Invoicing as a designer
Design invoices go wrong when the quote and the bill are different files. Convert the estimate, bill a deposit, then the balance — same lines, new numbers.
justIssued Team
justIssuedUpdated 11 September 20261 min read
A Canva invoice with the logo you just drew is still a Word problem: the next Save As is INV-3 again. Designers do not need a design tool that invoices. They need a boring document with the usual fields.
Quote the work
Send an estimate with lines a client can kill: identity, website, deck, extra revision rounds. Put “two rounds of revisions, then hourly” in notes. Scope is cheaper on the estimate than in a CRM.
Bill it
- Deposit before you open the file. Deposit invoices.
- Balance on delivery, new INV number, reference the deposit.
- Extra revisions as a new invoice, not an edit to the paid deposit. AP already booked the first one.
Usage and ownership belong in the contract. A sentence on the invoice (“Deliverables licensed for client’s site and social”) stops a surprise. It is not a substitute for a licence.
justIssued
Estimates and convert-to-invoice are Paid. Free still numbers invoices and shares a link. Pay now is optional Stripe Connect. Start free or download a one-off PDF from the free invoice generator.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I invoice from Canva if I designed the invoice too?
- You can. The next Save As is still INV-3 again. Designers need a boring numbered document, not a second Figma file named invoice.
- Where do revision rounds belong?
- On the estimate: “two rounds, then hourly.” Extra rounds after delivery are a new invoice, not an edit to a paid deposit.
- Are estimates included on justIssued Free?
- Estimates and convert-to-invoice are Paid. Free still numbers invoices and shares a link.
Need invoicing in one place?
Save clients, share a public invoice link, and see what remains outstanding. Free covers up to three clients. Paid is $12/month after a 7-day trial.