Billing models

Hourly Invoice Template

Bill time-based work by listing hours worked against an agreed rate, with the maths handled for you.

How do I make an hourly invoice?: Use Receipt Caker to add a line for each task, enter the hours and your hourly rate, and the generator multiplies them and totals every line automatically.
What rate should I put on an hourly invoice?: Use the rate you agreed with the client before work began. Keep the same figure across all lines unless you charge different rates for different task types, then split those into separate lines.

What to include on a hourly invoice

Your name or business and contact details

Client name and billing address

Invoice number and issue date

A dated line per task with hours and hourly rate

Line subtotal (hours multiplied by rate)

Tax if it applies, plus the grand total

Payment terms and accepted methods

What you can do

Add unlimited timesheet lines with hours and rate
Automatic hours-times-rate and running total maths
Live preview that updates as you type
Set your own tax percentage per document
Free watermarked PNG export with no signup
Pro removes the watermark, adds PDF export and logo upload

What an hourly invoice is

An hourly invoice charges for the time you spend rather than a single flat price. Each line shows a task, the hours logged and your rate, so the client sees exactly where their money went.

This model suits open-ended or variable work such as consulting, support, editing or maintenance, where the scope is not fixed in advance and the effort changes week to week.

When to bill hourly

Choose hourly billing when you cannot predict the total effort, when the client keeps adding requests, or when you want transparency over how long each task took.

It also protects you on projects that tend to grow. If the work expands, your invoice grows with it, because every extra hour appears as its own logged line rather than getting absorbed into a fixed quote.

What to include on the invoice

List one line per task or per day, with a short description, the number of hours and the rate. Keeping lines granular helps a client approve the invoice without back-and-forth.

Add your invoice number, issue date and payment terms. If you charge tax, set the percentage so it applies to the subtotal, then let the total carry through to the bottom of the document.

Building it in Receipt Caker

Open the generator, add a line for each block of time, and type the hours and rate. Receipt Caker multiplies them and keeps a running total as you go, so you never add figures by hand.

Export a free watermarked PNG to check the layout, or upgrade to Pro for a clean, watermark-free PDF and your own logo. Receipt Caker only creates the document — it does not send it or collect the money for you.

Frequently asked questions

How do I show different hourly rates on one invoice?

Create a separate line for each rate. For example, put design hours on one line at your design rate and revision hours on another at a lower rate. Each line calculates its own subtotal, and the generator adds them together, so mixed rates stay clear and the total stays correct.

Should I round my hours?

That is your choice and should match what you agreed with the client. Many freelancers bill in quarter-hour or half-hour blocks for simplicity. Whatever you pick, apply it consistently across every line so the invoice is easy to check and reflects the tracking method you told the client about.

Can I combine hourly work with a flat charge?

Yes. Add your hourly lines as normal, then add a separate line with a flat amount and a quantity of one for anything priced as a set fee, such as a fixed setup cost. The generator totals every line the same way, so mixed pricing lands in one clean document.

Does Receipt Caker track my time for me?

No. Receipt Caker is a document generator, not a time tracker. Record your hours wherever you already do, then type them into each line. The tool handles the multiplication and totalling once your figures are in, and shows a live preview so you can confirm everything before exporting.

How do I add tax to an hourly invoice?

Set your tax percentage in the generator and it applies to the combined subtotal of your hourly lines. The tax amount and the final total appear at the foot of the document. If your work is not taxable, leave the percentage at zero and no tax line will show.

Can I reuse the same hourly invoice next month?

Yes. Keep your line descriptions and rate, then update the hours and the invoice number for the new period and regenerate. Receipt Caker rebuilds the document each time you export, which keeps a fresh, correctly numbered invoice for every billing cycle without you starting from a blank page.

Related invoice templates

Time & Materials Invoice Freelance Invoice Consultant Invoice Fixed-Fee Invoice Invoice How-To