Web designers are freelancers and small studios who plan, design, and often build websites for small businesses, nonprofits, and startups. Invoices usually cover project milestones such as discovery, design mockups, development, and launch, plus ongoing maintenance or hosting. Many also bill for add-ons like copywriting, stock photos, plugins, and extra revision rounds.
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Invoice_1001_Client_2026-10-14.pdf
Most web designers price by project with a flat fee split into milestones, commonly 50% upfront and 50% at launch, or thirds for larger jobs (deposit, design approval, launch). Hourly billing is common for small fixes, change requests, and work with unclear scope. Some designers use tiered packages, such as a 5-page brochure site, a 10-page site, or an e-commerce build, with a stated number of revision rounds. Recurring work is billed as a monthly retainer for maintenance, updates, and support, or as a yearly fee for hosting and domain renewals. Third-party costs such as premium themes, plugins, stock images, fonts, and paid hosting are either built into the price or passed through at cost or with a small markup, and should be listed clearly either way.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Brochure website (5-7 pages, template-based) | flat fee | $1,500-5,000 |
| Custom website design and build (10-15 pages) | flat fee | $4,000-15,000 |
| E-commerce store setup (Shopify or WooCommerce) | flat fee | $3,000-12,000 |
| Landing page design and build | flat fee | $500-2,500 |
| Hourly design or development work | per hour | $50-150 |
| Website maintenance and updates | per month | $75-500 |
| Website redesign audit and strategy | flat fee | $300-1,500 |
| Additional revision rounds beyond contract | per hour | $60-125 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website design and build, 8 pages (Home, About, Services, Contact, etc.) - Milestone 2 of 2: launch | 1 flat fee | $2,750.00 | $2,750.00 |
| Contact form and Google Analytics setup | 1 flat fee | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Premium theme license (1 year) | 1 license | $59.00 | $59.00 |
| Additional revision round (beyond 2 included) | 3 hours | $85.00 | $255.00 |
| Training session on editing the site | 1 hour | $85.00 | $85.00 |
| Total | $3,399.00 | ||
Notes: Milestone 1 deposit of $2,750 was paid on the project start date. Payment due within 14 days of invoice date. Final site files and admin credentials are transferred once this invoice is paid. Late balances are subject to a 1.5% monthly fee. Accepted: ACH, check, credit card.
Clients often get several invoices for one project. Naming the milestone (deposit, design approval, launch) shows what this payment covers and what has already been paid.
Linking to the agreed scope and date makes it easier to settle disputes about what was included.
Themes, plugins, stock photos, fonts, and domain purchases should be listed separately so the client can see what they own and what renews yearly.
Work outside the original scope should appear as its own line with hours and rate, tied to the written request or email that approved it.
State who owns the accounts, what is included, and when renewals are due so no one is surprised when the site goes offline.
Noting that final files, logins, and licenses transfer on full payment protects you from giving away the work before you are paid.
Larger organizations often require a purchase order or accounts payable contact to process payment.
A 40-50% deposit before work starts is standard and often non-refundable, since it reserves your calendar time. The balance is typically due at launch, and many designers hold the final files or switch the site live only after payment. Net 7 to Net 14 is common for milestone invoices, while retainers and hosting are billed monthly or annually in advance. Late fees of 1-1.5% per month are common if stated in the contract. Most designers accept ACH, credit card, and checks; card fees run around 3%, and some add that to the invoice or build it into pricing.
Bill when the client approves design or content is delivered, not on a calendar schedule. Projects stall when clients are slow with feedback, and you should not be left waiting on money while the clock runs.
State how many rounds are included, such as two on design and one on development, and bill extras hourly. Without a limit, scope creep eats the margin on fixed-price projects.
Include a clause that work stops and the staging site stays offline if a milestone invoice is overdue. Do not launch until the final payment clears.
Keep maintenance, hosting, and domain renewals on their own recurring invoice so they continue after the build is done and clients do not assume they are included in the project fee.
If the client does not supply copy and images by the agreed date, add a clause that moves the schedule and allows a restart fee. Late content is the most common cause of unpaid final balances.
Flat fees work best when the scope is clear, since clients like knowing the total and you benefit from working efficiently. Use hourly rates for maintenance, small changes, and projects where requirements are unclear or likely to shift.
Most web designers ask for 40-50% before starting. For larger projects, splitting into thirds (start, design approval, launch) keeps cash flowing and limits your exposure if the client goes quiet.
Yes, if your contract says ownership and final files transfer on full payment. Many designers build on a staging site and only move it to the client's domain or hand over logins after the final invoice is paid.
It depends on your state. Some states tax digital services or custom software, others do not tax web design at all. Check your state department of revenue or ask an accountant, and show any tax as its own line on the invoice.
Either put the accounts in the client's name and have them pay directly, or buy on their behalf and list the cost as a separate line item, with a small markup if your contract allows it. For recurring renewals, bill annually in advance.
Send a Web Design estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Web Design estimate template