Clients & Contracts
Freelance Contract Template: What to Include
A contract doesn't protect you from a difficult client — it prevents most disputes from happening at all.
Why you need a contract (even for small projects)
A contract isn't a sign of distrust — it's a shared reference point for what was agreed, which prevents most disputes before they start. Even a one-page agreement for a small project is far better protection than a verbal understanding or a string of chat messages.
Scope of work clause
Define exactly what's included — specific deliverables, number of revisions, and explicitly what's not included. This single clause prevents more conflict than any other part of the contract, since most friction with clients comes from differing assumptions about what "the project" actually covers.
Payment terms and milestones
Specify the total amount, payment structure (upfront deposit, milestone payments, or full payment at completion), due dates, and what happens if a payment is late — including whether work pauses automatically.
Revision policy
State a specific number of included revision rounds, and the cost of additional rounds beyond that. Without this, a project can extend indefinitely without additional compensation for your time.
Intellectual property and usage rights
Clarify when rights to the work transfer to the client — typically upon full payment, not upon delivery. This protects you: if a client doesn't pay, they don't technically have the right to use the work.
If you want to use the project in your own portfolio, include that permission explicitly in the contract, rather than assuming it's implied.
Kill fee and termination clause
Define how either party can end the engagement early, and what happens to payment for work already completed. A kill fee (partial payment if a project is cancelled mid-way) protects your time investment if a client backs out.
Pair your contract with a clear price
Calculate the rate that goes into your next agreement.
Go to the free calculatorWhere to get affordable contract templates
Free and low-cost freelance contract templates are widely available online and cover the essentials for most standard projects. For larger or longer-term engagements, having a lawyer review your base template once is a worthwhile investment — it protects every project that follows, not just one.