Consultant's Guide to Powerful Invoice Language
In my consulting business, I've sent out hundreds of invoices to my clients for over 35 years. Although the invoice information can be varied and detailed, my basic structure is consistent:
- Describe the specific activity performed
- State the associated charge
I've found that active verbs (not passive ones!) work best to explain my consulting work on invoices. Why? Because they powerfully communicate value.
For example,
Analyze project requirements and develop a solution is better than
Work was done on the project and a solution was found
THE LIST OF VALUABLE ACTION VERBS
Each verb has been carefully selected to effectively communicate professional services on invoices. There is some intentional overlap between categories where certain verbs are relevant in multiple contexts (e.g., "Analyze" appears in both Analysis & Strategy and Problem Solving).
Analysis & Strategy
- Analyze
- Anticipate
- Assess
- Audit
- Benchmark
- Calculate
- Categorize
- Compare
- Compile
- Conclude
- Consider
- Contrast
- Determine
- Develop
- Diagnose
- Estimate
- Evaluate
- Examine
- Forecast
- Formulate
- Identify
- Inspect
- Interpret
- Investigate
- Measure
- Model
- Organize
- Plan
- Predict
- Prioritize
- Probe
- Process
- Propose
- Question
- Rate
- Research
- Review
- Scan
- Screen
- Study
- Summarize
- Survey
- Synthesize
- Test
- Track
- Validate
- Verify
Communication &
Coordination
- Address
- Advise
- Alert
- Arbitrate
- Brief
- Call
- Chair
- Clarify
- Coach
- Collaborate
- Communicate
- Conduct
- Connect
- Consult
- Contact
- Coordinate
- Correspond
- Delegate
- Direct
- Discuss
- Distribute
- Engage
- Explain
- Facilitate
- Forward
- Guide
- Host
- Inform
- Instruct
- Interface
- Liaise
- Meet
- Mediate
- Mentor
- Moderate
- Navigate
- Negotiate
- Network
- Notify
- Present
- Report
- Represent
- Respond
- Speak
- Telephone
- Train
Content &
Documentation
- Archive
- Author
- Blog
- Brainstorm
- Compose
- Craft
- Create
- Detail
- Develop
- Document
- Draft
- Edit
- Format
- Ghostwrite
- Illustrate
- Journal
- Log
- Memorialize
- Narrate
- Outline
- Photograph
- Post
- Proofread
- Publish
- Record
- Refine
- Revise
- Rewrite
- Script
- Transcribe
- Tweet
- Update
- Write
Technical Operations
- Activate
- Automate
- Back up
- Configure
- Convert
- Debug
- Deploy
- Download
- Enable
- Execute
- Import
- Install
- Integrate
- Launch
- License
- Link
- Maintain
- Map
- Migrate
- Monitor
- Optimize
- Program
- Register
- Restore
- Set up
- Streamline
- Support
- Synchronize
- Test
- Troubleshoot
- Update
- Upgrade
- Upload
- Validate
Project Management
- Accelerate
- Accomplish
- Achieve
- Administer
- Advance
- Assign
- Budget
- Complete
- Control
- Deliver
- Direct
- Drive
- Enable
- Execute
- Expedite
- Handle
- Implement
- Improve
- Lead
- Maintain
- Manage
- Orchestrate
- Organize
- Oversee
- Perform
- Plan
- Prepare
- Produce
- Program
- Progress
- Provide
- Schedule
- Spearhead
- Strategize
- Strengthen
- Supervise
Problem Solving
- Adjust
- Address
- Analyze
- Change
- Correct
- Debug
- Define
- Delete
- Detect
- Determine
- Diagnose
- Eliminate
- Fix
- Identify
- Improve
- Investigate
- Modify
- Overcome
- Prevent
- Recover
- Rectify
- Reduce
- Reform
- Remove
- Repair
- Replace
- Resolve
- Restore
- Retrieve
- Revamp
- Solve
- Streamline
- Troubleshoot
Development &
Design
- Add
- Architect
- Build
- Conceptualize
- Construct
- Create
- Design
- Develop
- Devise
- Diagram
- Draft
- Enhance
- Enlarge
- Establish
- Expand
- Fashion
- Format
- Generate
- Group
- Ideate
- Illustrate
- Initialize
- Innovate
- Model
- Modify
- Prototype
- Redesign
- Refine
- Render
- Revise
- Shape
- Show
- Sketch
- Structure
- Style
- Visualize
Quality & Security
- Audit
- Authenticate
- Balance
- Certify
- Check
- Close
- Confirm
- Control
- Ensure
- Evaluate
- Examine
- Expedite
- Finish
- Guard
- Highlight
- Index
- Inspect
- Locate
- Monitor
- Protect
- Quality-check
- Regulate
- Renew
- Review
- Safeguard
- Save
- Scan
- Secure
- Start
- Test
- Update
- Validate
- Verify
- Watch
Your list will vary based on your industry and services, but the principle remains: active verbs showcase your value and justify your rates. When writing invoices, replace weak verbs like "did" or "worked on" with powerful actions like analyze or eliminate. Your clients will better understand—and appreciate—the concrete value you deliver.
For a deeper dive into persuasive business language, I recommend Richard Bayan's "Words That Sell." It's a valuable resource for consultants and business owners who want to communicate their value more effectively.
See also: Exploring the importance of professional courtesy invoices? Discover the reasoning in 'Why free work still needs a professional invoice' by Mike Beato.
Originally published Nov. 1, 2011. Revised March 29, 2025.
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