The internet is global, but banking is stubbornly local. Landing a client in the UK, Europe, or Australia is great for a freelancer, but getting paid can be a headache of hidden fees and terrible exchange rates.
If you send a standard invoice without thinking about borders, you might lose 5-10% of your paycheck to "intermediary bank fees." Here is how to invoice internationally the right way.
Rule 1: Agree on the Currency First
Before you sign the contract, decide: are you getting paid $1,000 USD or €900 EUR? Exchange rates fluctuate daily.
- If you bill in YOUR currency (USD): You receive exactly $1,000. The client pays the conversion fee.
- If you bill in THEIR currency (EUR): You are being nice to the client, but you take the risk. If the Euro crashes next week, you make less money.
Rule 2: Use the Right Invoice Template
Formatting matters.
- Date Format: The US uses MM/DD/YYYY. The rest of the world uses DD/MM/YYYY. A due date of "05/04/2026" could mean April 5th or May 4th depending on who reads it. Use text dates (e.g., "5 April 2026") to avoid confusion.
- Paper Size: The US uses "Letter." Europe uses "A4." A professional generator handles this sizing automatically.
If you are billing a UK client, use our UK Invoice Template. It automatically formats the currency symbol (£) and date format correctly.
Rule 3: Avoid Bank Wires (SWIFT)
Traditional bank wires are slow and expensive (often $30-$50 per transaction).
The Solution: Use a service like Wise (formerly TransferWise). You can open a "local" bank account in their country.
Example: You are in the US. You open a UK account on Wise. You give those UK bank details to your London client. They pay you in Pounds (free for them, it's a local transfer). You then convert it to USD inside the app at the real exchange rate.
Put these "Local" bank details directly on your invoice notes to get paid faster and keep more of your money.