Freelance Contract Template & How to Write One That Protects You

Why Most Freelance Contracts Are Garbage

I've written dozens of freelance contracts over the years, from my early days doing web design work to selling SaaS companies. Most freelancers either work without a contract at all (insane) or use some generic template they found online that doesn't actually protect them.

Here's what happens: You do the work, the client ghosts you when it's time to pay, and your contract is so vague that even if you wanted to take legal action, you'd have no leg to stand on. Or worse, the client owns all your work and can resell it without paying you a dime.

A good freelance contract isn't about being litigious. It's about setting clear expectations so you never need a lawyer in the first place. When both parties know exactly what's expected, payment terms, deliverables, and timelines, projects run smoother and you get paid faster.

The biggest mistake I see? Freelancers who treat contracts like a formality instead of a business tool. Your contract is your first line of defense against scope creep, late payments, and clients who suddenly decide they don't like what they asked for. It's also what separates professionals from hobbyists in the eyes of serious clients.

The 7 Non-Negotiable Elements Every Freelance Contract Needs

I'm going to walk you through exactly what needs to be in your contract. This isn't legal advice, but it's what's worked for me across hundreds of client engagements.

1. Scope of Work (Be Brutally Specific)

This is where most freelancers screw up. They write something like "website design services" or "marketing consulting" and wonder why clients keep asking for revision after revision.

Your scope needs to be specific enough that both you and the client can point to it and say "yes, this is included" or "no, that's additional work." List actual deliverables: "Three homepage design concepts, two rounds of revisions per concept, final files delivered as PSD and PNG." Not "website design."

Include what's NOT included too. I always have an exclusions section: "This contract does not include: logo design, copywriting, website hosting setup, or ongoing maintenance." Saves so many headaches.

When I was doing cold email campaigns for clients, I'd specify exactly how many emails I'd write, how many lists I'd build, and what platforms I'd use. If they wanted me to find leads outside our agreed parameters, that was a separate conversation with separate pricing. The contract made that boundary crystal clear.

For lead generation work specifically, I'd detail whether I was providing the leads or just the strategy, how many contacts they'd receive, what data fields were included (email, phone, company size), and where those leads were coming from. If you're building prospect lists for clients, tools like this B2B email database make it easier to deliver exactly what you promised, nothing more, nothing less.

2. Payment Terms (Get Specific About When and How)

Never, ever do work without clear payment terms. Here's what I include:

• Total project cost (exact dollar amount)
• Payment schedule (50% upfront, 50% on delivery is standard, but I prefer milestone-based for longer projects)
• Payment method (wire transfer, ACH, credit card via Stripe, etc.)
• Late payment penalties (I charge 1.5% per month on overdue invoices)
• When payment is considered late (usually 30 days from invoice date)

For retainer work, specify the monthly amount, what's included in that retainer, and what happens to unused hours. Do they roll over? Do you lose them? Be explicit.

I learned this the hard way when a client paid me three months late on a $15,000 project. My contract said "payment due upon completion" but didn't specify what happened if they didn't pay. I had no leverage. Now every contract includes late fees and the right to pause work if payment is more than 14 days overdue.

Also specify your invoice format and requirements. Do you need a purchase order number? Who approves invoices? What email address do they go to? The easier you make it for clients to pay you, the faster you get paid.

3. Timeline and Deadlines

Include start date, key milestones, and final delivery date. But here's the critical part most people miss: tie your deadlines to client responsiveness.

I always include: "Timeline is contingent on client providing feedback within 5 business days of each milestone. Delays in client feedback will extend final delivery date by an equal number of days."

This prevents clients from sitting on your work for three weeks, then complaining that you're behind schedule.

Break larger projects into phases with specific dates. Phase 1: Discovery and strategy (complete by [date]). Phase 2: Design concepts (complete by [date]). Phase 3: Revisions and final delivery (complete by [date]). Each phase has a clear endpoint, which makes it easier to track progress and catch problems early.

I also include what happens if the timeline extends beyond a certain period. If a three-month project drags into month six because the client keeps delaying feedback, I reserve the right to renegotiate terms or charge a project management fee for the extended timeline.

4. Intellectual Property Rights

Who owns the work? This matters more than you think.

For most client work, I transfer IP rights upon full payment. The contract states: "Upon receipt of final payment, all intellectual property rights transfer to the client. Until final payment is received, all work product remains the property of the contractor."

