Agency team reviewing campaign materials around a conference table

For digital, creative, and advertising agencies

Marketing Agency Invoice Generator

Create invoices for retainers, projects, hourly work, and other agency services.

How it works

From client scope to invoice

  1. Quote the work

    Show the proposed scope and price before work starts. A quote is not a contract.

    Create a quote →

  2. Track billable time

    Record the date, work performed, hours, and rate. Creating a timesheet does not copy those hours into the Invoice Generator.

    Create a timesheet →

  3. Invoice the client

    Bill retainers, project fees, hourly work, milestones, or approved expenses on the client invoice.

    Create an invoice →

  4. Send a statement

    Summarize invoices, payments, credits, and the outstanding balance for ongoing clients.

    Create a statement →

  5. Record payment

    After payment is received, create a receipt documenting the amount paid.

    Create a receipt →

Before the work

Quote the scope

Agencies may quote monthly services, project work, strategy engagements, creative deliverables, website work, campaign management, or other agreed services.

A quote communicates the proposed scope and price. It does not create a contract. See Estimate vs. Quote if you need the difference between those two documents.

Create a Quote

Billable time

Track billable agency time

For hourly or time-based engagements, record the date, work performed, hours, and rate before preparing the client invoice. Creating a timesheet does not copy those hours into the Invoice Generator.

Date Description Hours
May 12, 2026 Campaign strategy 4
May 13, 2026 Creative production 6
May 14, 2026 SEO services 5

Create a Timesheet

Billing

Invoice the client

An agency invoice can include monthly retainer fees, fixed project fees, hourly services, milestone charges, approved expenses, pass-through costs where agreed, discounts, applicable taxes, and payment terms.

List each as a line item in the Invoice Generator so the client can see what is being billed.

Create an Agency Invoice

Worked example

Example marketing agency invoice

Amounts are examples only—not typical agency rates.

Description Amount
Strategy & account management $2,000
SEO services $1,500
Content production $2,000
Paid media management $1,250
Total $6,750

Create an Agency Invoice

Retainers

Monthly agency retainers

Agencies often agree to a recurring monthly fee for a defined scope or level of service. The invoice can identify the service period and the agreed retainer amount.

Monthly retainer

$7,500

Billing period

September 2026

Create a new invoice each time a retainer is billed. Invoice-Generator.com does not create recurring invoices automatically. See Retainer Agreements for how retainers are often documented.

Create a Retainer Invoice

Projects

Fixed project fees

Agencies may agree to a single amount for defined project work. List the project and fee directly on the invoice.

Brand strategy project

$12,000

Website redesign

$20,000

These amounts are examples only. The Invoice Generator does not track project deliverables.

Milestones

Billing agreed milestones

For a larger project, create a separate invoice for each agreed milestone.

Website project total

$30,000

Project start — $10,000

Design approval — $10,000

Launch — $10,000

The Invoice Generator does not create milestone invoices automatically. See Progress Invoicing for billing work in stages.

Hourly work

Billing agency work by the hour

If the engagement is time-based, multiply billable hours by the agreed hourly rate.

Billable hours × agreed hourly rate = amount billed

25 hours × $175 = $4,375

$175 is an example, not a typical rate. Record the hours on a timesheet, then enter them on the invoice.

Charging by the hour?

Timesheet, then invoice

  1. Track the work

    Record dates, descriptions, and hours on a timesheet.

    Open the timesheet →

  2. Create the invoice

    Enter those hours and the agreed rate as invoice line items.

    Create an invoice →

Combined billing

Combining retainers, projects, and expenses

Separate line items make mixed billing easier to understand. This is not accounting advice about revenue recognition or expense treatment.

Monthly retainer — $5,000

Additional design project — $2,500

Approved travel expense — $450

Total $7,950

Third-party costs

Billing pass-through costs

Agencies may sometimes bill agreed third-party costs separately, such as printing, production, stock assets, freelancers or subcontractors, event costs, or other approved project expenses.

