GST invoice template for SEO specialists
SEO is billed in awkward units. There is a one-off audit, an ongoing retainer, sometimes content and links bought on the client's behalf, and results that take months to show. A client who is paying every month for an invisible improvement needs the invoice to show real, countable work.
This template splits an engagement into an audit, a monthly retainer with a list of deliverables, and third-party costs such as tools or outreach. It uses SAC 998361 (advertising services) at 18%, which is the common home for digital marketing work, with consulting lines under 998312 where appropriate.
Example seo specialist invoice
Ranking Ridge Consulting bills CasaNova Furniture Pvt Ltd for ₹62,500.00 before tax. The seller is in Gujarat and the client is in Maharashtra, so the whole ₹11,250.00 of GST is charged as IGST. The invoice total is ₹73,750.00.
| # | Description | HSN/SAC | Qty | Rate | Taxable | GST | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technical SEO audit (site crawl, speed, indexing, schema) | 998312 | 1 | 25,000.00 | 25,000.00 | 18% | 29,500.00 |
| 2 | SEO retainer – November 2026: 4 content pages, 6 links, monthly report | 998361 | 1 | 35,000.00 | 35,000.00 | 18% | 41,300.00 |
| 3 | Keyword research tool licence share (at cost) | 998361 | 1 | 2,500.00 | 2,500.00 | 18% | 2,950.00 |
| GST slab | Taxable | IGST |
|---|---|---|
| 18% | 62,500.00 | 11,250.00 |
Notes: Retainer billed monthly in advance. Rankings are influenced by many factors outside our control.
Terms: Payment due within 15 days of invoice date.
SAC codes seo specialists commonly use
| Code | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 998361 | Advertising and digital marketing services (SEO retainers) |
| 998312 | Business consulting services, for strategy-only audits |
| 998313 | IT consulting and support, for technical SEO implementation |
These are commonly used headings, not legal advice. Confirm the best fit with your accountant, and read our HSN vs SAC guide for how to choose.
What to get right on a seo specialist invoice
- Describe deliverables, not outcomes. You control audits, fixes, pages and links, not Google's rankings. Write what was delivered ("12 pages optimised, 8 links built, technical fixes") and leave rank promises out of every document.
- Separate the audit. A one-time audit is a distinct supply from a retainer. Give it its own invoice or line so a client cannot treat it as month one of free ongoing work.
- Show tool costs honestly. Rank trackers and crawler licences are your cost of business. If you pass them through, say so, but do not call your own subscription a client expense unless the contract says it is.
- Date the retainer period. Print the month the retainer covers. When a client pauses and later resumes, dated invoices make the history unambiguous.
How seo specialists usually bill
Audits are priced as one-off projects, ongoing SEO as a monthly retainer, and content or link work per piece. Minimum engagement periods of three to six months are common because results take time, and billing in advance keeps cash flow safe.
The place of supply decides the tax type: Gujarat to Maharashtra is an inter-state supply (IGST). See CGST vs SGST vs IGST for the full rules, or see how invoicing works in Gujarat.
SEO Specialist invoice FAQs
Is SEO a taxable service under GST?
Yes, SEO and digital marketing are taxable at 18%, typically under SAC 998361 for advertising services, once you are registered for GST.
Can I show link-building costs as a pass-through?
Only if you buy on the client's behalf, with their authority, at cost and with supporting invoices. Otherwise it is part of your overall service and should be included in your fee and taxed with it.
How do I invoice an overseas agency that white-labels my work?
That is typically an export of services when the agency is outside India and pays in foreign exchange. You can issue the invoice without IGST under LUT and report it as zero-rated in GSTR-1.