Notes on making things, and getting paid for them.
Short, practical reads on pricing, clients and keeping the money side calm.
Tax invoice requirements in South Africa: what SARS expects
Full or abbreviated tax invoice? What each must show, when you need one, and what to do if you are not a VAT vendor.
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How to invoice as a freelancer in South Africa
What to put on your invoice, whether to add VAT, how to get paid by EFT or from overseas, and the tax habits that save you stress later.
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How to choose an invoice template that looks professional
Five things that make an invoice template look professional, and the common mistakes that make one look rushed.
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Late payment fees: should you charge them, and how?
When a late fee makes sense, how to set one fairly, and how to put it on your invoice without souring the relationship.
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Invoicing international clients: currency, tax and getting paid
Which currency to bill in, how to handle tax, and which payment methods work across borders.
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Getting your first client to pay on time
Small habits that make the first payment smooth, from the proposal to the day after the due date.
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How to invoice as a freelancer: a step-by-step guide
How to invoice as a freelancer, step by step: what to put on it, when to send it, how to get paid on time, plus a free blank template to start from.
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Invoice payment terms explained: net 7, net 14, net 30
What "net 30" actually means, which terms freelancers should choose, and how to word them so clients pay on time.
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Invoice, receipt or quote: what is the difference?
Three documents that get mixed up constantly. When to send each one, and what belongs on it.
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What to say when a client has not paid
Copy-and-paste messages for the day after, a week late and a month late, plus when to stop work.
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The invoice is part of the work
It is the last thing your client holds from a project. It should feel like it came from the same hands.
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Asking for a deposit without flinching
Half upfront is normal, protects both sides, and is easier to ask for than you think. Here is the wording.
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Following up on late payments, kindly
Most late invoices are forgotten, not disputed. Three short messages that get you paid and keep the relationship warm.
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What to put on your first invoice
A short, complete checklist, so your very first invoice looks like your hundredth.
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Making peace with admin
Paperwork isn’t the enemy of creative time. Unfinished paperwork is. A calmer way to handle the money side.
ReadHow photographers should invoice: deposits, usage and extras
What to put on a photography invoice, how to split deposit and balance, and how to charge for usage rights and extra hours without awkwardness.
ReadInvoicing as a freelance designer: scope, revisions and kill fees
How designers can invoice for scope, revision rounds and cancelled projects, and keep payments moving without chasing.
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