Freelance contract basics: what every freelancer should include

A contract is not a sign of distrust. It is a shared understanding of what you will do, what the client will pay and what happens if things change. Clear contracts prevent most disputes, protect your income and make you look more professional.

This guide covers the essentials. It is not legal advice: rules differ by country, so consider having a lawyer review your template once.

Scope of work

Describe exactly what you will deliver:

• Deliverables or the role and responsibilities
• What is included, and what is not
• Assumptions, such as "the client provides content and access"
• How changes to scope are handled

A clear scope is your best protection against scope creep.

Timeline

• Start date
• Milestones and delivery dates
• Dependencies, such as client feedback within a set number of days

Make it clear that delays caused by late feedback or missing materials may move the timeline.

Payment terms

This is where many freelancers get into trouble. Be specific:

• Rate and currency
• Billing schedule: weekly, every two weeks, monthly or by milestone
• Payment due date: for example, within 15 days of the invoice
• Deposit: for projects, a deposit before work starts is common and reasonable
• Late payments: what happens if invoices are late, such as a late fee or pausing work
• Expenses: what is billable, and whether approval is needed

See getting paid by US clients.

Revisions and acceptance

• How many rounds of revisions are included
• How work is approved
• What happens if the client does not respond within a reasonable time

For example: "Deliverables are considered accepted if no feedback is received within seven days."

Intellectual property

Clients usually expect to own the work they pay for. A fair approach:

• Ownership transfers on full payment. This protects you if a client does not pay.
• You keep your pre-existing tools, libraries and know-how, and grant the client a license to use them.
• Portfolio rights: you may show the work in your portfolio, unless agreed otherwise.

Confidentiality

Agree to keep the client's confidential information private. Make sure the obligation is reasonable in scope and duration.

Termination

• Notice period for both sides, for example two weeks
• Payment for all work completed up to termination
• Handover of work and materials

This protects you from sudden cancellations without payment.

Liability

Limit your liability to a reasonable amount, often the fees paid under the contract. Avoid unlimited liability clauses, and consider professional insurance for high-risk work.

Independent contractor status

State that you are an independent contractor, responsible for your own taxes, equipment and working methods. Avoid terms that make you look like an employee, such as fixed office hours set entirely by the client, unless you agree to them.

Non-compete and exclusivity

Be careful with broad non-compete or exclusivity clauses. They can prevent you from working with other clients in your field. Negotiate them to be narrow, short and reasonable, or remove them.

Red flags in client contracts

• Payment only on "client satisfaction" with no objective criteria
• IP transferring before payment
• Unlimited revisions
• Very long payment terms
• Broad non-competes
• Unlimited liability

Keep a template

Create your own contract template once, ideally reviewed by a lawyer. Use it for every client, adjusting a statement of work for each project. When clients send their own contract, compare it with your template and negotiate the important points.

Agreed terms up front

On HireCurated, scope, rate and availability are agreed before work starts, so you know where you stand. Apply to join.