Writers price three different ways depending on the gig: per word, per hour, or a flat project fee. Fee-Lion handles all three with the same estimate-to-invoice flow, so you can map your rate sheet, build in revision rounds and a kill fee, and let the client approve and pay by card without ever creating a login.
Match your pricing to estimate lines
Every estimate in Fee-Lion is built from three kinds of lines. Pick the one that fits how you quoted the job, or mix them on a single estimate.
- Per word → use a fee/unit line: set the quantity to your word count and the rate to your per-word price (e.g. 1,500 × $0.40). The line total updates automatically.
- Per hour → use a task line: estimated hours × your hourly rate. This is also what your tracked time bills against later.
- Flat project → use a single fee/unit line with quantity 1 and the full project price, or break the scope into a few named lines so the client sees what they’re paying for.
Add the work in Estimates from the left sidebar, then price it out. If you want the math walked through line by line, see price an estimate with tasks, fees and units.
Tip: Save your most common setup as a reusable starting point with an estimate template — a blog-post draft, a landing page, a white paper — so you’re not rebuilding the same rate sheet every week.
Build in revisions and a kill fee
The two things that quietly eat a writer’s margin are unlimited revisions and projects that die after you’ve done the research. Put both on the estimate up front so they’re agreed in writing.
- Revision rounds: add a fee/unit line like “Included revisions — 2 rounds” at $0, then a second line “Additional revision round” with your per-round rate. The client sees exactly where free turns into billable.
- Kill fee: if a client can cancel mid-project, name your terms in the estimate notes (for example, 50% of the balance due on cancellation after the first draft). When a job does get killed, you bill that as a clean fee/unit line on a fresh invoice.
- Rush work: use a surcharge for tight turnarounds, or a discount for a returning client — both live right on the estimate. See add discounts and surcharges to an estimate.
Take a deposit, then get approved and paid
For anything beyond a small first job, ask for money before you write. Set a deposit % on the estimate (or set a workspace default under Settings → Preferences) and add your tax % if you charge it — tax rules vary by where you and your client are, so check with an accountant on what applies to you.
- Send the estimate. Your client opens a no-login portal link, reviews the lines, and approves with one click.
- Convert the approved estimate to an invoice in one step — see how to convert an estimate.
- The invoice carries a Pay button. The client pays by card into your own Stripe account once you connect Stripe to get paid.
Writing on retainer — a set number of posts each month? Skip the re-quoting and set up a recurring invoice, then offer auto-pay so the card runs itself. For longer-form projects billed in stages, track your hours against the estimate and bill tracked time to an invoice.
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