This gives you leverage if they try to use your work without paying. For certain types of work like stock photography, templates, or tools you'll reuse, you might want to retain IP and grant the client a license instead.

If you're creating content, designs, or code that could be reused across multiple clients, consider keeping the IP and licensing it. I did this with a cold email framework I developed. Instead of selling it outright to each client, I licensed it, which meant I could continue to use and improve it across engagements.

Also clarify what happens to work product if the project terminates early. Do they get to keep what you've created so far? Do you retain it? My standard is that they can keep completed milestones they've paid for, but work-in-progress stays mine unless they want to pay for it.

5. Revisions and Change Requests

Specify exactly how many rounds of revisions are included and what constitutes a revision versus a change in scope.

My standard: "Two rounds of revisions are included in the project fee. Revisions are defined as refinements to the agreed-upon concept. Changes to project scope, additional deliverables, or new concepts will be billed at $X per hour."

When a client asks for something outside the original scope, you can point to this clause and either decline or quote additional fees without awkwardness.

Define what a "round" means too. One round = one set of consolidated feedback. Not 47 separate emails over two weeks each with a new tweak. I tell clients to compile all their feedback into a single document or call, then I'll implement everything at once. Keeps the process efficient.

For ongoing work like retainer clients, I specify a maximum number of revision requests per month or per deliverable. This prevents the client from treating you like an employee who has to jump every time they change their mind.

6. Termination Clauses

What happens if the project needs to end early? Include terms for both parties.

Client termination: "Client may terminate this agreement with 14 days written notice. Client will pay for all work completed to date, plus 25% of remaining project fee as a kill fee."

Contractor termination: "Contractor may terminate this agreement with 14 days written notice if client fails to provide timely feedback, misses payment deadlines, or engages in abusive behavior."

Yes, include the abusive behavior clause. I've had to use it twice. Worth it.

The kill fee is important. It compensates you for the opportunity cost of taking on that client instead of others, and for the business disruption of a sudden project cancellation. Without it, a client can terminate three weeks into a three-month project, pay you only for those three weeks, and you're left scrambling to replace that revenue.

I also include a clause about what deliverables they receive upon termination. Generally, they get final versions of any completed milestones they've paid for, but not works-in-progress or source files unless we negotiate separately.

7. Liability and Warranty Limitations

You need to limit your liability. Standard clause: "Contractor's total liability for any claims arising from this agreement shall not exceed the total amount paid by client under this agreement."

This prevents a client from suing you for $100,000 in "damages" on a $5,000 project. Also include a warranty period: "Contractor warrants that work will be free from defects for 30 days from delivery. After this period, additional fixes will be billed at standard hourly rate."

Define what constitutes a defect versus a change request. A defect is when something doesn't work as originally specified. A change request is when they want it to work differently than originally specified. Defects get fixed free during the warranty period. Change requests get quoted as new work.

I also include a clause disclaiming liability for results. If I'm doing cold email campaigns, I can't guarantee they'll book 50 meetings. If I'm designing a website, I can't guarantee it'll increase their sales by 200%. I can guarantee the quality of my work and that I'll follow best practices, but business outcomes depend on factors outside my control. Make that explicit.

Additional Clauses Worth Including

Confidentiality

If you're working with sensitive client information, include an NDA clause. "Both parties agree to keep confidential any proprietary information shared during this engagement."

This protects both of you. They can share their business strategy, financial data, and customer information with you without worrying you'll leak it. You can share your methodologies and frameworks without worrying they'll steal them and cut you out.

Define what counts as confidential. Usually it's anything not publicly available, marked as confidential, or that a reasonable person would understand to be sensitive. Exclude information you already knew, information that becomes public through no fault of yours, or information you develop independently.

Specify how long the confidentiality obligation lasts. I usually go with two years after the project ends, but for particularly sensitive work it might be indefinite.

Independent Contractor Status

Make it clear you're not an employee: "Contractor is an independent contractor, not an employee. Contractor is responsible for all taxes, insurance, and benefits."

This protects you from employment tax issues and makes it clear the client can't treat you like an employee (dictating hours, location, etc.).

Include language that you have the right to refuse work, set your own hours, use your own equipment, and work for other clients. These are key factors the IRS looks at when determining contractor versus employee status. You don't want to accidentally create an employment relationship when you meant to be independent.

Also specify that you'll issue a 1099 (if you're in the US) and handle your own tax withholding. Clients sometimes get nervous about contractor classification, so spelling this out upfront prevents issues later.

