How do you invoice a client for ad spend?
Bill each channel’s net media spend for the period, add your commission, and charge the gross. $8,500 net at 15% commission bills $10,000. Include the campaign period so the client can match it to their platform reports.
Billing media in arrears vs in advance
Billing in arrears invoices what actually spent last period: choose Net + commission and fill the lines from the platform export. Billing in advance invoices the planned budget: choose Gross amounts and enter the agreed figures from the media plan. Convert between the two with the agency commission calculator.
Send the report with the invoice
Clients pay faster when they can see what they bought. The ad report generator turns the same export into a branded performance report.
How to create a media invoice
- Add the lines. Type one line per channel with its net spend and commission, or drop in an ad platform export and use its spend.
- Fill in the details. Invoice number, issue and due dates, campaign period, and who it’s billed to.
- Brand it. Add your agency’s name, address, bank details, logo and accent colour.
- Download. Download the PDF and send it to the client.
Frequently asked questions
What should an advertising invoice include?
Your agency’s details, the client’s details, an invoice number, issue and due dates, the campaign period, one line per channel or campaign with the net media amount, commission and gross, the total due, and payment details.
How is commission calculated on a media invoice?
With commission charged on gross: gross = net ÷ (1 − commission). $8,500 of net media at 15% commission bills $10,000, of which $1,500 is the agency’s commission.
Can I bill straight from an ad platform export?
Yes. Drop in a Meta, Google Ads or any platform export, choose one line per platform or per campaign, set the commission, and the lines and campaign period fill in.
What is the difference between “net + commission” and “gross amounts”?
Net + commission adds your commission to actual media spend (billing in arrears). Gross amounts are already client-billed figures, such as an agreed monthly fee or a planned budget billed in advance, so no commission is added.
Does the invoice add GST or VAT?
No. Add tax treatment and your tax number in the notes, or include tax as its own line.
Is my data stored?
No. The invoice is built in your browser and downloaded as a PDF; nothing is saved on PlanPulse’s servers.