Summe — invoice maker for creatives and freelancers

• Your details and your client’s: name, address, tax ID.
• Invoice number, issue date and due date, plus the client’s PO number if they use one.
• Each piece on its own line: cover, spot illustrations, character sheet, animation frames.
• The stage you’re invoicing: sketches, final art, or the whole commission.
• The licence: where the work can be used, for how long, and whether it’s exclusive.
• Revisions included, extras, tax, total and payment details.

In most commissions the client pays to use the illustration, not to own it. Writing the usage on the invoice (for example print and ebook, worldwide, 5 years) sets expectations and makes it easy to charge when they want more.

A full buyout, where the client can use the work anywhere and forever, is worth more than a limited licence. Price it separately so the client can see the difference. Agree the terms in your contract or quote first.

Editorial and spot illustrations are usually priced per piece. Larger commissions such as covers, campaigns or brand work often use a project fee, split into sketches and final art.

Whichever you use, put the usage fee on its own line. It is the part clients most often ask about, and the part that changes from job to job.

Say how many rounds of revisions are included, usually two. Extra rounds go on a new line at a set price.

If a client cancels after the sketches, a kill fee (often 25–50%) pays for the work already done. Agree it in the quote, and invoice it like any other line.

• One vague line such as “Illustration”. List each piece.
• No usage written down, so the client assumes they can use it anywhere.
• No due date. Write one (14 or 30 days) and the payment details.
• Starting final art before the sketches are approved and paid.
• Forgetting extra revisions you agreed to do.

• Quote first and keep the same lines on the invoice.
• Ask for a deposit before you start large commissions.
• Send the invoice with the final files, while the client is happy.
• Keep a list of your usual prices as saved products.

Yes. A short line such as “Licence: print and ebook, worldwide, 5 years” sets expectations and makes it easier to charge for extra use later.

Include a set number of rounds, usually two, and add extra rounds as a new line at a fixed price.

Yes, with Summe Pro: the client, the lines and the totals carry over, and the invoice gets the next number.

Yes. Choose the currency and the PDF language (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian or Portuguese with Pro).

Yes, with Pro. Paste your Stripe, PayPal or Wise link and it becomes a Pay now button on the PDF.

Yes. Free has unlimited invoices with no account and no card. Pro is one payment, no subscription, and adds the extra designs, quotes, deposits and reminders.