Management consultant invoice template
A worked example for management consultants in the professional services category, with 2026 prices and the VAT rules that apply.
A management 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. Management consultants typically allow 30 days to pay. VAT at 20% is added only if you are VAT registered.
Example management consultant invoice
Dated 1 October 2026 with 30 day terms. Names and prices are fictional.
Invoice
INV-0042
From
T. Reid
Management consultant
Unit 9, Orchard Business Park
Nottingham
NG7 5FG
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
- Management consultant work, October 2026
| Description | Qty | Unit price | VAT | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Programme management, transformation office, October 2026 | 18 days | £850.00 | 20% | £15,300.00 |
| Board presentation preparation and delivery | 1 day | £850.00 | 20% | £850.00 |
| Rail travel to client site (receipts attached) | 1 item | £386.50 | 20% | £386.50 |
- Subtotal
- £16,536.50
- VAT at 20%
- £3,307.30
- Total
- £19,843.80
Typical rates for management 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 | Not usually quoted |
| Typical day rate | £600 to £1,500 |
| 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 management consultants usually invoice?
Management consultants invoice monthly in arrears against a signed engagement letter or statement of work, listing the days worked with dates, usually through a limited company and often via an intermediary or consultancy that holds the client contract. Thirty day terms are standard, 45 or 60 with some large organisations, and the purchase order number is mandatory. Expenses follow the client's travel policy and are recharged with receipts.
Management consultants in this example give the customer 30 days to pay. A full day is typically £600 to £1,500.
What should a management consultant put on an invoice?
Beyond the legal basics, management consultants should:
- Attach or reference a timesheet approved by the client's manager; it removes most payment queries.
- Quote the PO number, the SOW reference and the billing period on the invoice.
- Recharge expenses in line with the client's policy and list them separately from fees.
- If working through an intermediary, invoice them with their contract reference, not the end client.
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 management 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 management 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
- What day rate do management consultants charge?
- Independent consultants charge £600 to £1,500 a day in 2026 depending on sector and seniority, with programme directors above that. Rates through consultancies or intermediaries are lower because they take a margin. Fixed-price engagements are priced as days multiplied by rate plus a risk premium.
- Does IR35 affect how a management consultant invoices?
- If the engagement is inside IR35 and the client is medium or large, the fee payer deducts tax and National Insurance before paying your company, and your invoice will be paid net. Outside IR35 you invoice and are paid gross. The status determination should be in writing before the first invoice.
- Do management consultants charge VAT?
- Yes at 20% once registered, which nearly all are because day rates pass £90,000 turnover in a few months. VAT is added to fees and to recharged expenses. Work for business clients abroad is generally outside the scope of UK VAT.
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Cite this page: “Management consultant invoice template”, SoleKit, https://solekit.co.uk/invoice-template/management-consultant