HR consultant invoice template
A worked example for HR consultants in the professional services category, with 2026 prices and the VAT rules that apply.
A HR consultant invoice should show a unique invoice number, your name and address, the client's details, the date, each item of work with its price, and the total due. HR consultants typically allow 30 days to pay. VAT at 20% is added only if you are VAT registered.
Example HR consultant invoice
Dated 1 October 2026 with 30 day terms. Names and prices are fictional.
Invoice
INV-0042
From
H. Murphy
HR consultant
43 Castle Street
Bristol
BS1 3DE
Bill to
Northgate Dental Ltd
Unit 4, Riverside Park
Leeds
LS10 1RW
- Invoice date
- 1 October 2026
- Due date
- 31 October 2026
- Terms
- 30 days
- Reference
- HR consultant work, October 2026
| Description | Qty | Unit price | VAT | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retained HR support, up to 10 staff, October 2026 | 1 month | £350.00 | 20% | £350.00 |
| Employee handbook and contract templates, fixed fee | 1 project | £950.00 | 20% | £950.00 |
| Disciplinary investigation and hearing support | 1.5 days | £550.00 | 20% | £825.00 |
- Subtotal
- £2,125.00
- VAT at 20%
- £425.00
- Total
- £2,550.00
Typical rates for HR consultants
Guide figures for 2026. Rates vary by region and experience; the VAT figures come from the 2026-27 tax year data.
| Item | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Typical hourly rate | £60 to £140 |
| Typical day rate | £400 to £850 |
| Payment terms | 30 days |
| Deposit | Not usually taken |
| VAT flat rate sector | Management consultancy (14%) |
| VAT registration threshold | £90,000 taxable turnover in 12 months |
How do HR consultants usually invoice?
HR consultants serving small employers invoice a monthly retainer in advance, priced by headcount, that covers routine advice, and charge day rates for casework such as investigations, redundancies and tribunal preparation. Document packages like handbooks and contracts are fixed fee. Clients pay on 30 day terms and expect confidentiality, so invoice lines describe the type of work without naming employees.
HR consultants in this example give the customer 30 days to pay. Hourly rates run from £60 to £140. A full day is typically £400 to £850.
What should a HR consultant put on an invoice?
Beyond the legal basics, HR consultants should:
- Describe casework by type (investigation, redundancy consultation) without naming the employee.
- Price retainers by headcount band and state the band on the invoice.
- Invoice document packages on delivery as a fixed fee, listing the documents supplied.
- Charge urgent same-day advice outside the retainer at a stated premium rate.
Every UK invoice, whatever the trade, must also show:
- a unique, sequential invoice number
- your business name and address (and company number if you trade as a limited company)
- the client’s name and address
- the invoice date and, for VAT invoices, the date of supply if different
- a clear description of each item of work or goods
- the amount due and when it must be paid
- your VAT number, the VAT rate per line and the VAT total, if you are VAT registered
Do HR consultants charge VAT?
You only charge VAT once registered, which is compulsory when taxable turnover passes £90,000 in any rolling 12 months. Below that, show no VAT line and no VAT number. Once registered, these services are standard rated at 20% for UK clients; services to business clients outside the UK are generally outside the scope of UK VAT.
On the Flat Rate Scheme the sector for HR consultants is usually “Management consultancy” at 14% of VAT-inclusive turnover, with a 1% discount in the first year of registration. If you spend little on goods you may be a limited cost trader and have to use 16.5% instead. The scheme suits businesses with few VAT-able costs; check it against the standard method with the VAT calculator before joining.
Source: GOV.UK: Invoicing and taking payment from customers; GOV.UK: VAT Flat Rate Scheme, how much you pay. Last updated .
Frequently asked questions
- How much do HR consultants charge small businesses?
- Retainers of £150 to £600 a month in 2026 depending on headcount, with day rates of £400 to £850 for casework and fixed fees of £600 to £1,500 for a handbook and contract set. Tribunal preparation is charged by the day. Many consultants bundle a legal expenses insurance referral.
- Should HR invoices name employees?
- No. Invoices pass through the client's accounts team and may be seen by people who should not know about a disciplinary. Describe the work by type and use a case reference if you need to distinguish matters. Keep the detail in your own case notes.
- Do HR consultants charge VAT?
- Yes at 20% once registered above £90,000 turnover. Many small employers are VAT registered and reclaim it; those who are not bear the cost. The flat rate sector for HR consultancy is management consultancy at 14%.
More professional services templates
- Consultant invoice template
- Business consultant invoice template
- Management consultant invoice template
- Marketing consultant invoice template
- Recruiter invoice template
- Bookkeeper invoice template
Other trades
Tools for HR consultants
Read next
Cite this page: “HR consultant invoice template (free UK example)”, SoleKit, https://solekit.co.uk/invoice-template/hr-consultant