Musician invoice template

How do musicians usually invoice?

Musicians invoice per performance or per session, with wedding and corporate bookings taking a deposit of around 25% and the balance due before or on the day. Function bands often invoice through one member who pays the others. Session work is priced per track or per session with any Musicians' Union rate referenced, and venues and agencies pay on 14 to 30 day terms.

Musicians in this example give the customer 14 days to pay, after a 25% deposit taken before the work starts. Hourly rates run from £60 to £150. A full day is typically £250 to £600.

What should a musician put on an invoice?

Beyond the legal basics, musicians should:

• State the event date, venue and set times on the invoice; the fee is for that booking.
• Make the balance payable before the event and say what happens on cancellation.
• List extras such as ceremony music, extended sets and travel separately.
• For session work, name the tracks and the rights granted (session fee, no royalties).

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 musicians 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, this work is standard rated at 20%, including work for clients outside the UK in some cases, so check the place of supply rules for overseas clients.

On the Flat Rate Scheme the sector for musicians is usually “Entertainment or journalism” at 12.5% 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.