9 Things To Include in a Freelancer Contract
NewComma
3 min read
Until the contract is signed, nothing is real, nothing is yet concrete, and you're only dealing in ✨hypotheticals✨.
Drawing up contracts can be such a nightmare 🧌 when you're starting out as a freelancer.
There are so many things to consider to ensure all parties involved are on the same page 📄 .
That’s why we’re here to make life simpler .
Yes, just call us your guardian angels 👼🏿👼🏾👼🏽.
These tips will hold you for a long time yet so make sure to get into them, share them with your creative network who no doubt will also be in need of them and circle back whenever necessary.
Let’s get into it! 👌🏿
Scope of Work 🏋🏿♀️🏋🏾♂️🏋🏿♂️
It’s suprisingly easy 🫢 to get to a place with a client where the conditions of your collaboration escape you.
… But that’s what contracts are for! 📄
Be sure to include the number of revisions and deliverables in this section.
This gives you a great point of reference when you need to push back on a client exceeding 🚫 them.
This way, both your lives are made easier 👍🏿. You both know what to expect, what you’re expected to put in and what you’re getting — the paper won’t lie.
Deadlines 🪦🪦🪦
Keeping track of deadlines mentally or having to constantly ask can be extra work 😓:
Having a contract to refer to, slices that work in half 🥳🥳🥳.
Having it on paper also helps to set boundaries on expectations surrounding working hours and how long it will take to produce the requested deliverables.
Everybody wins! ☺️☺️☺️
Ownership and Rights 👉🏿👉🏿👉🏿
This section should outline your intellectual property ownership and usage rights of whatever you produce for your client 👨🏾🦱👱🏿♀️🧑🏽🦰.
This is a safeguarding detail for the creator and also clarifies who is the actual creator and therefore who is entitled to use, own, or give away said property 🫡.
Resource Requirements 🔨🔧🔩
If there are any additional resources 🛠 you need to carry out your task (e.g. Your Client's Brand Guidelines or temporary access to their database), this can also be included in your contract 📄.
This ensures for both parties that the one carrying out the service can receive the adequate and agreed materials, support needed to carry out their role 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿.
And for the provider that as long as their side of this agreement is met that the duties of the practitioner can be proven to be legally binding 🫡.
Payment Terms 💰💰💰
It’s a common conception that the business of finances tends to complicate things — that need not be the case 🤫.
Ensure in your contractual agreement to address 🏡 just how and when you want to be paid in this section, as well as the project duration, so you've got a reference point to a chase late invoice 🏃🏿♀️🏃🏿♀️🏃🏿♀️.
Non-Negotiables 🚫🚫🚫
These are different for everyone, but never assume your client knows what they are 🤧.
What might be obvious to you may not be so obvious to someone else.
In clearly outlining your non-negotiable you leave little to chance and everything to the hands of the law if ever it has to reach this 🫱🏽🫲🏿🫱🏽🫲🏿🫱🏽🫲🏿.
Do so clearly to ensure that it is thoroughly understood by your client.
Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry 😣.
Indemnity 🔒🔒🔒
There is the chance that things will not always go as smooth sailing ⛵️ as you’d both hoped, in which case it is vital to protect yourself against this.
Indemnity is the opportunity to protect yourself from clients taking legal 👩🏿⚖️action against you if certain aspects of the project don't go according to plan 🗺 .
Of course, as with everything else in the contract, this section should be reviewed by a legal professional.
Termination 🔚🔚🔚
Clients wanting to up and leave in the middle of a contract happens more often than not 😕.
Having a clear and specified “end of” contract date outlined and a contractual agreement for a client giving you at least a couple of weeks notice before they withdraw 👋🏿 from the project may be the saving grace you’ll end up needing 😮💨😮💨😮💨.
That way, you don’t feel as though you’ve been left in the lurch or short-changed 😒.
Signatures ✍🏿✍🏿✍🏿
The conclusive signature indicates that both parties agree to comply with the arranged conditions outlined in the contract.🥳.
Put simply, everything in the agreement means nothing.
…Now you can breathe 😮💨😮💨😮💨.
After this, you’re all set for the next stage, the one you’re best at: CREATING 🎨🎨🎨!
As a creative, there’s no reason why you should not take the appropriate measures 📏 to protect your creations, your work, and your business.
In the year 2022 where creatives have constantly shown that they can do it all, this extends to safeguarding 🔒 and managing their business affairs.
Being creative does not mean you exclusively create.
Instead the title, asks you how many skills you can take on 💪🏽, how many hats 🧢 you can wear and how serious you are about solidifying your craft both in perfecting it and protecting it.
Take advantage of these tips. Being it ALL can be hard, so let us do what we do best and make it easier on you ❤️.
You’ve got this — you always did🥰.
For more hard-hitting tips and posts tailored specifically for our Creative Geniuses be sure to head over to the New Comma page on Instagram @new.comma 🫶🏿🫶🏾🫶🏽
For more hard-hitting tips and posts tailored specifically for our Creative Geniuses be sure to head over to the New Comma page on Instagram @new.comma 🫶🏿🫶🏾🫶🏽
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