Invoicing Software for Graphic Designers
Deposits, revisions, and retainers — CloudBooks fits the way designers actually get paid. Track project hours, invoice by milestone, and stop chasing payments so you can focus on the work.
Built Around How Designers Bill
Every design studio bills a little differently. CloudBooks flexes to fit.
Bill by Project, Concept, or Hour
Design work doesn't fit one billing model. Charge flat fees for logos, hourly for retainers, and per-revision for iterative work — all in one tool.
Deposits Before You Start
Design deposits protect you from ghosted projects. CloudBooks lets you invoice for a percentage upfront and mark work as due-on-approval.
Track Design Hours That Add Up
Half an hour here, an hour there — design hours slip away. One-click timers log them accurately so you actually get paid for the time you worked.
Multiple Clients, One View
Freelance designers juggle 4-8 active clients. See who owes what, who's on retainer, and where your studio's money actually comes from.
Recurring Retainers on Autopilot
For clients on monthly design retainers, invoices go out automatically. You focus on the design; CloudBooks handles the billing.
Invoice International Clients
Bill agencies in USD, boutiques in EUR, startups in GBP. CloudBooks handles 160+ currencies with clean, professional formatting.
Branded Invoices That Look Like You
Your invoice is a brand touchpoint. Add your logo, pick your colors, use your fonts. Clients see the same design sensibility they hired.
Invoice from Your Phone
Client texts a project scope on Saturday? Draft the invoice on the spot from mobile — attach it to the reply, keep momentum.
Project-Based Billing Made Simple
Set up projects with milestones, deposits, and final payments. Track logo work, brand identity, and design retainers separately — each with its own budget and invoice history.
- Multiple projects per client
- Deposit + final payment structure
- Per-project time and expense tracking
- Milestone-based invoicing
Revisions and Change Orders
Scope creep is the designer's tax. Log revisions against a project, invoice for extras when work goes beyond agreed scope, and keep client conversations grounded in what was actually contracted.
- Track revision requests per project
- Bill for out-of-scope work separately
- Attach files to invoices as reference
- Change-order approval workflow
Get Paid on Delivery
Send final artwork with the invoice already attached. Clients pay online — card, ACH, PayPal — from the invoice itself. No 'let me get your bank details' back-and-forth.
- Online payment links in every invoice
- Auto-receipts sent on payment
- Reduce time-to-payment by 60%
- Partial payments and deposits supported
Business Reports for Your Studio
See which clients pay best, which project types are most profitable, and how your studio grew this quarter. Data that answers questions you should be asking about your design business.
- Revenue by client and project type
- Outstanding invoices dashboard
- Expense breakdown for tax time
- Year-over-year growth reports
CloudBooks vs Designer Invoicing Alternatives
What most designers use today vs. what actually works at scale.
| Feature | CloudBooks | PDF Templates | Word / Cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit invoicing | Built in | Manual math | Doesn't apply |
| Time tracking | One-click timers | Separate app | Not applicable |
| Multi-currency | 160+ currencies | USD only | USD only |
| Recurring retainers | Automated | Manual monthly | Not applicable |
| Client portal | Yes | PDF email | Not applicable |
| Payment processing | Card / ACH / PayPal | Manual | Cash / check |
| Branding | Full customization | Limited | Fixed |
| Mobile invoicing | Full mobile app | Difficult | Impossible |
“As a brand designer with 6-8 active projects, tracking who owes what used to be a full afternoon each Friday. CloudBooks compressed that into a five-minute check-in. My client-work-to-admin ratio finally makes sense.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions designers ask about invoicing.
Can I invoice for design work in multiple stages (concept, revision, final)?
How do I handle rush jobs and expedited work?
Can I track hours across multiple client projects?
What if a client wants a printed invoice mailed to them?
Do I need separate software for tax time?
Can I invoice in USD but receive payments in EUR (or vice versa)?
Ready to Get Paid Faster?
Join 30,000+ freelancers and small businesses who use CloudBooks to create invoices, track expenses, and manage their finances effortlessly.