Scoped consulting engagement
Proposed interviews, workshop, action plan, VAT, assumptions, and a 21-day validity period.
Use consultant quote →Consultant invoice template
Consultant invoice template for retainers, workshops, and advisory time
Start from an editable consulting invoice that combines a monthly retainer, a fixed workshop, hourly research, VAT, and a client PO, then replace every fictional commercial and payment detail with your own.
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What a consultant invoice includes
What should a consultant invoice include?
A consultant invoice normally shows: your business name, contact details and any tax or company number; the client's name and address; a unique invoice number; the issue and due dates; the client's PO or engagement reference; each billing model on its own line (a monthly retainer, a fixed-fee workshop, hourly work with hours and rate); a subtotal, VAT or other tax, and a total; and payment details with the terms. Where you are VAT-registered, the invoice normally shows your VAT number.
This is common practice, not a legal checklist; requirements differ by country. For the EU VAT basics, see what an invoice must include.
| Line | Quantity | Unit price | Tax | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic advisory — monthly retainer | 1 month | £4,800.00 | 20% VAT | £4,800.00 |
| Executive leadership workshop | 1 day | £1,800.00 | 20% VAT | £1,800.00 |
| Stakeholder research & synthesis | 8 hrs | £225.00 | 20% VAT | £1,800.00 |
| Subtotal | £8,400.00 | |||
| VAT at 20% | £1,680.00 | |||
| Total due | £10,080.00 | |||
Amounts, VAT numbers and rates are fictional. Check the VAT treatment that applies to your services and client.
Why this template fits consulting work
- Support for hourly labor, flat fees, retainers, and expenses.
- Clean invoice sections for project name, client brief, and payment terms.
- Export directly as PDF, PNG, or SVG with no login required.
- Suitable for business, strategy, marketing, and technology consulting after adapting the details.
Sample invoice content
The finished example uses fictional UK consulting data with three distinct billing models.
- Retainer: one month of strategic advisory
- Workshop: one executive leadership day
- Research: eight stakeholder research and synthesis hours
- Tax and payment: 20% example VAT, Net 30, PO number, and payment link
How to use it
Open the template and replace the seller, client, engagement reference, work descriptions, rates, VAT treatment, payment destination, and notes. Confirm whether VAT or another tax applies to your own seller, client, and transaction.
Fields to replace before sending
EngagementClient identity, project or phase, purchase order, invoice number, dates, and scope descriptions.
Commercial termsRetainer period, workshop units, hours, rates, currency, tax labels, and payment terms.
PaymentYour actual payment link or bank details, QR mode, beneficiary, and reference.
Compliance reviewTax IDs, VAT treatment, required wording, totals, and local record requirements.
More consultant document starters
Use a document built for the next purpose.
These are distinct fictional starting points, not automatic conversions. Open the one you need and verify every field independently.
Unused research correction
A specific reduction linked to the earlier invoice, with no claim that a refund has already happened.
Use consultant credit note →Cross-border advisory invoice
A structurally valid fictional EPC example using test-formatted EUR, IBAN, BIC, amount, and reference fields that must all be replaced and tested.
Use SEPA invoice →What InvoiceCraftly can and cannot do
Know the limits before you send it.
InvoiceCraftly combines a retainer, workshop, and hourly research on one invoice with VAT and a PO field. It does not determine whether VAT applies to your engagement or manage the underlying advisory contract.
Use the Quote starter above before the engagement is approved, the Credit note starter to correct an issued invoice, or the SEPA starter for a EUR cross-border payment.
Common consultant questions
Can I invoice a retainer plus hourly services?
Yes. You can include both a retainer line item and hourly work on the same invoice.
Can I add a project name or PO number?
Yes. Use the invoice fields to add project references and any purchase order number required by your client.
Can the invoice include multiple tax rates?
Yes. Each line item can use its own tax rate so your total reflects consulting, expenses, and non-taxable fees correctly.
Ready to bill your next client?
Customize this invoice templateFictional example data: Replace and verify every demonstrated business, identifier, VAT rate, payment link, PO, and amount. The example does not establish the correct tax treatment for your engagement.