Milestone Invoicing: Bill Large Projects in Stages

Milestone invoicing splits large project payments across deliverable stages. It protects you from non-payment and gives clients confidence.

Typical Milestone Splits

Milestone % of Total
Project kickoff / deposit 25–50%
Midpoint deliverable 25–40%
Final delivery 25–35%

Define Milestones in Your Contract

Each milestone needs a clear, verifiable deliverable: "Wireframes approved by client" not "Phase 1 complete."

How to Invoice Each Milestone

Reference the contract, milestone name, percentage or fixed amount, and cumulative payments received. Example:

Milestone 2 of 3: UI Design Delivery (40% of $10,000 = $4,000) Less: Milestone 1 paid ($3,000) Amount due: $4,000

What If a Client Disputes a Milestone?

Your contract should define approval criteria and a review period (e.g., 5 business days for feedback, deemed approved if no response).

Create Milestone Invoices

Generate progress invoices with detailed line items and payment references.