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What to include in your freelance contract with free template

Business

5 min read

What to include in your freelance contract with free template So you decided to go it alone, and wonder because there are many benefits to freelancing: the freedom to work with who you want, the flexibility of time and location and no “boss” to answer too! But all too often freelancers make the mistake of jumping straight into work with clients without having a proper contract in place.  Having a contract in place protects you from being taken advantage of, but it also protects the client. As the relationship develops, you start to build a natural trust for each other, but in the early days, it’s essential for you to both to set out your expectations of the project.  So you have no experience with the law, and the client has asked you to send over a contract for them to sign, but you have no idea where to start. Don’t panic! We’ve put together this guide to help you draw up an easy and valid contract.
  1. Name and Date should appear at the top of the contract, so it’s obvious who the contract is between and when the contract is active from. 
  2. Next, Include the project/task you’ll be completing and list the agreed deliverables. Add any relevant information to the delivery of the project. 
  3. Now you’ll want to list some terms and conditions. Think about what your terms are for delivering this project. Do you require a set amount of money? How often do you want to be paid? Which payment method will you need?
  4. Next up, you can talk about the scope of the project. This is slightly different from the deliverables as the deliverables are the result. The scope is a bit more in-depth. You might want to talk about how you will deliver the deliverables listed in the first part of the contract. 
  5. Now you might want to think about how you would handle any changes to the project you have agreed on with the client. For example, what if the client wants to decrease the amount of time you spend per month delivering the task or perhaps the client wants to terminate the agreement. Make sure you’re clear on your expectations.
  6. And last but not least, you’ll need to add in some legal text to make sure you’re covered. And you might want to think about a non-disclosure clause where you’ll need to agree not to disclose any information about the project. Below, you’ll find a sample contract you can start using right away.

John Doe <> 123 Limited Contract

Contract in Effect Beginning [Date]  

I, (name) will provide (client) with (project name) which will include
  1. Deliverable 1
  2. Deliverable 1
  3. Deliverable 1
  4. Deliverable 1
  Terms and Conditions The following rates and terms apply: (Client) will pay (£xxx) every (xxx week/month) to Contractor via PayPal, Debit card, or other electronic payment processors as agreed to by both parties. This payment will be for work delivered and accepted in the previous month.  If the client (client) isn’t happy with the work delivered, this should be disputed at the time of delivery and not at the time of payment.   Scope of Project I understand and accept that I have been brought into (company name) to oversee (project). (project) duties may vary month to month, and I will always prioritize what is in the best interest of (client) I will provide (amount of hours every xxx weeks) dedicated to the above duties.   Changes and Revisions The price at the beginning of this contract is based on the time investment that (contractor & client) agreed to accomplish everything detailed. If you want to change our arrangement or add anything new, I’ll provide a separate estimate for that. Should (client name) decrease my contracted hours to a smaller amount I require a 7-day notice period.   Legal I can’t guarantee that my work will be completely error-free. So I can’t be liable to you or any third-party for damages, including lost profits, lost savings or other incidental, consequential or special damages, even if you’ve advised me of them. If any provision of this contract shall be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from this contract and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.  I will always take precautions and follow the structure from my peers. I will not intentionally damage the brand name or reputation. I will not slander the brand or give away confidential information to competitors. I am happy to sign a non-disclosure at your request.    Payment I (name) will invoice you for payment on the (Date and frequency) and the invoice should be paid no later than (example,10 working days) from this day. Invoice dates listed for the next 3 months and then every 4th week
  1. Example: August 22nd
  2. September 19th
  3. October 17th
Termination I agree that this agreement may be terminated with (example, 14 days) written notice by either party. Client agrees to terms and policies specified above: Signature: Name & Title: Date: Accepted by the Contractor: Signature: Name & Title: Date: