To help you get started, the sections below will walk you through one of the ways you can start building an invoice. To learn more about the other ways to create an invoice, follow our Creating and sharing an invoice article.
Create and name your first invoice template
From the top navigation menu, select Tools > select My Templates
Select Create New > select Invoice
At the top of the template builder, select the title > give your invoice template a name
Your template will update when you click out of the title. From here, you'll want to add services to your invoice template. Continue on to the next section.
Add your services to the invoice template
Services are whatever you’re billing for. You’ll add services to your invoice along with descriptions, costs, and more. If you’re creating a template, make sure you add services that are relevant to the situation. For example: if you’re creating a template for premium clients, add your premium package to the file.
If you’re working from a new invoice template, you’ll see that a generic service has already been added: My Service
Edit the details for the service by clicking on the field you'd like to update: name, image, quantity, price, tax, etc.
Continue adding items or services as needed by selecting + Add a service/item.
Add tax details to the invoice template
Need to add tax or other fees to your invoice? Read on below. Otherwise, you can skip these steps!
First, select the outline of the invoice block to open the settings sidebar > select Add tax details.
Select + Add tax to add a tax or fee
Optionally, select the name field and type to rename it
Select the field below to adjust the amount (you can set a dollar amount, or a percentage of the total taxed packages/items)
Once you've added tax and set the rate, remember to apply the tax to all of the appropriate packages/items
To do this, select the checkbox under the tax column by the package/item in question
✅ Note
You can select + Add tax to add an additional tax or fee, such as a service charge.
Once you start exploring packages (which can be used to build up invoices) and how they fit into your workflow, you can add taxes to them as well.
Create the payment schedule for your invoice template
The payment schedule is where you’ll set when your client will pay, and the amounts.
In the payment schedule section, you can adjust the amount and date of each payment; add payments to the plan by selecting + Add A Payment; or remove by selecting a payment, then selecting the trash can icon.
Amount options
Click on the dollar amounts to edit the values. You can choose from:
Custom amount: the dollar value of your choice
Percentage: automatically calculate dollar amounts based on percentage of the total
Divide equally: the total invoice amount, divided equally across all payments
Due date options
Click on the dates to edit the values. You can choose due dates from:
Invoice date: payment due on the date the invoice is sent
Custom date: select a fixed due date on the calendar
Smart date: due date is based on a variable such as specific number of days, weeks, or months before a project date, after a project date, or after the invoice has been sent
Mid-project payment: halfway between the day the invoice is sent and the project date
Project date: the date your project is set for. If your project has a start and an end date, this will pull in the project start date
Milestone payment: manually request payment once a project milestone is completed (e.g. completion of a deliverable). If selecting this option, be sure to enter the Milestone name
Decide how you want your client to pay
Payment option settings are where you’ll edit how your client can pay–the method, gratuity options, and autopay.
On the right side of your screen, select the Pay page > select the outline of the payment block to open the payment settings
From here, you can adjust:
Payment method: Set which payment methods you’ll accept (credit card, ACH bank transfer, or both)
At the moment, HoneyBook cannot process ACH bank transfers for Canada-based members—only credit card payments can be accepted for these accounts
Client can add a tip: Allow your client the option to add gratuity/tip, then select if this option will be turned on for all payments or just the last payment
Client must use Autopay: Automatically charge clients on the due dates set in the payment schedule. You can toggle required autopay on, which will require clients to opt in to autopay before they’re able to submit payment to you. If toggled off, clients won’t be required to opt in to automatic payments, but they’ll still have the option to turn it on themselves.
Configure the invoice template’s file settings
The Settings section of a file allows you to make adjustments to your clients' experience and interactions.
Select the gear icon to open the settings
From here, you’ll be able to adjust a number of settings for the file. Learn about the different settings options and how to adjust them here.
Share the invoice with your client
The final step: send your smart file to the client so you can get what you need. Learn how to share a smart file.
Still have questions? Feel free to send us a message by clicking the Question Mark icon on any HoneyBook page. Our team is always happy to help!