Freelancers' Questions: How to invoice clients overseas?

Freelancer’s Question:I have been living in England for months but I am from France and an animator. A French company that is located in France, near where I used to livewants to work with me on a freelance basis. It would be a‘direct-to-client’ arrangement. However, as I am now located in the UK, how dam to invoice the company and other countries outside of the UK. Could you please explain whatthe legal requirements of my invoice are. For example, how would I invoice a Paris based business? I have been carrying out some research on invoicing in the UK as a freelancer, would the same rules apply for any clients in France?

Also, the late payment lawthat exits ing the UK. does it apply to France as well?This is assuming that I am aUK resident carrying out work for a Paris-based client? Or is up to me to let the client know the number of days that I am expected to be paidwithin from sending the invoice, and then followingthe French law if I’m not paid within the time given?

Expert’s Answer:We will assume that there is not a contract already in place between yourself and your client. The first thing you will need to do is have a written contract signed by yourself and your client. The contract will need to include the terms and conditions that set out and clearly highlight how you will the project will be carried outforyour client. The terms and conditions mentioned in the contract need to make it clear when payment is due and what the consequences will be if there is a failure when it comes to making the payment.

For example, the following is how you may want to set out the payment terms:

It is also a good idea to make sure that your payment terms are highlighted on each invoice that you send out to your clients. To answer your question on invoicing French clients, the invoice can be sent the same way you would send them to clientsin England.

If the client does not make the payment agreed on you can take legal action and you can do this by issuingcourt proceedings. Ideally, you should issue the claim in an English court. However, take into account thatEnglish courts maynot necessarily have the jurisdiction to deal with the claim. This is mainly because your client is in France.

It's incredibly important to have a written contract in place for any work that you carry out. However, if you fail to have a written contract in place for a project, then your case will be referred to the Brussels Regulation by the courts. However, under the Article 5(1) of the Brussels Regulation, you cant put forward the argument that if you have carried out the work in England, then your case should be heard in England.

However, your french client may come forward and challenge your claim and arguethat the caseshould be dealt with within the Frech courts.You would want to avoid that because it will more than likely getcomplicated and expensive.

So, don't risk itand ensure that youhave a written contract, as advised, and include a term dealing with jurisdiction. You should make it clear that your client and yourself will submit to the jurisdiction of the English Courts, therefore will be following the English law.

The expert for Freelancers Question is Michael Higgins LLB fromLovetts.

More onHow to write your invoice