Dispute Resolution

Include how disputes will be handled. I prefer: "Any disputes will first be addressed through good-faith negotiation. If unresolved, disputes will be settled through binding arbitration in [your state/city]."

Arbitration is faster and cheaper than court. Specifying your location prevents a client in another state from forcing you to travel for legal proceedings.

Some freelancers include a mediation step before arbitration. You both present your case to a neutral mediator who helps you reach a resolution. It's less formal than arbitration and often preserves the business relationship better. If mediation fails, then you move to arbitration.

I also specify that the losing party pays legal fees and arbitration costs. This discourages frivolous disputes and ensures that if you're in the right, you won't be out thousands in legal costs even when you win.

Force Majeure

This is your "act of God" clause. It says that neither party is liable for delays or failures to perform caused by circumstances beyond their control: natural disasters, pandemics, wars, government actions, internet outages, etc.

I added this to my standard contract after the pandemic. Projects got delayed because clients had to shut down, because I got sick, because supply chains collapsed. Having this clause meant we could pause and resume without breach of contract claims flying around.

Specify what happens during a force majeure event. Usually the timeline extends by however long the event lasts, and either party can terminate if the delay exceeds a certain period (I use 60 days).

Expenses and Reimbursements

If your work involves expenses beyond your normal operating costs, spell out who pays for what. Stock photos, paid software, travel, subcontractors, advertising spend - clarify whether these are included in your fee or billed separately.

My standard: "Client will reimburse contractor for pre-approved expenses exceeding $X. Contractor will provide receipts for all reimbursable expenses. Reimbursement will be paid within 30 days of invoice."

The pre-approval requirement is critical. You don't want to spend $2,000 on stock footage only to have the client refuse to reimburse you because they didn't agree to it beforehand.

Communication and Availability

Set expectations for how and when you'll communicate. Are you available for calls during business hours? Do you respond to emails within 24 hours? Do you take weekends off?

I include: "Contractor is available for scheduled calls during business hours (9am-5pm EST, Monday-Friday). Email responses will be provided within one business day. Emergency support outside business hours is available at 2x hourly rate with 24-hour notice."

This prevents clients from expecting you to answer Slack messages at 11pm or jump on a call with 10 minutes notice. You're a contractor, not an on-call employee. The contract should reflect that.

How to Actually Write Your Freelance Contract

You don't need a lawyer to draft your first contract, though having one review it isn't a bad idea once you have some revenue coming in.

Start with a solid template. I've put together a one-page contract template that covers the essentials without legal bloat. For more complex projects, grab the agency contract template which includes more detailed clauses.

If you want a deeper breakdown of the writing process, check out how to write a contract where I walk through the entire process step by step.

Customize the template for your specific services. Replace the generic placeholder text with your actual deliverables, rates, and terms. The more specific you are, the better it works.

Here's my process: I start with the template, then fill in the parties section with my LLC name and the client's company name. Then I rewrite the scope of work section entirely based on our proposal and discovery conversations. I make sure every deliverable is listed with specifics about format, quantity, and quality.

Next I set the payment terms based on project size. Under $5,000, I usually do 50% upfront and 50% on delivery. Over $5,000, I break it into milestones: 30% to start, 30% at midpoint, 40% on completion. Over $20,000, I might do monthly payments or more granular milestones.

Then I customize the timeline based on the actual project. I don't just put "6 weeks" - I break it down week by week or phase by phase so we both know what's happening when.

The IP, liability, and termination sections usually stay pretty standard. I might adjust the kill fee percentage based on project length (shorter projects get higher kill fees, longer projects get lower ones because I've had more time to replace the revenue).

Finally, I add any project-specific clauses. Working with a client's customer data? Add extra confidentiality and data protection language. Doing work that might involve their competitors? Add a non-compete clause. Creating something they'll trademark? Specify how attribution and credits work.

Common Freelance Contract Mistakes to Avoid

Using overly complex legal language: Your contract should be readable by both parties. If your client doesn't understand it, they won't sign it or they'll have their lawyer rewrite it. Use plain English.

I'm serious about this. I've seen contracts that read like they were written in 1847 by a British barrister. "Whereas the party of the first part hereby agrees to indemnify..." Just say "I agree to cover costs if..." Nobody is impressed by legalese. They're annoyed by it.

Forgetting to date and sign it: Sounds obvious, but I've seen unsigned contracts that are basically worthless. Both parties need to sign and date. Digital signatures via DocuSign or similar are legally binding.