Do not assume every third-party cost should be marked up or passed through. That depends on the client agreement. This is not tax or accounting guidance.

If the client agreement allows agency-managed media or advertising costs to be billed through the agency, those charges can be listed separately from agency service fees. Invoice-Generator.com does not track media spend, reconcile ad platforms, or calculate agency commissions.

Payment

Set the payment due date

A due date can be due on receipt, Net 15, Net 30, or a specific calendar date. None of these is standard for every agency engagement.

See Invoice Payment Terms for common wording.

Calculate an Invoice Due Date

Optional

Early payment discounts

If the agency and client agree to an early-payment discount, calculate the discounted amount and deadline before adding the terms to the invoice. That is a choice, not a recommendation.

Calculate an Early Payment Discount

If payment is late

Calculating a late fee

If your client agreement permits a late fee, use the Late Payment Fee Calculator to calculate the amount based on the agreed terms. This page does not say whether a late fee is permitted or enforceable.

Calculate a Late Payment Fee

Ongoing clients

Summarize the client account

When a client has multiple invoices, payments, or credits, an account statement can summarize activity and the outstanding balance. Invoice-Generator.com does not sync accounts receivable automatically.

See Customer Statements for how statements are used alongside invoices.

Create an Account Statement

After payment

Provide a receipt after payment

After payment is received, create a receipt documenting the amount paid.

Create a Receipt

Invoice contents

What should a marketing agency invoice include?

A marketing agency invoice commonly includes the items below. Not every item is legally required.

  • Agency or business name
  • Client information
  • Invoice number
  • Invoice date
  • Billing period where relevant
  • Description of agency services
  • Retainer, project, or hourly charges
  • Approved third-party costs where applicable
  • Discounts
  • Applicable taxes
  • Total due
  • Due date
  • Payment terms
  • Notes

Steps

How to create a marketing agency invoice

  1. Add your agency and client information.
  2. Identify the billing period, campaign, or project.
  3. Add the services being billed.
  4. Enter retainer, project, hourly, or approved expense charges.
  5. Add applicable taxes or discounts.
  6. Set the due date and payment terms.
  7. Review the total and create the invoice.

Create an Agency Invoice

Documents

Agency invoice, quote, timesheet, statement, and receipt

Agency invoice vs. quote
A quote communicates the proposed scope and price before work begins. An invoice requests payment for services being billed. Create a quote in the Quote Generator or read Quote vs. Invoice.
Agency invoice vs. timesheet
A timesheet records billable work. The invoice requests payment for that work. TimesheetInvoice.
Agency invoice vs. account statement
An invoice contains charges for a specific billing period or project. An account statement summarizes multiple invoices, payments, credits, and the current balance. Create a statement in the Account Statement Generator.
Agency invoice vs. receipt
An invoice requests payment. A receipt documents that payment was received. After you are paid, use the Receipt Generator or see Invoice vs. Receipt.

Retainer client

Quote scope, monthly invoice, statement, receipt

  1. Quote the scope

    Agree the monthly services and fee before billing starts.

    Create a quote →

  2. Send the monthly invoice

    Bill the retainer for the service period.

    Create an invoice →

  3. Send an account statement

    Summarize invoices, payments, and the balance.

    Create a statement →

  4. Record payment

    Document the amount paid with a receipt.

    Create a receipt →

Hourly client

Quote, timesheet, invoice, receipt

  1. Quote the work

    Propose the hourly arrangement before work starts.

    Create a quote →

  2. Track the work

    Record dates, descriptions, and hours.

    Create a timesheet →

  3. Invoice the client

    Bill hours × the agreed rate.

    Create an invoice →

  4. Record payment

    Create a receipt after payment.

    Create a receipt →

Project client

Quote, milestone invoices, final invoice, receipt

  1. Quote the project

    Show the proposed work and total fee.

