How to Create a Professional Invoice Online and Export It as a PDF

A freelance invoice is easier to send when the layout, line items, and totals are already in one place. This walkthrough shows how to create an invoice online, fill in the work, and download an invoice PDF — using Builto Invoice Builder as the editor.

You will need a free Builto account to create and save invoices. The product page can be read without signing in.

What you need on the invoice

Before you open a template, collect:

• Your business name, logo, and billing details
• The client's name and billing address
• An invoice number, issue date, and due date
• Line items (service or product, quantity, unit price)
• Tax, discounts, and payment terms if they apply

For hourly work, use hours as the quantity and the hourly rate as the unit price.

1. Choose an invoice template

Sign in, select Create Invoice, and start from Classic, Modern, Minimal, or Formal. You can switch templates later from the editor's Templates panel. Changing templates applies a new layout and default styling, so review the document afterward.

If you already have a layout you like, start from a saved invoice blueprint instead of a blank template.

2. Add business, client, and line items

Edit directly on the invoice:

• Add your logo and company details
• Enter the customer, invoice number, and dates
• Fill the itemized table (quantities, prices, discounts, tax)
• Use saved products in the advanced table when you bill the same services often
• Add notes and payment terms (project references, delivery notes, payment instructions)

The summary calculates subtotal, discount, tax, and total. Some summary values can be overridden manually. Always review the amounts and the tax treatment that applies to your invoice.

3. Match the invoice to your brand

In the configuration panel you can set primary, secondary, and accent colors, base text size, border radius, and page margins. The live canvas shows the invoice as you edit, with zoom for closer inspection. Show or hide sections, and use undo and redo if you need to step back.

Save your setup as a blueprint so the next invoice already has your business details, terms, and styling.

4. Download a PDF or share a viewing link

When the totals look correct:

• Open Export / Print and choose Export as PDF, or use Native Print
• Review images, amounts, and page breaks before you send the file
• Or enable a public viewing link if the client should open the invoice in a browser (turn sharing off again when you no longer need it)

You can reopen or duplicate saved invoices, update status, and record payments received. Recording a payment only documents a transaction that already happened. It does not collect money or charge a card.

Feature checklist

• Free invoice generator in the browser (account required to save)
• Four invoice templates, switchable in the editor
• Logo, business details, and client details
• Itemized line items with tax, discount, and totals
• Reusable invoice blueprints
• Download invoice PDF or print
• Optional public invoice link
• Payment records and invoice status on the dashboard

If you want a clean billing document for design work, consulting, or a product order, start here: create an invoice online with Builto.