The freelancing world offers enormous freedom and flexibility.
Unfortunately, being a freelancer has its downsides.
There’s no company legal department to back you up when contractual conflicts arise.
It’s left to you to protect yourself proactively.
A freelance contract insulates you from potential risk, especially malicious clients that just won’t pay up.
However, freelance agreements aren’t just about ensuring you get paid.
It’s an important tool for protecting your interests in all aspects of a freelance business transaction.
A freelance contract:
But what exactly do you oughta include in your freelance contract?
What components are needed to plug any potential loopholes that might lead to contractual conflicts?
So, “M. Timothy” instead of “Maxwell Timothy” would be inappropriate.
And “Coke Company” instead of “The Coca-Cola Company” would also be inappropriate.
Your freelance agreement must set clear expectations of deliverables from the start of a contract.
This would prevent scope creep, where clients change the project requirements without a corresponding pay increase.
Some go unpaid for two or more months.
Some don’t get paid at all due to some conflicts that arise during the course of the contract.
Don’t be that freelancer.
It is critical to clearly define the terms of payment in your contract.
Payment details aren’t just about the amount you’ll get paid.
It should include the “what, how, and when.”
What amount should be paid?
How will it be paid?
Which payment channels are acceptable, e.g., PayPal, Payoneer, or Gift cards?
When will it be paid?
After the completion of a contract?
An upfront payment clause will also help youweed out potential scammers on freelancing sites.
Number of Revisions Your Rate Covers
Prototypes or first drafts aren’t always perfect.
This is why a revision clause should be included in your freelance contract.
If you don’t set clear boundaries, your client can abuse their revision privilege.
This would protect you from clients wanting more for less and guard against time-consuming infinite rounds of revisions.
Termination terms
Contracts don’t last forever.
The termination terms will help you conclude or stop a contract without being liable for breaching the contract.
Equally important are the penalties attached to terminating the contract outside the terms of termination listed in the contract.
This will help you avoid ownership tussles during or after the completion of a project.
This is especially important when creating original content for a client.
You have to be clear if they own the right to any of the draft or final product.
You should also ideally clarify when the rights can be transferred to you, if applicable.
Clients aren’t the same.
Some may approve or disapprove of using the project in your portfolio.
Signatures
The parties involved have agreed to the terms of the contract.
prior to beginning the project, you and the client must append your signature.
Fortunately, there are somegood e-signature tools it’s possible for you to use to sign documents remotely.
