7 Best Freelance Contract Templates for Any Service

7 best freelance contract templates for any service

Omid G Mar 27, 2024

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Do I need a contract for freelance work?

While freelance working arrangements are more fluid than traditional work, that freedom shouldn’t put you in a vulnerable spot. Contracts are important because they help you lay down what is expected of both parties.

A good contract helps you define the project's scope and acts as a safety net in case things go wrong. It also clarifies payment terms, including when payments should arrive, how much you received, and how the money is transferred. Additionally, contracts can be used to work out payment milestones for projects.

Of course, it’s not just payment disputes that are covered when you sign a contract. These legal agreements can also help protect how your work is used, which is particularly relevant in creative sectors when dealing with things like image usage rights, intellectual property, or other copyright issues.

Finally, a good freelance contract template gives your service a professional edge. It helps your client feel assured that you’re taking things seriously and that they’re also protected in the event that anything goes wrong.

What should a freelance contract include?

A freelance contract should be a robust legal agreement that covers both parties. Here are the things that should be included so that everyone is covered.

Identification of parties

In order for your freelance contract to stand up to any scrutiny, both parties must be named. As such, a good freelance contract template must leave room for:

The client's name and contact details
The freelancer’s name and contact details

Scope of work

The scope of work is a way to iron out two particularly important aspects of a freelance contract.

Firstly, it outlines what is expected during the contract. The particularities will depend on the nature of the task. The scope of work portion of the agreement could focus on a number of articles, the delivery of a website, an end-of-year tax filing, a marketing campaign, and so on.

The best plan here is to be as objective as possible.

Secondly, you need to think about timelines. That could be when the project starts and ends or whether it is indefinite. Additionally, the scope of work is a great place to include expected milestones or deliverables over the course of your agreement.

Payment terms

The payment section of your contract is very important. Some of the things that you should include are:

Payment rates: Some freelancers charge an hourly or daily rate, while other contacts charge a flat fee. You can also choose to productize your work with a subscription service or any number of payment options.
Payment schedule: Set out how you want to be paid. For example, you could make a 50% deposit, with the final 50% based on milestones or product completion, or whatever else works for you and your client.
Invoicing: If you’re submitting invoices for completed work, define how frequently you’ll submit (weekly, monthly) and your expectations for how soon that work is completed.
Late payment fees: You can also include a late payment fee. These are typically a percentage of the money owed for each day, week, or month.

Revisions

It’s also important to include revisions as part of your service. How much latitude you allow your clients might depend on the nature of the work and the industry. Some freelancers include a number of revisions as part of the service. Others charge a few for additional work. Get it down in writing to protect yourself from endless changes from clients who don’t really know what they want.

Intellectual property rights

Your freelancer contract should also stipulate who owns the rights to the work produced under your agreement. In many scenarios, the client will have full rights. However, in other arrangements, there might be time restrictions or usage rights attached. Make sure this is all covered in your contract.

NDAs and confidentiality agreements

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are important to clients when you are working with intellectual property, private and sensitive data, or other materials. Your contract should clearly outline which sensitive material must be kept private.

Termination and kill fee clauses

Your contract should also make explicit which scenarios can lead to termination. Some of the things that you should cover might include severe delays, non-payment, breaches of contract, and so on.

What’s more, you can also include kill fees within this section. These clauses allow you to receive some payment for contracts that are terminated for reasons that are out of your control. For example, you agree to a website design, but the project is canceled because the client has budgetary issues.

Governing laws

Another area you need to make clear is what jurisdiction or regions should govern the contract. This clarity is important to help with any remediation efforts for both you and your client.