Simple Invoicing for Creatives & Designers (2026 Complete Guide)

If you're a designer, creator, or freelancer, you've probably tried at least five invoicing tools — and hated most of them. They're bloated, corporate, confusing, or designed for accountants, not creatives.

This complete guide breaks down the simplest possible invoicing workflow and how tools like inv.so remove all the unnecessary overhead. Whether you're sending your first invoice or your hundredth, this guide covers everything you need to know about simple invoicing for creatives.

Why Simple Invoicing Matters for Creatives

You don't need accounting features. You want invoices that look good. You need a fast workflow. You don't want to spend 20 minutes "setting up a client."

Most invoicing software is built for accountants, not creatives. It's packed with features you'll never use: expense tracking, payroll, tax reporting, reconciliation, ledgers, inventory management, time tracking, project management, client portals, and 50 other things that have nothing to do with sending an invoice.

As a designer or creator, you just need to:

Create a clean invoice fast — Under 2 minutes, no setup required
Track whether it's paid, sent, or still a draft — Simple visual status, no complex reports
Accept card payments easily — Instant payments via Stripe or similar
Reuse templates for similar projects — Save time on repeat work
Stay organized without accounting jargon — No "accounts receivable" or "reconciliation"

That's it. Everything else is noise.

The Creative's Invoicing Problem

Traditional invoicing tools assume you're running a small business with:

Multiple employees
Complex expenses
Payroll needs
Tax reporting requirements
Bank reconciliation
Inventory management

But you're not. You're a creative sending invoices for:

Design projects
Brand work
Video production
Content creation
Illustration
Photography

You need invoicing, not accounting. And that's a huge difference.

The 5 Key Parts of a Simple Invoicing Workflow

1. Create a clean invoice fast

Minimal fields. Your own style. No 20-step wizard. Just: client name, items, total, due date. Done.

The best simple invoicing tools let you create an invoice in under 2 minutes. No "company setup," no "chart of accounts," no "fiscal year configuration." Just create and send.

Related guides:

Designer Invoice Template Guide — Free templates and design principles
Minimalist Invoice Design — What makes a clean invoice design
How to Send Your First Invoice — Step-by-step guide for beginners

2. Track Paid / Draft / Sent

Visual, simple status — no dashboards. You should be able to see at a glance:

Which invoices are still drafts
Which ones you've sent
Which ones are paid

No "accounts receivable aging reports." No "reconciliation status." Just: draft, sent, paid. That's all you need.

👉 See: How to Track Invoice Payments

3. Accept card payments easily

Let clients pay instantly. No waiting for checks, no bank transfers that take 3 days. Just send an invoice with a payment link, and they can pay with a card right away.

This is huge for creators and designers who work with brands or agencies. They expect modern payment options.

👉 See: How to Accept Card Payments

4. Reuse templates for similar projects

Brand identity work, design projects, edits, retainers — you're probably invoicing for similar things repeatedly. Templates let you create a new invoice in seconds by starting from a previous one.

The best templates are:

Aesthetic and minimal (not corporate-looking)
Client-friendly (easy to read, professional)
Fast to reuse (one click, fill in the details)

5. Stay organized without accounting jargon

No "reconciliation," no ledgers, no overhead. Just a simple list of invoices with clear status. That's it.

The Problem with Most Invoicing Tools

Too many features

FreshBooks, Wave, QuickBooks — they're built for small businesses that need full accounting. You get expense tracking, payroll, tax reporting, bank reconciliation, and 50 other features you'll never use.

As a creative, you just need to send invoices and track payments. Everything else is bloat.

Corporate UI

Most invoicing tools look like they were designed in 2005. Dense tables, confusing navigation, corporate color schemes. They don't feel like tools made for designers.

Slow

Creating an invoice shouldn't take 10 minutes. You shouldn't have to click through 5 screens, fill out 20 fields, and configure "payment terms" and "tax settings" just to send a simple invoice.

Designed for accountants

The language is wrong. "Accounts receivable," "reconciliation," "chart of accounts" — this is accountant-speak, not creator-speak.

Not built for creatives

They don't understand your workflow. You're not running a small business with employees and expenses. You're a creative sending invoices for design work, video projects, or brand collaborations.

Why inv.so Exists (Built by a Designer)

I built inv.so because I was frustrated with every invoicing tool I tried.

As a designer, I needed something that:

Looked good (my invoices are part of my brand)
Worked fast (I don't have time for 10-minute invoice creation)
Felt designed (not like corporate software from 2005)
Was simple (no accounting features I'd never use)

So I built it for myself. And it turns out a lot of other creatives had the same problem.

inv.so is:

Minimal — Just invoicing. No bloat.
Fast — Create and send in under 2 minutes.
Beautiful — Clean, modern UI that doesn't look like accounting software.
Designer-first — Built by a designer, for designers.
Simple — No accounting jargon. Just invoices.

