Common social media manager invoice line items
Social media invoices typically cover a mix of strategy, content creation and management. Here's what most freelance social media managers include:
| Line item |
Notes |
| Monthly retainer | Fixed monthly fee covering agreed scope of platforms and posts |
| Content creation — photography | Flat fee or per-image rate for brand photography shoots |
| Content creation — video / Reels | Per video or package rate for short-form video content |
| Copywriting / captions | Per post or monthly bundle for caption writing and hashtag research |
| Scheduling & posting | Included in retainer or billed separately if managing multiple accounts |
| Community management | Comment replies, DMs, inbox management — per hour or flat monthly |
| Paid ads management | Management fee (percentage of ad spend or flat fee) + ad spend pass-through |
| Social media strategy | One-off strategy document, brand voice guide, or content calendar creation |
| Analytics & reporting | Monthly performance report, growth metrics, ROI summary |
| Profile audit / setup | One-time account setup, bio optimisation, highlight creation |
| Influencer outreach | Research, pitching and coordination billed per campaign or hour |
Why social media managers use PennaPay
Automatic recurring invoices
Most social media managers work on monthly retainers. Set your invoice to recur monthly and it generates automatically — no manual work. Pro feature.
Stripe payment links (coming soon)
Every invoice link carries your bank-transfer and MobilePay details today. Card payments directly from the invoice portal, via Stripe, are coming soon.
Saved client profiles
Store each client's billing details and pre-fill invoices instantly. Ideal when managing multiple brand accounts. Pro feature.
Deliverable file delivery
Share content calendars, strategy documents, or graphic assets directly through the client portal. Pro feature.
Professional PDF invoices
Download polished PDFs instantly. The Studio and Clean templates are popular with social media professionals for their modern look.
Client messaging log
Keep a record of client communications alongside their invoices and files — all in one place. Pro feature.
Frequently asked questions
Is this social media manager invoice template free?
The template page is free to browse. It uses the Studio design which is part of the Pro plan.
How should I structure a monthly retainer invoice?
Keep it simple. One line item for the monthly retainer with a brief description of what's included — e.g. "Monthly social media management — January 2026 (Instagram + LinkedIn, 15 posts, community management)". If you include extras, add them as separate line items below.
How do I invoice for one-off content campaigns vs. ongoing work?
For ongoing work, use a recurring monthly invoice. For one-off campaigns, create a project invoice with separate line items for strategy, content creation, ads management and reporting. Add a note in the payment terms if a deposit is required before the campaign starts.
Can I invoice clients in different currencies?
Yes. PennaPay supports GBP, USD, EUR and 30+ currencies. If you work with international brands or agencies, simply select the relevant currency when creating your invoice.
What's the best invoice template for a social media manager?
The Studio and Editorial templates work well for social media professionals — they have a contemporary, design-forward aesthetic that matches the industry. The Clean template is a good choice for more corporate clients.
