Tax & finance tools
Free invoice generator — PDF & CSV
Create an invoice online with our free invoice generator — line items, per-line sales tax, discounts, shipping, and logo upload. Live preview, draft autosave, and PDF or CSV export. No sign-up to build, no watermark, works on mobile.
How to create an invoice in 5 steps
Whether you bill as a freelancer, contractor, or small business, the workflow is the same: enter parties, add line items, preview totals, then export. Faster than Word templates — no broken formulas or layout shifts.
Enter your business details
Seller name, address, and optional tax ID — your letterhead block.
Add client information
Bill-to name and address for the invoice header.
Set invoice meta
Invoice number, date, due terms, currency (USD default), and payment notes.
Add line items
Description, quantity, unit, price, and sales tax % per line — or mark tax-exempt.
Preview and export
Check the live preview, then download PDF or CSV after the one-time email gate.
What to put on a freelance invoice
Searches like how to create an invoice for freelance work expect a field checklist — not just a blank PDF. Include at minimum:
| Field | In this tool |
|---|---|
| Your business name & address | Seller block |
| Client name & billing address | Buyer block |
| Unique invoice number | Invoice # field |
| Invoice date & due date | Meta fields |
| Itemized services or products | Line items table |
| Subtotal, tax, total due | Live preview + export |
| Payment terms or bank details | Payment terms / IBAN optional |
| Logo (optional) | PNG/JPG upload |
This is not legal or tax advice. Confirm nexus, 1099 rules, and state requirements with your CPA.
Invoice vs receipt — what to send
An invoice requests payment before or after delivery — it lists line items, tax, and totals with payment terms. A receipt confirms payment already received. Freelancers and small businesses send invoices to clients; retail POS prints receipts.
This tool builds invoices. For quick tax math only, use our Sales Tax Calculator.
Sales tax on US invoices
Enter a sales tax rate per line (e.g. 8.25 %) or toggle tax-exempt for non-taxable services. The generator shows subtotal, tax breakdown, and total due. State and local rules vary — confirm nexus and rates with your accountant or our sales tax calculator by state.
For EU e-invoicing (ZUGFeRD / XRechnung), use our Invoice Generator (DE) with XRechnung and ZUGFeRD export.
Invoice template vs invoice generator
Word / Google Docs template
Manual math & formatting
Ordio invoice generator
Live totals in the browser
What this free invoice generator includes
Live preview
WYSIWYG invoice preview synced to every field change.
Draft autosave
Browser localStorage keeps your draft between visits.
PDF & CSV export
Formatted A4 PDF and structured CSV — no watermark.
Logo & discounts
Upload logo; line and invoice-level discounts plus shipping line.
Per-line sales tax
Mixed tax rates on one invoice or tax-exempt mode.
Mobile-friendly
Create and export from phone — no app install.
Who uses a free invoice generator?
Freelancers & consultants
Bill hourly or project fees with clear line items and payment terms — top related search: invoice for freelance work.
Small businesses & side hustles
Send professional PDFs without a paid invoicing subscription for occasional billing.
Shift-based teams (Ordio ICP)
Gastro, retail, and hourly teams that already use Ordio for scheduling can draft client invoices for catering or staffing services — payroll stays in Ordio Payroll.
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Frequently asked questions about Invoice Generator
Is this invoice generator free?
Yes — our free invoice generator lets you create, preview, and save drafts at no cost. PDF and CSV export use Ordio's standard one-time email gate — no subscription required.
Do I need an account?
No account required to build an invoice. Export asks for name and email once per download.
Can I make an invoice for freelance work?
Yes — add your business and client details, list services with hours or flat fees, set tax if applicable, and export PDF. See the freelance checklist above for required fields.
What should be on an invoice?
Business and client names/addresses, invoice number, dates, itemized lines, subtotal, tax, total, and payment terms. Our preview mirrors what you export.
Can I add my logo?
Yes — upload PNG or JPG; it appears in the preview and PDF.
How does sales tax work?
Set a tax rate per line item or enable tax-exempt mode. Totals update automatically. For state lookup, use our Sales Tax Calculator.
Invoice vs receipt?
Invoices request payment with terms; receipts prove payment received. This tool creates invoices.
Is a handwritten invoice legal?
Many jurisdictions accept paper invoices if they include required fields — but digital PDFs are standard for freelancers. This tool produces printable PDFs; confirm rules in your state/country.
Invoice template or generator?
Templates need manual math. A generator calculates tax and totals live and exports PDF/CSV — faster for recurring billing.
Is my draft saved?
Yes — in your browser localStorage. Use Reset to clear.
Can I export CSV?
Yes — structured rows for spreadsheets and accounting imports (filename: ordio-invoice-generator-*.csv).
Is this legal or tax advice?
No — a planning tool only. Confirm requirements with your CPA or state rules.
German e-invoicing?
Use the Invoice Generator (DE) for XRechnung and ZUGFeRD (EN 16931).