Not updating it for each client: Don't just find/replace the client name. Review every section to make sure it matches the actual project. I once left a clause about "social media management" in a web development contract. Sloppy.

This happens when you're rushing to close deals. You send out the contract with the wrong deliverables or the wrong timeline because you copied your last contract and didn't update it. The client either catches it and thinks you're unprofessional, or they don't catch it and you've just signed yourself up for the wrong scope of work.

Making payment terms too lenient: "Net 60" or "Net 90" terms mean you're essentially giving the client a free loan. I stick to Net 30 maximum, and I prefer 50% upfront for new clients. If they balk at upfront payment, that's a red flag.

Enterprise clients will push for Net 60 or Net 90 because their accounts payable departments move slowly. Push back. Offer a small discount for Net 15 or Net 30. Or require a larger upfront deposit to offset the long payment terms. Your cash flow matters, and you're not a bank.

Not including your business entity: If you operate as an LLC or corporation, the contract should be between the client and your entity, not you personally. This protects your personal assets if something goes wrong.

I made this mistake early on. I signed contracts as "Alex Berman" instead of "[Company Name] LLC." If a client had sued, they could have gone after my personal bank account, my car, everything. Once I formed an LLC, all contracts were signed by the LLC with me as the authorized representative.

Vague deliverable descriptions: "A website" means nothing. Five pages or fifty? Custom design or template? Responsive or desktop only? E-commerce functionality or informational only? Every vague term in your contract is a future argument waiting to happen.

No cap on revisions: If your contract doesn't limit revisions, you've just agreed to unlimited free work. I've seen freelancers stuck in revision hell for months because the contract said "revisions as needed" or "until client is satisfied." Always cap it. Two rounds, three rounds, whatever makes sense for your service, but cap it.

Ignoring local laws: Contract law varies by state and country. A clause that's enforceable in California might not be in Texas. If you're doing international work, the differences are even bigger. At minimum, specify which jurisdiction's laws govern the contract. Better yet, have a lawyer in your area review your template once.

What to Do When a Client Won't Sign Your Contract

This happens. A client says "we don't need a contract, I trust you" or "we'll use our standard terms instead."

If they won't sign your contract, don't start work. Period. I don't care how good the opportunity seems. I've been burned exactly once by this, early in my career, and never again.

The "I trust you" line is a red flag. Professional businesses sign contracts. It's standard practice. When someone resists it, they're either inexperienced (risky) or planning to take advantage of you (riskier). Trust is great, but trust combined with clear terms in writing is better.

If they want to use their contract instead, read it carefully. Most corporate contracts are heavily weighted in the company's favor. Look for red flags like unlimited revisions, vague deliverables, net 90+ payment terms, or clauses that say they can terminate without cause and not pay you for work completed.

Negotiate the terms you can't live with. I always push back on payment terms longer than Net 30 and any clause that doesn't compensate me for work done if they terminate early.

Here's what I do: I read their contract, make notes on every clause I want to change, then send back a redlined version with my proposed changes. Most companies will negotiate. The ones that say "our contract is non-negotiable" are usually not worth working with unless it's a huge opportunity and you're willing to accept their terms.

Common corporate contract clauses to watch for: work-for-hire provisions (you give up all IP immediately, even if they don't pay), indemnification clauses that make you liable for their screwups, non-compete clauses that prevent you from working with anyone in their industry, and automatic renewal clauses that lock you into extended terms.

If a clause is too one-sided, propose a balanced alternative. Instead of unlimited liability, cap it at the project fee. Instead of giving up all IP immediately, transfer it upon final payment. Instead of non-compete for all industry clients, limit it to their direct competitors for six months. Most legal teams will work with you if your changes are reasonable.

Templates vs. Custom Contracts: What You Actually Need

For most freelancers starting out, a good template is fine. You're not doing $500k deals, you're doing $5k to $50k projects. The template protects you from the most common issues: scope creep, non-payment, and IP disputes.

When should you pay for a lawyer to draft a custom contract? Once you're doing deals over $50k, working with enterprise clients, or dealing with complex IP situations (like co-creating a product with a client). At that level, a $2,000 investment in a proper contract drafted by a lawyer in your state is worth it.

I used templates for my first three years of freelancing. Only hired a lawyer when I started doing agency work with retainers over $10k/month. The template served me fine until then.

