Graphic Designer Invoice Example: Deliverables, Revisions & Licensing

Required Fields for a Graphic Designer Invoice

• Your name or studio name, address, and contact information
• Client name and billing address
• Sequential invoice number and invoice date
• Due date — Net 14 is standard for design work
• Project name or reference (e.g., "Maple Leaf Bakery — Brand Identity Package")
• Itemised deliverables — list each design asset separately
• Revision rounds included — state this on the invoice to avoid disputes
• Licensing terms — what rights the client receives upon payment
• GST/HST if registered
• Total due and payment method

How to Invoice for Design Deliverables

List each deliverable as a separate line item. This protects you — if a client disputes one element, the rest of the invoice remains clear and payable. Common design deliverables to line-itemise:

• Logo design (primary, secondary, icon variants)
• Brand colour palette and typography guide
• Business card design
• Social media template pack (e.g., 5 Instagram templates)
• Brochure or flyer design
• Website mockups (per page)
• Illustration or custom artwork
• Print-ready file preparation and export

If you bill hourly rather than per deliverable, list the hours spent on each major phase: initial concepts, revisions, file preparation.

Revision Rounds in Your Invoice

Unlimited revisions are a business killer. Your invoice and contract should specify how many revision rounds are included. Best practice:

• 2 rounds of revisions included in the project price
• Additional revisions billed at your hourly rate — state this rate on the invoice
• Define a revision clearly: changes to the existing direction. A change in creative direction is a new project or billed as a separate deliverable

Licensing Fees: One-Time vs Ongoing

The design fee covers the creation of the artwork. The licensing fee governs how the client may use it. Two main models:

Full Buyout (Work-for-Hire)

The client pays a higher fee to own all rights to the artwork outright. Common for logos, brand identity, and commercial illustration. State on your invoice: "Full copyright transfer upon receipt of payment in full."

Limited License

You retain copyright and license specific uses to the client (e.g., print only, digital only, specific territory, 1-year term). This is common for stock illustration or editorial work. State the license terms clearly on the invoice or attach them as a separate document.

Sample Graphic Designer Invoice

Tips for Protecting Unpaid Work

• Always take a deposit before starting — 50% upfront is standard for design projects
• Deliver watermarked proofs until the final invoice is paid
• State on your invoice that copyright does not transfer until payment is received in full
• Use a contract that specifies what happens to the design assets if the client does not pay
• Keep your source files (e.g., Adobe Illustrator .ai files) separate from the delivered package — release them only if your contract includes source files and payment has been received