FreshBooks Invoicing

Paid invoicing software from £16 a month, with unlimited invoices, automatic payment reminders and time tracking that turns into an invoice.

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At a glance

FreshBooks started out as an invoicing tool and it’s still what it does best. You send the invoice, and it chases the payment, adds late fees and takes the money online for you. Every plan includes unlimited invoices. What you pay depends on how many clients you bill.

£16/m

30 days

Free trial, no card needed

Lite plan

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What is FreshBooks invoicing?

FreshBooks is online accounting software that began life as an invoicing tool for freelancers, and invoicing is still the heart of it. You create an invoice from a template, add your logo, send it by email and see what’s been paid and what’s overdue.

It suits people who bill for their time. You can track hours against a client or project and pull them straight onto an invoice, along with any expenses you’re passing on.

This page covers the invoicing side. For the accounts, tax and VAT side, see our FreshBooks accounting page.

Is FreshBooks free?

No. There’s no free plan, but there is a 30-day free trial with no card details needed. After that, plans start at £16 a month. FreshBooks often runs an introductory offer for new customers, so check the current price before you sign up.

Key invoicing features

Unlimited invoices and quotes on every plan
Recurring invoices for regular clients
Automatic payment reminders for overdue invoices
Late fees added automatically on a schedule you set
Deposits, so you can ask for part of the money up front
Online payments by card, with direct debit also available
Time tracking, with tracked hours and expenses added to an invoice
Client portal where customers can view and pay their invoices
iOS and Android apps

Pricing

There are three main plans. All of them include unlimited invoices, recurring invoices, payment reminders and late fees. The main difference is how many clients you can bill.

Lite - £16/month

Up to 5 billable clients
Unlimited invoices and quotes
Recurring invoices, payment reminders, late fees and deposits
Online payments
Unlimited time tracking

Plus - £30/month

Everything in Lite, plus
Up to 50 billable clients
Proposals and e-signatures
Client retainers
Receipt capture for expenses

Premium - £42/month

Everything in Plus, plus
Unlimited billable clients
Customised email templates
Project profitability reports

There’s also a Select plan with custom pricing for larger businesses. Adding a team member costs £8 per person a month on any plan.

Payment fees

When a client pays online, the payment provider takes a fee. FreshBooks lists Stripe at 1.5% + 20p for standard UK cards, and Barclaycard from 1% + 15p. Direct debit fees are capped at £4 a transaction on Lite and Plus, and £2 on Premium.

Pros and cons

Pros:

Unlimited invoices on every plan
Reminders and late fees do the chasing for you
Tracked time and expenses go straight onto an invoice
Deposits, retainers and proposals for project work
30-day free trial with no card needed

Cons:

No free plan
Lite is limited to 5 billable clients, and archived clients still count
More than you need if you only send a few simple invoices a month
FreshBooks branding stays on client emails unless you’re on the Select plan
Much of the help content is written for North American users

Who is FreshBooks invoicing best for?

FreshBooks suits sole traders who bill by the hour or by the project, have a small number of regular clients and want the chasing done for them. If you send a handful of simple invoices a month, a free tool like Zoho Invoice will do the job. If you have lots of small clients, check the client limits before you choose a plan.

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Frequently asked questions

Is there a free version of FreshBooks?

No. There’s a 30-day free trial with no card details needed, then paid plans from £16 a month.

How many invoices can I send with FreshBooks?

As many as you like. Every plan includes unlimited invoices. The limit is on the number of clients you bill: 5 on Lite, 50 on Plus and unlimited on Premium.

What counts as a billable client?

Any client you’re still set up to bill, including ones you’ve archived. Deleting a client frees up a space, but you can’t invoice them while they’re deleted.

Can my clients pay online through FreshBooks?

Yes. Clients can pay by card from the invoice, and direct debit is available too. The payment provider charges a fee on each payment.

Can FreshBooks chase late payments for me?

Yes. You can set automatic reminders for overdue invoices and add late fees on a schedule you choose.

Does FreshBooks have a mobile app?

Yes, there are apps for iOS and Android, so you can send an invoice from your phone.

Compare invoicing software for sole traders

FreshBooks is one option among several worth comparing. Browse the full Invoicing directory to compare it against Zoho Invoice and other options.

Pricing and offers correct at time of publication. Always check the FreshBooks website for current pricing and promotional terms before signing up.

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