Payment terms and deposits for web designers
Typical terms: Milestone billing: deposit, design sign-off, launch. Retainers paid monthly in advance.
Deposits: 30–50% before design starts.
Agree your terms in writing before you start. The late payment clause generator writes them for you.
What to include on a web designer's invoice
Specific to your work
- The milestone the invoice relates to (e.g. "Milestone 2 of 3: design approval").
- What is and is not included, so post-launch "small changes" do not become a reason to withhold payment.
- Hosting and domain renewals as separate lines, with dates.
Every UK invoice needs
- Your name or business name, address and contact details — and if you're a limited company, its registered name and number.
- The client's name and address (for a company, its exact registered name — check it here).
- A unique, sequential invoice number, and the invoice date.
- A clear description of the work, the date(s) supplied and the amount for each item.
- The total, the due date and how to pay (bank details or a payment link).
- If you're VAT-registered: your VAT number, the VAT rate and amount — use the VAT calculator.