What to include on a makeup artist invoice
Event makeup involves dates, locations and several people, and your invoice should reflect all of it.
- Your business name, contact details and logo or portfolio link
- Event date, arrival time and the address or venue
- The bride or main client as the named party, even when guests are included
- One line per service: bridal application, trial, bridesmaids, mother of the bride, touch-ups
- Travel, early-start and parking fees as separate lines
- Deposit paid to secure the date and the remaining balance
- Your lash, airbrush or hair add-ons, if offered
Put the final headcount on the invoice, since it is what the price is based on.
How to price your services
Makeup pricing balances skill, kit costs and the hours you give up. A bridal booking blocks a whole morning, so charge accordingly and add fees for early starts, such as before 7am, and for travel beyond a set radius.
Set a separate price for the trial, which is often discounted or credited against the booking. Price groups per person and consider a minimum booking for weekends in wedding season. Your kit wears out: foundations, brushes, sanitiser and lashes are ongoing costs, so include them in your rates instead of treating them as extras you absorb.
When to send the invoice
Send the first invoice at booking, for the deposit, and treat the date as held only when it is paid. Weddings are booked months ahead, so a dated invoice and a signed agreement protect both sides.
Send the final invoice two to four weeks before the event with the confirmed headcount and balance. That way payment is settled before the busy morning, and you are not handling money in a bridal suite. For smaller bookings, an invoice on the day works.
Payment terms that protect your business
Event work needs firm terms because dates cannot be resold.
- Take a non-refundable deposit of 30 to 50 percent to secure the date
- Make the balance due before the event, for example seven days earlier
- State a cancellation schedule that becomes stricter as the date approaches
- Charge for extra people added on the day
- Set a late-start rule, so a delayed bride does not cost you the next booking
- Include a travel and waiting-time policy
Pair the invoice with your client form and a photo release if you share portfolio images.
Common invoicing mistakes
Common issues to avoid.
- Not recording headcount, which causes disputes on the day.
- Forgetting travel, parking or early-start fees.
- Giving a trial for free with no credit rule.
- Accepting a verbal booking with no deposit.
- Quoting a package price without breaking out each person.
- Waiting until after the event to ask for the balance.
- Failing to note that the deposit is non-refundable.
