Marketing Consultant Invoice Template

Free invoice templates for marketing consultants built for consulting hours, campaign management fees, and advertising costs. Download and edit in PDF, Word, Excel, Google Docs, or Google Sheets.

Also called: marketing consultant invoice, marketing consultant bill, or SEO consultant invoice.

Download Free Marketing Consultant Invoice Templates

Download a template, then edit in PDF, Word, Excel, Google Docs or Google Sheets. Print or email when ready.

Sheets, Excel, Word and Doc Templates Coming November 21, 2025.

Custom Marketing Consultant Invoice Template

Best for:
Logo, PO, brand and channel fields.

Editable Marketing Consultant Invoice Template

Best for:
Edit scope, campaigns, ad spend lines.

Printable Marketing Consultant Invoice Template

Best for:
Totals, dates, approvals, signatures.

Free Marketing Consultant Invoice Template

Best for:
Hours, audits, plans, assets, notes.

How to Invoice as a Marketing Consultant

Keep scope, deposit, and expenses clean so clients pay fast.
Free Online Invoice Generator
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In 5 Steps:
  1. Confirm scope, deliverables, and pricing in a signed SOW or email before work starts.
  2. Issue an invoice for the deposit or monthly retainer and collect payment to open the project.
  3. Track time, deliverables, and pre-approved expenses against the scope while work is in progress.
  4. At the milestone or month end, create an invoice for fees and expenses, and apply the deposit or retainer as a credit.
  5. Send the invoice with links to deliverables and clear payment terms, then close with a receipt once paid.
Free Online Invoice Generator
☝️ No sign-in. Save as PDF.

What to Include in a Marketing Consultant Invoice

These are the must-have fields for clear, compliant invoices.
These are the must-have fields for clear, compliant invoices.
  • Business legal name, address, email, and phone
  • Client name, billing contact, and address
  • Invoice number and issue date
  • Due date and payment terms
  • Service period (start–end dates)
  • SOW or PO number
  • Tax registration or VAT/GST number (check local rules)
  • Business registration or tax ID
  • Line items section for services and approved expenses
  • Discounts, credits, and prior balance
  • Subtotal, tax, and total due (check local rules)
  • Payment options and remittance details

Billing Scenarios for Marketing Consultants

How to label charges so every invoice makes sense the moment your clients see it.

1.
Monthly retainer; Overage hours
Monthly retainer with capped hours and overage
Clarifies what the base fee covers and any extra time billed this period.
2.
Management fee; Ad spend pass-through
Paid media engagement where you manage spend billed to the client
Separates your fee from the client’s media costs for transparency.
3.
Marketing audit (fixed fee); Findings report
One-time marketing audit with a fixed price and delivery date
Shows the audit as a defined project and ties billing to the deliverable.
4.
Onsite workshop; Travel time
Onsite workshop that requires travel
Include your tax or VAT/GST number and any required business IDs, and apply tax to services or expenses only where it’s required. Check local rules.
5.
Stock asset license; Asset sourcing
Stock assets purchased for a campaign
Makes licensing costs visible and shows the service of sourcing assets.
6.
Change order; Additional revisions
Records the approval and links charges to the change to prevent scope creep disputes.
Records the approval and links charges to the change to prevent scope creep disputes.
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Billable services and expenses for marketing consultants

Include hours, campaign work, ad spend, and deliverables with professional invoice line items.

