Free PR Consultant Invoice Template & Generator

Your invoice needs to show exactly what you did and when. Break down your retainer hours or list specific deliverables like media outreach, press release drafting, or event coordination. Include the date range for the work period because PR clients often juggle multiple campaigns and need to match your invoice to the right budget line. Add any expenses separately with receipts attached, especially for things like media monitoring subscriptions or event costs you covered upfront.

Most PR consultants work on monthly retainers with payment due at the start of the month. If you're project-based, ask for 50% upfront and the rest on completion. Net 30 is standard but try to negotiate Net 15 with new clients. Smaller businesses might pay faster than agencies, which have rigid AP schedules.

Send your invoice on the same day every month, not randomly when you remember. Clients budget around predictable timing. The biggest mistake is being vague about what "media relations" or "strategic consulting" means on a given invoice. Your contact might understand, but their finance department will kick it back for clarification. Write descriptions that make sense to someone who wasn't in your planning meetings.