I’ve tried four different invoicing tools. I keep coming back to one spreadsheet with six columns: client, invoice number, amount, sent date, due date, and paid status.
The formula that actually matters
The only “automation” worth having is a single formula that flags anything overdue:
=IF(AND(TODAY()>DueDate, PaidStatus="No"), "OVERDUE", "OK")Drop that in a helper column, conditionally format it red, and you’ll never lose track of a late payment buried in your inbox again.
Why not use invoicing software?
Plenty of freelancers do, and that’s fine. But a spreadsheet has one advantage: you already check it. Tools you have to remember to open don’t get opened. A spreadsheet tab you already keep pinned does.
Check out our guide to quarterly taxes for what to do with that income once it’s tracked.
