contractor invoicing tips that get you paid faster

Don't include your SSN on the invoice itself

Your client will request your SSN or EIN on a W-9 form for 1099 reporting — that's separate from the invoice. Keep them separate to protect your personal information.

Invoice immediately when the work is complete

Same-day invoicing gets paid fastest. Waiting a week signals that payment isn't urgent — and clients treat it accordingly.

Reference the contract or SOW

For larger projects, add 'Per SOW dated [date]' or 'Per contract #[number]' to your invoice. This links it to the agreed scope and speeds up AP approval.

Set Net 14, not Net 30, for small projects

Net 30 is standard for large enterprise contracts. For projects under $5,000, Net 14 is perfectly acceptable and gets you paid twice as fast.

Send to the right person and the right email

Your day-to-day contact is often not the accounts payable person. Ask upfront: 'Who should I send invoices to and what email address?' One question saves weeks of chasing.

Contractor invoice FAQ

Do independent contractors need to include their SSN on invoices?

No — and you shouldn't. Provide your SSN or EIN on a W-9 form when your client requests one (typically at the start of an engagement or at year-end for 1099 reporting). Keep it off the invoice itself to protect your personal information.

Do contractors charge sales tax?

In most US states, services provided by independent contractors are not subject to sales tax. However, rules vary by state and by type of work (some states tax certain professional services). If you're unsure, consult a local accountant.

What payment terms should a contractor use?

Net 14 is common for small projects (under $5,000). Net 30 for larger engagements or corporate clients with formal AP processes. Always include a specific due date — 'Due by July 15' is clearer than 'Net 14.'

Should I use an invoice number as a contractor?

Yes — even if you only have one client. Invoice numbers make it easier to reference payments, track outstanding balances, and provide documentation for taxes. Start at 001 and increment sequentially.

What's the best free invoice tool for contractors?

SwiftBill is free for up to 5 invoices per month — no signup required to try. It handles line items, auto-calculates totals, and generates a professional PDF. For higher volume, the Pro plan is $9/month flat with no per-invoice fees.

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