Freelancers
The Ultimate Freelancer Contract Guide
Every freelancer has a horror story: the client who disappeared without paying, the project that ballooned to 3x the original scope, the "quick revision" that turned into a complete redo. The difference between freelancers who thrive and those who burn out? Solid contracts.
Here's every essential clause you need to protect your work, your time, and your income.
The 10 Essential Clauses
✅ 1. Scope of Work (SOW)
What to include: Specific deliverables, formats, quantities. "Design a logo" is too vague. "Design 3 logo concepts in vector format, with 2 rounds of revisions" is specific.
Why it matters: Prevents scope creep. Anything outside the SOW is a change order.
✅ 2. Payment Terms
What to include: Total amount, payment schedule, accepted methods, late fees.
Pro tip: Always get 25-50% upfront. Net 14 is better than Net 30. Include a late fee clause (1.5%/month is standard).
✅ 3. Timeline & Milestones
What to include: Start date, milestone deadlines, final delivery date.
Important: Tie payments to milestones, not just final delivery.
✅ 4. Revision Limits
What to include: Number of revision rounds included (2-3 is standard), cost for additional revisions.
Sample language: "This agreement includes 2 rounds of revisions. Additional revisions will be billed at ₹2,000/hour."
✅ 5. Kill Fee / Cancellation Clause
What to include: What happens if the client cancels mid-project.
Standard terms: Client pays for completed work + 25-50% of remaining project value.
✅ 6. Intellectual Property Rights
Options:
- Full transfer: Client owns everything upon final payment
- License: Client has usage rights; you retain ownership
- Portfolio rights: You can display work in your portfolio (always include this!)
✅ 7. Confidentiality
What to include: What information is confidential, how long confidentiality lasts.
Watch out: Avoid NDAs that prevent you from saying you worked with the client or showing the work in your portfolio.
✅ 8. Client Responsibilities
What to include: What you need from them (content, feedback, access) and response time expectations.
Sample language: "Client agrees to provide feedback within 5 business days. Delays in client feedback will extend project timeline accordingly."
✅ 9. Limitation of Liability
What to include: Cap your liability to the amount paid under the contract.
Sample language: "In no event shall Contractor's liability exceed the total fees paid under this agreement."
✅ 10. Termination Clause
What to include: How either party can exit the contract.
Standard terms: Either party can terminate with 14-30 days written notice. Client pays for completed work.
Red Flags in Client Contracts
When a client sends you their contract, watch for:
- ❌ No upfront payment: Net 30 after delivery = you're financing their project
- ❌ Unlimited revisions: Recipe for endless unpaid work
- ❌ IP transfer before payment: They could take your work and never pay
- ❌ Broad non-compete: "You can't work with any of our competitors for 2 years"
- ❌ Indemnification clause: Making you liable for their use of your work
- ❌ Automatic renewal: You're locked in unless you actively cancel
Got a Client Contract? Get It Checked
Upload any contract to Contract Shield and see exactly what you're agreeing to—before you sign.
Analyze Your Contract →Freelancer Contract Checklist
Before signing any project contract, confirm:
- ☐ Clear scope with specific deliverables
- ☐ Payment terms with upfront deposit
- ☐ Limited revision rounds
- ☐ Kill fee for cancellation
- ☐ Portfolio rights retained
- ☐ Liability capped at contract value
- ☐ Clear termination process
- ☐ No hidden non-compete clauses
Final Word
Your contract is your safety net. It protects you when clients ghost, when projects spiral, and when "just one more change" turns into a month of unpaid work. Never start a project without one—and never sign a client's contract without reading every word.
Good clients respect good contracts. If a potential client pushes back on reasonable terms, that's a red flag about the entire relationship.