Best Simple Invoicing Tools (Ranked 2026)

A comprehensive comparison of the best simple invoicing tools for creatives. Each tool is evaluated on speed, simplicity, design, and value.

Related guides:

10 Best Invoicing Tools for Freelancers — Complete ranked comparison
7 Simple Invoicing Tools for Creatives — Curated list for designers
7 Reasons to Avoid Bloated Invoicing Software — Why simplicity matters

1. inv.so ⭐ (Best for Creatives)

Why it's #1: Built specifically for designers and creators. Minimal, fast, beautiful. No accounting bloat.

Key Features:

Create invoice in under 2 minutes
Clean, modern design
Simple status tracking (draft/sent/paid)
Stripe integration for card payments
No accounting features you don't need

Best for: Designers, creators, freelancers who want simple, aesthetic invoices.

Pricing: Free for 3 sends, then $9/month for unlimited.

Verdict: If you're a creative who values speed, simplicity, and good design, this is your tool.

2. Bonsai

Why it's good: Clean UI, good templates. Includes contracts and time tracking. But more features than most creatives need.

Key Features:

Professional invoices
Contract templates
Time tracking
Client management
More than just invoicing

Best for: Freelancers who want invoicing plus contracts and time tracking.

Pricing: $21/month.

Verdict: Great if you need contracts and time tracking. Overkill if you just need invoicing.

3. Wave

Why it's good: Free, includes accounting features. But UI is dated and corporate.

Key Features:

Free invoicing
Expense tracking
Accounting features
Dated interface

Best for: Small businesses that need free accounting software.

Pricing: Free (but charges 2.9% + $0.30 for card payments).

Verdict: Good if you need free accounting. Not ideal for simple invoicing.

4. FreshBooks

Why it's good: Powerful, feature-rich. But overwhelming for simple invoicing needs.

Key Features:

Full accounting suite
Professional invoices
Expense tracking
Time tracking
Reports

Best for: Small businesses that need full accounting.

Pricing: $17-55/month.

Verdict: Overkill for simple invoicing. Good if you need full accounting.

5. Stripe Invoicing

Why it's good: Simple, payment-focused. But very basic templates and no tracking.

Key Features:

Free (just Stripe fees)
Simple interface
Direct payment integration
Very basic design

Best for: Developers who want to build their own invoicing.

Pricing: Free (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).

Verdict: Good for very simple needs. Limited for most creatives.

6. Notion Templates

Why it's good: Customizable, free. But manual, no automation, no payment links.

Key Features:

Completely free
Fully customizable
Works in Notion
Completely manual

Best for: People who love Notion and don't mind manual work.

Pricing: Free (but time-consuming).

Verdict: Good if you love Notion. Very manual.

7. Google Docs / Canva Templates

Why it's good: Free, customizable. But completely manual, no tracking, no payments.

Key Features:

Completely free
Full design control
Maximum customization
Completely manual

Best for: People who want maximum control and don't mind manual work.

Pricing: Free (but very manual).

Verdict: Only if you want maximum control and don't mind doing everything manually.

👉 See detailed comparison: 7 Simple Invoicing Tools for Creatives

FAQs

What is simple invoicing?

Simple invoicing is the practice of sending invoices without the overhead of full accounting software. It focuses on: creating invoices fast, tracking payment status, and accepting payments — without expense tracking, payroll, or complex accounting features.

Do I need accounting software as a freelancer?

No. If you're a freelancer or creator sending invoices, you don't need full accounting software. You just need:

A way to create invoices
A way to track which are paid
A way to accept payments

Everything else (expense tracking, tax reporting, etc.) can be handled separately if needed.

How do designers invoice?

Designers typically invoice for:

Project-based work (brand identity, website design, etc.)
Hourly work (consulting, revisions)
Retainers (monthly design work)
Deposits (before starting a project)

The invoice should include: client name, project description, line items with prices, total, payment terms, and payment method.

What's the simplest invoicing workflow?

Create invoice template (or use existing one)
Fill in client and project details
Add line items (work description + price)
Set due date and payment terms
Send via email or link
Track status (draft → sent → paid)

That's it. No accounting setup, no complex configuration.

Can I use simple invoicing for my business?

Yes. Simple invoicing works for:

Freelancers
Creators (YouTubers, TikTokers, influencers)
Designers and artists
Small studios
Anyone who sends invoices but doesn't need full accounting

If you need payroll, expense tracking, or complex tax reporting, you might need more. But for most creatives, simple invoicing is enough.

The Complete Simple Invoicing System

A step-by-step system for simple invoicing that works. Follow these steps, and you'll have a workflow that's fast, simple, and stress-free.

Step 1: Choose Your Tool

Pick a tool that's:

Fast — Create invoice in under 2 minutes
Simple — No accounting features
Beautiful — Matches your brand
Built for creatives — Not accountants

Recommended: inv.so — built specifically for designers and creators.

How to choose:

Try the free tier first
Test the workflow
See if it fits your needs
Don't overthink it

👉 See: 7 Simple Invoicing Tools for Creatives

Step 2: Set Up Your Workflow

The 5-minute setup:

Create invoice template — Design once, reuse forever
- Your name/studio
- Contact info
- Payment terms
- Save as template
Add client information — Name, email, company (if needed)
- Save clients for reuse
- Keep it minimal
Add project details — Clear description of work
- Be specific
- Include deliverables
Add line items — Breakdown with prices
- Service description
- Price per item
- Clear totals
Set payment terms — Due date, payment methods
- Specific due date
- Payment methods
- Late fee policy (optional)
Add payment link — For instant card payments
- Stripe integration
- Makes payment easy
Send invoice — Via email or link
- Professional message
- Include payment link

Total time: Under 2 minutes per invoice.

👉 See: The Perfect 5-Step Invoicing Workflow

Step 3: Track Everything Simply

Simple status tracking:

Draft — Not sent yet
Sent — Delivered, awaiting payment
Paid — Payment received

How to track:

Use invoicing tool dashboard (best)
Or simple spreadsheet
Or notes app

What to track:

Invoice number
Client name
Amount
Date sent
Due date
Status
Payment date (when paid)

No complex reports. No accounting jargon. Just status.

👉 See: How to Track Invoice Payments

Step 4: Get Paid Faster

Accept card payments to:

Get paid instantly (not 3-5 days)
Reduce payment delays
Make it easier for clients
Look more professional

How to set up:

Connect Stripe (or similar)
Add payment link to invoices
Clients pay instantly

Card payments are 5-10x faster than checks.

👉 See: How to Accept Card Payments

Step 5: Stay Organized

Keep it simple:

List of invoices with status
Payment dates when received
Client information saved
Templates for repeat work

Monthly review:

Total invoiced
Total paid
Outstanding invoices
What's working

No need for complex accounting systems.

👉 See: Track Income Without Accounting Software

Common Simple Invoicing Questions

Do I need a business license to invoice?

Usually no. Most freelancers can invoice as individuals. Check your local laws if you're unsure.

When you might need one:

If you're registered as a business
If local laws require it
If clients require it

For most freelancers: You can invoice as an individual without a business license.

Should I charge deposits?

Yes, for larger projects. 30-50% deposit is standard. Protects you from non-payment.

When to charge deposits:

Projects over $1,000
New clients
Custom work
Long projects

Standard amounts:

30% — Smaller projects
50% — Most common
100% — Small projects or new clients

👉 See: Why Designers Should Charge Deposits

How do I handle taxes?

Depends on your situation:

If registered for sales tax: Include on invoice
If not: Handle taxes separately (consult accountant)

For most freelancers: Don't include taxes on invoice, handle separately.

Best practice:

Track income for tax purposes
Set aside money for taxes
Consult accountant for tax planning
Don't include sales tax unless required

What payment methods should I accept?

Most common:

Credit/debit cards (via Stripe) — Fastest, most convenient (instant payment)
Bank transfers — No fees, but slower (3-5 days)
PayPal — Less common now, but still used

Card payments are best — instant and easy for clients.

Recommendation: Accept card payments via Stripe. It's fastest and most convenient for clients.

👉 See: How to Accept Card Payments

How do I track income?

Simple methods:

Spreadsheet — Google Sheets or Excel, simple list
Invoicing tool — Automatic tracking (like inv.so)
Simple list — Notes app or text file

What to track:

Invoice number
Client name
Amount
Payment date
Monthly totals

You don't need accounting software for basic income tracking.

👉 See: Track Income Without Accounting Software

How fast should I send invoices?

Send immediately after:

Completing work
Reaching milestone
Project start (for deposits)
Project completion (for final payment)

Don't wait:

Weeks after completing work
Until you remember
End of month
When client asks

Prompt invoicing = faster payment.

What if a client doesn't pay?

Follow-up process:

Send friendly reminder (3-5 days after due date)
Follow up again (7-10 days if no response)
Be firm but professional (14+ days)
Consider late fees (if specified in terms)

Most late payments are just forgotten. A reminder usually works.

👉 See: How to Follow Up on Late Payments

Ready to simplify your invoicing? Try inv.so free — create and send your first invoice in under 2 minutes.