Freelance Contract Builder
Prepare an editable plain-English contract starting draft. Review it carefully: this template is not legal advice or a signed agreement.
Contract details
Complete the details to prepare your draft.
Your contract draft
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Template only, not legal advice and not a signed agreement. Have a qualified lawyer review it for your jurisdiction before either party signs.
FREELANCE SERVICE AGREEMENT
Between: [Your Name] ("Freelancer")
And: [Client Name] ("Client")
Project: [Project Title]
Effective Date: [Start Date]
1. SCOPE OF WORK
[Scope description]
2. TIMELINE
Work commences on [Start Date]. Both parties agree to communicate promptly on timeline changes.
3. COMPENSATION
Total fee: $0 USD
Payment terms: 50% upfront
Kill fee: If the Client cancels this project after work has begun, a kill fee of 25% of the total fee is due immediately.
4. REVISIONS
This agreement includes up to 2 round(s) of revisions. Additional revisions will be quoted separately.
5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
All work product becomes the property of the Client upon receipt of final payment in full.
6. CONFIDENTIALITY
Both parties agree to keep the terms of this agreement and any proprietary information shared during the project confidential.
7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
The Freelancer's total liability under this agreement is limited to the total fees paid by the Client.
8. GOVERNING LAW
This agreement is governed by the laws of [Governing jurisdiction - e.g. England and Wales, or the State of California, USA], and both parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of its courts.
9. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This document constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all prior discussions.
Freelancer: [Your Name] Date: ____________
Client: [Client Name] Date: ____________Guide & practical tipsHow to use this tool well, limits, and common questions
Prepare an editable starting draft that covers scope, payment, IP, revisions, cancellation, and governing law in plain language. It is a template to review and adapt, not legal advice or a signed agreement.
How to use it
- 1
Fill in the parties, project, and start date
Name both parties correctly, describe the scope in specific terms, and enter the date work is expected to begin.
- 2
Set the commercial terms
Enter the fee, payment structure, cancellation fee, revision limit, and when intellectual property should transfer.
- 3
Choose governing law and review every clause
Name the intended jurisdiction, then read and edit the complete draft. Copy or download it only after checking that every placeholder and clause fits the engagement.
Tips that make a difference
- Get both parties to review and sign the final agreement before work starts. This builder does not sign or send it.
- Specify that IP ownership transfers only on receipt of final payment. Until then, all work remains your intellectual property. This is your strongest leverage for getting paid.
- A cancellation fee must fit the project, the work already reserved or performed, and the law that applies. Do not assume one percentage works everywhere.
- Define the revision limit by rounds, not by individual changes. "Two rounds of revisions" is measurable; "reasonable changes" is not.
- Jurisdiction matters. State which country or state law governs disputes and where any legal proceedings would take place.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer to write a freelance contract?
A template can help you organize the commercial terms, but it cannot account for every jurisdiction or engagement. Consider a qualified lawyer for high-value, cross-border, regulated, or otherwise complex work, and whenever you are unsure what a clause means.
What happens if a client refuses to sign?
Do not start work. A client who refuses to sign a reasonable contract is signalling that they do not want to be held to agreed terms, which is the situation the contract is designed to protect you from. A professional client will understand and expect a contract.
Should I use the client's contract or my own?
Use your own wherever possible, because it will be written in your favour. If the client insists on using theirs, read it carefully and negotiate terms that concern you - particularly around IP, payment timing, and liability - before signing.
What is a "work for hire" clause and should I accept it?
A work for hire clause means you produce the work as an employee would, with no residual rights. It is standard when clients need full ownership of the output. You can accept it, but only after final payment clears - and you should charge slightly more for projects where you cannot retain the right to show the work in your portfolio.