Guides

Practical, plain-language guides for freelancers and small businesses: writing invoices and getting paid, printing QR codes that scan, choosing barcodes, and sharing your contact details with NFC and QR business cards.

Invoicing

• How to write an invoice as a freelancer: A practical, step-by-step guide to writing your first freelance invoice: what to include, how to number it, how to set payment terms and the mistakes that delay payment.
• Invoice payment terms explained: What Net 30, Net 15, Due on receipt, EOM and 2/10 Net 30 mean on an invoice, which payment terms to choose as a freelancer or small business, and how to get paid faster.
• Invoice vs receipt vs quote vs pro forma invoice: Quote, estimate, pro forma invoice, invoice and receipt explained in plain language: when each is used, what it must contain and which one to send to a client.
• How to chase a late invoice politely: A calm, step-by-step process for following up on unpaid invoices, with copy-ready reminder emails for before the due date, just after, and when payment is seriously late.

QR codes

• What size should a printed QR code be?: Minimum QR code print sizes for business cards, flyers, posters and signs, the 10:1 distance rule, quiet zone requirements and why more data makes a QR code harder to scan.
• Static vs dynamic QR codes: The difference between static and dynamic QR codes, when each one makes sense, the trade-offs around editing, tracking and reliability, and what to check before printing.
• 9 QR code design mistakes that stop people scanning: Low contrast, inverted colours, missing quiet zone, oversized logos and other QR code design mistakes that make codes fail, plus how error correction levels L, M, Q and H work.
• How to share your Wi‑Fi with a QR code: How Wi-Fi QR codes work on iPhone and Android, what information they contain, where to display them, and simple security steps such as using a guest network.

Barcodes

• EAN-13 vs UPC-A: which barcode does your product need?: The difference between EAN-13 and UPC-A retail barcodes, where each is used, why you need GS1 numbers to sell in stores and online marketplaces, check digits and print size rules.
• Code 128 vs Code 39 for inventory and labels: How Code 128 and Code 39 barcodes differ in character set, density and use, which one to choose for inventory, asset tags and shipping labels, and how to print them so they scan.

Business cards

• How NFC business cards work: A plain-language guide to NFC business cards: how tapping works, iPhone and Android compatibility, which NFC chips to buy (NTAG213, NTAG215, NTAG216), metal cards and how to write your link.
• Digital business cards: QR code vs NFC vs paper: Comparing paper business cards, QR code contact cards and NFC cards on cost, convenience, compatibility and updates, and how to combine them for the best result.