Example
A $450 monthly support plan invoiced on the 1st, due net 14.
Also called a repeat invoice, a subscription invoice, or standing billing.
What it means in practice
Recurring invoices suit retainers, maintenance contracts and service plans: the same amount, the same client, the same date each period. The schedule is the point, because a retainer billed on an irregular date falls out of the client's payment run.
Set the rhythm, the first date and the end-of-month rule up front, and review the rate once a year rather than never.
Where it shows up on the paperwork
It is a normal invoice on a schedule: same client, same lines, a new number and a new period each time. The period the invoice covers should be on the line, not just in your head.
What goes wrong
- Invoicing on a different date each month, so the invoice keeps missing the client's payment run.
- Never reviewing the rate, so a three-year-old price is still being billed.
- Not saying what the retainer covers, which turns any extra request into an argument.
Common questions
What is the best day to send a recurring invoice?
The same day every period, early enough to catch the client's payment run. The date mattering more than the amount is what people find surprising.
How do I handle a price rise on a recurring invoice?
Tell the client before the invoice arrives, in writing, with the date it starts. A price rise discovered on an invoice is a dispute; one agreed a month ahead is an admin task.