Invoicing for artists - with free invoice template

Invoicing for artists - As an artist, you would prefer to devote yourself exclusively to your work, but the moment you sell a work of art, you also have to deal with mundane things such as invoicing and bookkeeping. With a good invoice template, you can quickly take care of this and get back to painting. We will show you what is important for artists when creating invoices, so you can save time and effort.

Register now for our next workshop

We will show you tips and tricks on varnishing, stretching canvas, aligning canvas, invoicing, pricing your works, and building your own shadow gap frames at low cost.
Next date: Thursday, November 20, 2025, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Cost: 250 € (including VAT)

Where?
Little Van Gogh,
Berck-sur-Mer-Str. 20,
53604 Bad Honnef, Germany

If you have any questions, please send an email to

info@littlevangogh.de.

As an artist, you would prefer to devote yourself exclusively to your work, but the moment you sell a work of art, you also have to deal with mundane things such as invoicing and bookkeeping. With a good invoice template, you can quickly take care of this and get back to painting. We will show you what is important for artists when creating invoices, so you can save time and eff

VAT Yes? or No?

Your invoice template must fulfil the legal requirements. Otherwise, this will only lead to difficulties with the tax office. Firstly, you should clarify whether you are liable for VAT. Sales generated with works of art are subject to the reduced tax rate, i.e. only 7 per cent is due here (until the end of December 2020 even only 5%). It is important to note that these objects were created by hand, meaning that no computer may have been used in the production of the artwork. According to the small business regulation, sales by domestic artists are exempt from VAT under the conditions of Section 19 UStG. The decisive factor here is the turnover limit for the previous year (EUR 17,500) and the expected turnover for the current year (EUR 50,000). If both limits are undercut, the artist is exempt from taxation as a so-called small business. If you are liable for VAT, this must always be stated on your invoice. If you make less than €17,800 turnover per year, you are a small business owner and your invoice is exempt from VAT.

3-point structure of your invoice template:

Buyers are used to invoices being structured according to a certain principle. Basically, this 3-point structure is always the same and simplifies the process for the invoice issuer and recipient. It consists of an invoice header, centre section and footer. Invoice header: The invoice header contains your name and address, as well as the name and address of the buyer. Centre section: The centre section contains the details of the artwork you are selling: title, format, year of creation and sales price, i.e. all the important invoice and service details. Include a photo of the artwork you are selling, as this is always very popular with buyers. Footer: The footer of your invoice contains additional personal details. For example, your tax number, telephone number, email address and bank details.

Invoice Design

Once you've taken care of the structure and formalities, it's time to get creative. Just like your artworks, your invoice template should have a recognizable style and a personal touch, so be sure to add your logo and choose an appealing font. When designing your invoice template, it’s a good idea to align it with other media you already use for your external presentation, such as your website or art catalogs. A consistent appearance gives a professional impression. Avoid typos, neon fonts, bright colors, and colorful stickers on your invoice template.

Attached, we provide our invoice template for artists for your reference, free of charge