Question 1

Is this accounting software?

Accepted Answer

No. Billable handles time tracking, expenses, and invoicing. It replaces the scattered system of timers, spreadsheets, and Google Docs templates that most solo freelancers use. It does not do payroll, tax filing, or double-entry bookkeeping. Think of it as the billing layer that sits between your work and your accounting.

Question 2

How does the Shoebox work?

Accepted Answer

Snap a photo of a receipt or forward it to your dedicated Shoebox email address. AI extracts the merchant, amount, and date automatically. You can mark any expense as billable so it's included on the next invoice. The average freelancer has $12,000+ in annual deductible expenses according to IRS data, and most miss some because receipts get lost between email, photos, and desk drawers.

Question 3

Can clients pay online?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Connect your own Stripe account and every invoice includes a one-click payment link. Invoices with online payment links get paid a median of 2x faster than invoices with only bank transfer details, according to Stripe's small business data. You can also add custom bank transfer instructions for clients who prefer that.

Question 4

What's included in the free plan?

Accepted Answer

1 client, 1 project, 1 invoice per month, unlimited time tracking, and 10 Shoebox receipt scans. It's enough to run your billing with a real client before deciding to upgrade. The Pro plan is $8/month (or $60/year, locked forever) and unlocks unlimited clients, invoices, receipt scans, custom branding, CSV export, webhooks, and tax reports.

Question 5

What if I charge flat rates instead of hourly?

Accepted Answer

You can create fixed-price projects and add manual line items to invoices without using the timer. Many freelancers use a mix: hourly billing for ongoing retainer clients and fixed pricing for defined projects. Billable supports both in the same account.

Question 6

Can I export my data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pro users can export time entries, expenses, and invoices as CSV files anytime. Billable also generates a Tax Summary that organizes your expenses by IRS Schedule C categories, plus a downloadable Tax Report PDF. Your data is always yours.

Question 7

Do clients need to create an account?

Accepted Answer

No. Clients receive a clean, professional invoice by email and can pay online via Stripe or via bank transfer. No sign-up, no portal login, no account creation. They click the payment link and pay.

Question 8

What should a freelance invoice include?

Accepted Answer

Every freelance invoice should include: your business name and contact information, the client's name, a unique sequential invoice number (like INV-001), the invoice date and due date, itemized line items with descriptions and rates, the total amount due, and clear payment instructions. Missing any of these creates friction. For example, invoices without payment instructions require a round-trip email before the client can even pay. Billable auto-generates all of these fields, including sequential numbering and a one-click Stripe payment link.

Question 9

How do freelancers track billable hours?

Accepted Answer

The most common methods are timer-based tracking, manual time entry, spreadsheets, and calendar blocking. Timer-based tracking is the most accurate for hourly billing because it measures real time, not estimated time. Freelancers who don't track consistently tend to underbill by 10-20% because small tasks (a quick email review, a short call) get forgotten. The best approach is a one-click timer that connects directly to invoicing so you're not re-entering data. Billable uses this model: start a timer, stop it, and the entry flows directly into your next invoice.

Question 10

What are standard payment terms for freelancers?

Accepted Answer

The most common payment terms are Net 30 (pay within 30 days), Net 15 (pay within 15 days), and Due on Receipt (pay immediately). Net 30 is the industry default, but shorter terms like Net 15 are increasingly common for solo freelancers working with small businesses. For projects over $5,000, many freelancers require a 50% deposit upfront with the remainder due on delivery. The right terms depend on your client relationship and cash flow needs. Billable lets you set default payment terms per client, from 7 to 90 days.

Question 11

How do I follow up on an overdue invoice?

Accepted Answer

Start with a friendly reminder on day 1 past due, assuming the client simply forgot. Follow up more directly at day 7 with the invoice re-attached. At day 14, reference your late fee policy if you have one. By day 30, send a final notice stating consequences (pausing work, exploring collection options). The key is having a system so follow-ups happen automatically rather than relying on you to overcome the discomfort of asking for money. Billable tracks invoice status and due dates so you always know what's outstanding.

Question 12

Do I need invoicing software as a freelancer?

Accepted Answer

You can technically invoice with Google Docs or a spreadsheet template, and many freelancers start that way. The problems show up over time: manual invoice numbering leads to errors, copying hours from a separate tracker wastes time, and there's no way to see what's paid versus outstanding without digging through email. Dedicated invoicing software becomes worth it once you have more than one or two clients, or once you've lost revenue from forgotten invoices or unbilled hours. Billable is built specifically for solo freelancers, not teams or agencies, so you get what you need without the complexity of tools like QuickBooks or FreshBooks.

the professional
billing layer for
solo freelancers.

fewer steps. faster invoices.

Track time in one click

Generate the invoice

Send & get paid online

every feature earns its place
fewer options, not more

One-click time tracking

AI-powered Shoebox

Polished invoices & online payments

Revenue dashboard & P&L

you know where you stand

built because
I needed it.

start free. upgrade when you're ready.

questions freelancers usually ask

built for developers who automate everything

Public REST API

MCP Server

Webhooks & Integrations

why freelancers choose billable

track time. send invoices. get paid.