Industry playbook
Freelancers & independent consultants
How freelancers and consultants automate invoicing, payment follow-up and tax records with hisabkitab
Think of an independent designer or management consultant working with eight to twelve clients a year, some on monthly retainers and some on one-off projects. They invoice from a laptop or phone, juggle several bank and UPI accounts, and want to spend their time on client work, not paperwork. Tax time usually means a weekend with bank statements and a spreadsheet.
See hisabkitab for Freelancers & independent consultants →
The challenges
The paperwork that eats a freelancer's week
Invoices that look improvised
Word templates and copied spreadsheets lead to wrong invoice numbers, missing GSTINs and inconsistent formats. Corporate clients' accounts teams send them back, and every resend delays payment by another cycle.
Chasing payments personally
Asking clients for money is uncomfortable, so reminders go out late or not at all. Overdue invoices pile up quietly while the freelancer keeps working for the same clients.
GST registration and thresholds
Service providers must register once turnover crosses the GST threshold, and some clients insist on GST invoices earlier. Knowing which invoices should carry GST, and keeping records ready for returns, is confusing when you are a one-person business.
TDS on professional fees
Business clients usually deduct TDS before paying. Without recording it, the freelancer cannot tell whether a client underpaid or simply deducted tax, and claiming the credit at year-end becomes guesswork.
Expenses and year-end tax
Software subscriptions, equipment, travel and co-working costs are scattered across cards and UPI. At tax time, the freelancer or their CA reconstructs a year of income and expenses from bank statements.
A day in the life
A day before vs after hisabkitab
Before
Invoices are made from an old Word file with the number edited by hand.
Payment follow-up happens when the bank balance runs low.
TDS is ignored until the annual tax statement shows up.
Year-end means handing a year of bank statements to the CA.
With hisabkitab
Professional GST invoices with logo and payment details are created in a minute on web or phone.
Auto-WhatsApp and email reminders follow up on overdue invoices without awkward calls.
Client payments are recorded with TDS deducted, so every invoice reconciles.
Income, expenses and outstanding sit in one place, ready for the CA.
Solutions
How hisabkitab solves it
Unprofessional invoices
Invoice templates + Auto-fill from GSTIN
Choose a template, add your logo, signature and terms, and fill client details from their GSTIN. Invoice numbers run in sequence automatically.
Getting paid
UPI QR on invoice + Auto-payment reminder + Auto-WhatsApp
Print a payment QR on each invoice and let automatic reminders follow up on due dates, so clients can pay in seconds and you never have to chase in person.
Working on the move
Mobile app (iOS & Android)
Create and share an invoice from your phone right after a meeting, using the same login as the web app.
TDS deducted by clients
TDS Report
Record TDS when a client pays net; the TDS Report shows totals by client for your year-end tax filing.
Expenses and tax records
Payment vouchers + Cash/Bank Report
Record expenses as you pay them; ledgers, Cash/Bank Report and Trading P&L give your CA a clean year.
Retainer clients
Recurring Invoice (Boost)
If you grow into several retainers, Boost adds Recurring Invoice so monthly bills go out automatically.
Year-end with the CA
Export to PDF/Excel
Export ledgers and reports to PDF or Excel, or give your CA a user login, so year-end filing starts from clean numbers instead of bank statements.
Inside the software
Built for your books
Custom formula example
4-level grouping
Services: Design → Brand Identity → Logo & Guidelines → Fixed fee. Customers: Client type (Startup / Corporate / Agency) → City → Referral source → Client.
Reports you’ll use
Customer Outstanding Report · Customer Ageing Report · TDS Report · Trading P&L · Cash/Bank Report · GST Report
Compliance notes
Service providers must register for GST once turnover crosses the services threshold (generally ₹20 lakh, lower in some special category states), and most professional and creative services are taxed at 18%. Business clients usually deduct income-tax TDS on professional fees before paying. If you bill overseas clients, discuss the export of services rules with your CA before invoicing. Keep records of business expenses through the year to support your income-tax return.
Recommended plan
The plan that fits
Launch
₹2,999/year, exclusive of 18% GST (or ₹5,999 for 3 years)
One company, two users, every voucher and report, GST, TDS and TCS reports, Auto-WhatsApp and payment reminders on Launch cover a solo freelancer. Move to Boost when retainers make Recurring Invoice worth having.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Do I need GST registration to use hisabkitab?
No. You can raise invoices with or without GST. Once your turnover crosses the GST threshold for services, or a client asks for GST invoices and you register voluntarily, add your GSTIN and hisabkitab applies tax correctly from then on. Ask your CA when registration makes sense for you.
Can clients pay me directly from the invoice?
Yes. Your invoice can carry a payment QR and bank details, so clients can pay instantly by UPI or transfer. Automatic reminders on WhatsApp and email nudge them as the due date approaches, which shortens the gap between work done and money received.
How do I handle TDS deducted by clients?
When a client pays net of TDS, record the payment and the TDS together. The invoice is fully settled and the TDS is tracked separately, and the TDS Report shows totals by client. At year-end you or your CA match it against your tax credit statement and claim it.
Can I invoice from my phone?
Yes. The hisabkitab iOS and Android apps use the same login as the web. Create an invoice right after a meeting, share it on WhatsApp, and check who has paid, all from your phone. Everything syncs with the web app instantly.
Is Launch enough for a freelancer?
For most solo freelancers, yes. Launch includes one company, two users, all vouchers and standard reports, GST and TDS reports and automatic reminders for ₹2,999 a year, exclusive of 18% GST. If you have several monthly retainers, Boost adds Recurring Invoice.
Keep exploring
Related industry playbooks
Do the work, let hisabkitab chase the money
Start with the free plan to try invoicing, then move to Launch when you are ready. Book a demo if you want help setting up templates and reminders.
