Web projects fail on payment structure more than on design — which is why this template leads with the 40/40/20 milestone flow in its terms: booking, design approval, launch. Each invoice in the sequence names its milestone; the site goes live on the final cleared payment.
The prefilled lines separate build from content work because clients understand pages and forget that their fifteen “About” drafts are labor. The 30-day bug-fix window in the notes bounds your post-launch obligation while staying generous.
Milestone billing that protects both sides
Tie each payment to an approval the client performed — they signed off the design, so the design invoice is uncontestable. Never tie milestones to dates alone: client-caused delays then stall your cash while the work sits done. Add a dormancy clause for stalled projects (invoice for work completed after 30 days of client inactivity).
Scope changes after design approval are change orders, priced before doing them, invoiced as their own lines. The approval boundary is what makes “can we also add a shop” a quote instead of a fight.
Recurring lines: hosting, care, licenses
Care plans (updates, backups, small edits — commonly $50–250/mo) invoice monthly and separately from the project; mixing them muddies both. Third-party costs the client should own (domain, hosting, premium plugins, fonts) either go in their name directly or pass through itemized.
Launching on final payment, stated in the terms, is web design’s version of source-files-on-payment — the professional standard that keeps launches from happening on IOUs.
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Frequently asked questions
How should web design payments be split?
40/40/20 (booking / design approval / launch) is a robust default; 50/50 suits small sites. Avoid 100% at completion at any size — WIP you’ve built is leverage you shouldn’t surrender.
What does a small business website cost?
Freelance-built marketing sites commonly run $2,500–10,000+ depending on pages, custom design and functionality; template-based builds less, e-commerce more. Itemize what the price includes so comparisons are honest.
Is web design taxable?
Treatment varies: some US states tax website deliverables as digital goods or software, others exempt design services; VAT/GST countries generally tax it. Confirm locally before adding the rate.
How do I bill post-launch changes?
Inside the bug-fix window: free if it is genuinely a defect. New requests: care-plan hours or quoted change orders. The invoice’s named window makes the distinction enforceable.