Editor Invoice Template
Create professional editor and proofreader invoices for manuscript editing, copy editing, and proofreading services. Our template includes per-word rates, project fees, and service level tracking. Perfect for freelance editors and proofreaders. Download instantly in PDF, Word, or Excel format.
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Subtotal$2,225.00
Total (USD)$2,225.00
What to Include on an Editor Invoice
A professional editing invoice should document:
Business Information- Business name
- Your name
- Phone, email, website
- Address (optional)
- Credentials/memberships
- Client/author name
- Contact information
- Project reference
- Billing address
- Manuscript/project title
- Word count
- Genre/type
- Editing level performed
- Delivery date
- Type of editing
- Word count × rate
- Or hourly rate × hours
- Additional services
- Rush fees
- Included passes
- Additional pass fees
- Author review period
- Query responses
- Deposit paid
- Balance due
- Due date
- Payment methods
Editing & Proofreading Pricing Guide
Standard pricing for editing services:
Per-Word Rates- Proofreading: $0.005-0.015/word
- Copy editing (light): $0.01-0.02/word
- Copy editing (heavy): $0.02-0.03/word
- Line editing: $0.02-0.04/word
- Developmental editing: $0.03-0.08/word
- Proofreading: $2-4/page
- Copy editing: $3-6/page
- Line editing: $5-10/page
- Developmental editing: $7-15/page
- Proofreading: $25-40/hr
- Copy editing: $35-60/hr
- Line editing: $45-75/hr
- Developmental editing: $50-100/hr
- Editorial assessment: $60-100/hr
- Blog post (1,000 words): $25-75
- Article (3,000 words): $75-200
- Short story: $100-300
- Novel (80,000 words): $800-3,000+
- Dissertation: $1,500-5,000+
- Business document: $50-200
- Editorial assessment: $200-500
- Query letter: $50-150
- Synopsis: $75-200
- Book proposal: $200-500
- Fact-checking: $40-75/hr
- Formatting: $25-50/hr
- 1 week: +25%
- 48-72 hours: +50%
- 24 hours: +75-100%
Understanding Editing Levels
Different editing types serve different needs:
Developmental Editing- Big-picture structure
- Plot and character arcs
- Pacing and flow
- Theme development
- Highest-touch, highest-cost
- Sentence-level craft
- Word choice and style
- Tone consistency
- Paragraph flow
- Creative refinement
- Grammar and punctuation
- Spelling and usage
- Consistency (style sheet)
- Fact-checking (basic)
- Clarity and readability
- Final error catch
- Typos and formatting
- After layout/design
- Lightest touch
- Lowest cost
- Overall evaluation
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Recommendations
- No line-by-line edits
- Roadmap for revision
- Proofread < Copy < Line < Dev
- Each level builds up
- Quote appropriate level
- Explain differences clearly
Editing Business Best Practices
Run a professional editing business:
Sample Edits- Offer free samples (1-2 pages)
- Demonstrates your style
- Assesses manuscript condition
- Sets expectations
- Helps with quoting
- Review before quoting
- Assess actual condition
- Determine right service level
- Realistic timeline
- Accurate word count
- Clear scope agreement
- Regular check-ins (long projects)
- Track changes always
- Style sheet provided
- Professional feedback
- Proofreading: 5-10 pages/hour
- Copy editing: 3-7 pages/hour
- Line editing: 2-5 pages/hour
- Dev editing: 1-3 pages/hour
- Build in buffer time
- Track changes (Word)
- Chicago Manual of Style
- Genre-specific guides
- Style sheet creation
- Consistent practices
- Respectful feedback
- Explain your changes
- Author has final say
- Build long-term clients
- Request testimonials