Charge or Service
Unit
Taxable
When to use
How to show it
Discovery workshop
Time
Kickoff to align goals
Qty × hourly rate. Include agenda and outcomes so the plan ties to business targets.
Marketing audit & roadmap
Time
You assess current marketing
Qty × hourly rate. Deliver a brief with findings and next steps clients can act on.
Campaign strategy development
Time
You frame message, offer, channels
Qty × hourly rate. Note deliverables and stakeholders to reduce revision loops.
Analytics & tag setup
Time
You install GA, pixels, events
Qty × hourly rate. List properties, containers, and test steps so tracking is verifiable.
Monthly performance reporting
Time
You compile and present results
Qty × hourly rate. Reference source data and highlight decisions required for the next cycle.
On-site consulting visit
Time
You travel to client location
Qty × hourly rate. Include travel window in notes; log session objectives and outcomes.
After-hours support
Time
Work requested outside business hours
Qty × hourly rate. State window covered and deliverables completed during that period.
Change order — additional scope
Time
Client adds tasks mid-project
Qty × hourly rate. Reference the original scope and note what’s added to avoid disputes.
Ad spend pass-through
Item
You pay platforms for ads
Pass-through as billed. Attach invoices or receipts; keep fees separate from media.
Printed collateral production
Item
Taxable
You order brochures, flyers, cards
Cost × (1 + markup%). Include specs and proof approvals; ship-to details in notes.
Save and reuse your marketing rates and packages
Create a free account and save hourly rates, campaign fees, and ad spend items once, so nothing gets retyped.
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Common Marketing Consultant Invoicing Mistakes

Invoicing should be simple, but messy details can stall payment. Use these quick fixes to keep cash flowing and avoid disputes.

Mistake
How to fix it
Leaving out the service period, so clients don’t know what work the invoice covers.
Add start and end dates for the billed period on every invoice to tie charges to time.
Combining labor and expenses into one lump sum, which hides costs and invites pushback.
Split professional time from approved expenses and summarize each clearly to show value.
Write plain language descriptions that match the client’s words in the SOW and keep them short and specific.
Write plain language descriptions that match the client’s words in the SOW and keep them short and specific.
Include your tax or VAT/GST number and any required business IDs, and apply tax to services or expenses only where it’s required. Check local rules.
Include your tax or VAT/GST number and any required business IDs, and apply tax to services or expenses only where it’s required. Check local rules.
Not referencing the client’s PO or SOW, which makes reconciliation harder.
Add the PO or SOW identifier on the invoice header so finance can match it fast.
Math or rate errors that undermine trust.
Use a time log or rate table to calculate totals, and double-check subtotals, tax, and the grand total before sending.

Marketing Consultant Invoice FAQs

Billing for retainers, ad spend pass-through, workshops, change orders, tools, late fees, and IP rights, tuned for U.S. clients. Includes one Marketing Consultant Invoice Template mention for clear answers.

How should I bill a monthly retainer vs a fixed project?

Use a monthly retainer for ongoing management. Use a fixed fee for a defined deliverable. Example line item: “Monthly Retainer: 20 hours of campaign management: $3,000.”

Can I pass through ad spend and media buying fees?

Yes. Keep ad spend separate from your service fee and note any agency or marketer markup. Example line items: “Ad Spend: Meta: $5,000” and “Media Buying Fee: 15% of spend: $750.”

How do I price and bill a brand strategy workshop or discovery?

Charge a flat workshop fee plus prep and deliverables. List the workshop day and the deliverable separately. Example line items: “Brand Strategy Workshop: 1 day: $2,000” and “Insights Deck: 25 slides: $900.”

How do performance bonuses work in marketing engagements?

Tie the bonus to a clear KPI and time window. State the trigger and the calculation. Example line item: “Performance Bonus: CPA ≤ $35 for 30 days: $1,200.”

What’s the clean way to handle scope creep or change requests?

Use a written change order with new fees and timelines before work starts. Track incremental hours or a flat add-on. Example line item: “Change Order: Extra landing page variant: $450.”

Do I charge sales tax on services in the U.S.?

Rules vary—check local rules. Some states tax certain services or digital goods. Example line item if taxable: “Marketing Services (Taxable): $4,000; Sales Tax: 7%: $280.”

How should I bill third-party tools, software, or stock assets?

Bill them as pass-through expenses with receipts, plus an admin fee if you use one. Separate them from your fee. Example line items: “Ahrefs Subscription: 1 month: $199” and “Procurement Admin Fee: 5%: $9.95.”

How should I word late fees on the invoice?

State your net terms, grace period, and the fee or monthly interest. Keep it short and legal-friendly. Example line item: “Late Fee: 1.5% per month after 15 days: $24.”