    Create a quote →

  2. Invoice each milestone

    Create a separate invoice for each agreed stage.

    Create an invoice →

  3. Send the final invoice

    Bill any remaining project amount.

    Create an invoice →

  4. Record payment

    Create a receipt after payment.

    Create a receipt →

Toolkit

Tools for marketing agencies

Invoice Generator

Create invoices for agency services.

Create an invoice →

Quote Generator

Quote client projects and engagements.

Create a quote →

Timesheet Generator

Track billable client work.

Create a timesheet →

Account Statement Generator

Summarize invoices, credits, payments, and balances.

Create a statement →

Invoice Due Date Calculator

Calculate payment due dates.

Calculate a due date →

Late Payment Fee Calculator

Calculate agreed late fees.

Calculate a late fee →

Early Payment Discount Calculator

Calculate agreed early-payment discounts.

Calculate a discount →

Receipt Generator

Document payment after it is received.

Create a receipt →

Resources

Agency billing resources

Retainer Agreements
18 min read

Retainer Agreements

Learn how retainer agreements work, the main types, how to invoice a retainer, and how they differ from recurring invoices, deposits, and progress billing.

Read guide
Progress Invoicing
17 min read

Progress Invoicing

Progress invoicing lets you bill large projects in stages as work is completed—how it works, methods, a worked example, and how it differs from deposits.

Read guide
Estimate vs Quote
Comparison 17 min read

Estimate vs Quote

Estimate vs quote explained simply. Learn what each document means, when to use it, how they lead to an invoice, and which to send your customer first.

Read guide
Quote vs Invoice
Comparison 16 min read

Quote vs Invoice

Learn the difference between a quote and an invoice, when each becomes legally binding, and how both fit your sales workflow—with free templates and examples.

Read guide
Invoice Payment Terms
15 min read

Invoice Payment Terms

Learn how invoice payment terms like Net 30, Net 15, and Due on Receipt work, how to choose the right ones, and how to get paid faster—with examples.

Read guide
Customer Statements
11 min read

Customer Statements

Learn what customer statements are, how they differ from invoices, what to include, and when to send them so you get paid faster—with examples.

Read guide
Invoice Late Fees
12 min read

Invoice Late Fees

Learn how to charge invoice late fees the right way—legal basics, fair rates, wording examples, and calculations that get you paid without losing clients.

Read guide
Collect Unpaid Invoices
18 min read

Collect Unpaid Invoices

Recover unpaid invoices with a calm, step-by-step collections process—from friendly reminders to escalation—while protecting customer relationships.

Read guide

Next step

When invoices stay unpaid

Reminders and account statements often recover overdue invoices. If those steps are not enough, Collbox handles professional collections for you.

Get professional collections →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I create a marketing agency invoice?
Add your agency and client information, identify the billing period or project, list the services being billed, enter retainer, project, hourly, or approved expense amounts, add taxes or discounts if they apply, set the due date, then review the total in the Invoice Generator.
What should a marketing agency invoice include?
A marketing agency invoice commonly includes the agency name, client information, invoice number and date, billing period where relevant, a description of services, amounts, discounts, applicable taxes, the total due, due date, payment terms, and notes. Not every field is legally required.
How do agencies invoice monthly retainers?
List the agreed monthly retainer as a line item and note the billing period it covers. Create a new invoice each month. Invoice-Generator.com does not create recurring invoices automatically.
Can an agency invoice by the hour?
Yes. Multiply billable hours by the agreed hourly rate and list that as a line item. A timesheet can record the date, work performed, and hours before you create the invoice. Creating a timesheet does not copy those hours into the Invoice Generator.
How do agencies bill project work?
List the agreed project and fee on one invoice, or create a separate invoice for each agreed milestone. The Invoice Generator does not track milestones for you.
What is the difference between an invoice and an account statement?
An invoice contains charges for a specific billing period or project. An account statement summarizes multiple invoices, payments, credits, and the current balance.