The lawyer didn't just write a contract. They interviewed me about my business model, my typical projects, my pricing, my biggest risks. Then they created a contract specifically designed to protect my business while still being friendly enough that clients would sign it. They also created variations: one for project work, one for retainers, one for partnerships.

That investment paid for itself the first time I had a contract dispute. The client's lawyer took one look at my contract and told their client they had no case. We settled quickly on terms favorable to me because my contract was airtight.

If you can't afford a custom contract yet, at least have a lawyer review your template. Most business lawyers will do a contract review for $500 to $1,000. They'll catch issues you missed and suggest improvements. Do this once, update your template, and you're good for a while.

Different Contract Types for Different Freelance Work

Not all freelance work needs the same contract. Here's how I adjust based on project type:

One-time project contracts: These are straightforward. Fixed scope, fixed timeline, fixed price. The contract focuses heavily on deliverables and acceptance criteria. What exactly am I delivering, in what format, by when? When is it considered "done"? Payment is usually milestone-based or split upfront/on-delivery.

Retainer contracts: These are ongoing relationships, so the contract needs flexibility. I specify the monthly fee, what's included in that fee (X hours of work, Y deliverables, Z availability), how additional work is billed, and how either party can terminate. I usually require 30 days notice to terminate and include a three-month minimum commitment.

Hourly contracts: I avoid these when possible because they incentivize inefficiency, but sometimes they make sense for unpredictable work. The contract specifies the hourly rate, how hours are tracked and reported, invoicing frequency (weekly or monthly), and a maximum number of hours per week or month without additional approval. I also include what happens if the project scope changes significantly.

Revenue share or performance-based contracts: These are complex and risky. If you're getting paid based on results (percentage of sales, cost per lead, etc.), the contract needs to define exactly how results are measured, who measures them, how you get access to the data, when you get paid, and what happens if they stop using your work but continue to benefit from it. I always pair these with a minimum fee or retainer so I'm not working for free if results take time to materialize.

Licensing contracts: If you're creating something you'll license to multiple clients (a software tool, a course, a framework), the contract needs to specify what rights they're getting. Exclusive or non-exclusive? What can they do with it? Can they modify it? Can they resell it? How long does the license last? What happens if they want to cancel?

Actually Getting Clients to Sign

Best practice: send the contract before you do any work, even discovery calls or "quick consultations." I've had clients ghost after I spent three hours on a free strategy call. Now the contract gets sent with the proposal.

Use a digital signature tool. I use DocuSign but PandaDoc and HelloSign work fine too. Makes it easy for clients to sign from their phone in two minutes.

Don't be weird about it. Just send it with a simple message: "Here's the contract for the project we discussed. Once you sign, I'll get started on [first deliverable]." If they're a legitimate client who actually wants to work with you, they'll sign it without drama.

The clients who push back hard on signing a basic contract are usually the ones who were going to be nightmare clients anyway. The contract helps you filter them out before you waste time.

I send the contract as soon as we agree on scope and price, usually right after the proposal is accepted. The email says something like: "Excited to work together on this. I've attached the project contract. Once you sign, I'll send an invoice for the initial payment, and we'll kick things off [date]."

Then I wait. If they don't sign within three business days, I follow up: "Hey, wanted to make sure you received the contract I sent. Any questions about the terms? Happy to jump on a quick call to walk through it." This usually prompts them to either sign or bring up concerns.

If they have concerns, I address them directly and quickly. Most contract objections come from one of three places: they don't understand a clause, they've had a bad experience before, or their legal team has standard requirements. All of these are solvable through communication.

One trick: if a client is dragging their feet on signing, I'll start the project planning work (not actual delivery work) and send them the project plan. This creates momentum and reminds them that we're trying to start. Usually they sign within a day of receiving the project plan because they want to keep moving forward.

What to Do After the Contract Is Signed

Save a copy in a secure location. I keep all signed contracts in a dedicated folder in my cloud storage, organized by client name and project date. If a dispute comes up two years later, you need to be able to find that contract in 30 seconds.

Send the client a copy for their records. Even though they signed it digitally and got an automatic copy, I send a follow-up email with the signed PDF attached and a note like "Attached is our signed contract for your records. Looking forward to working together."

Add key dates to your calendar. Contract start date, milestone deadlines, payment due dates, contract end date, renewal date if it's ongoing. Set reminders a week before each milestone so you're never scrambling to deliver at the last minute.

Share relevant sections with your team. If you have subcontractors or employees helping with the work, they need to know what you've committed to. I create a project brief that summarizes the scope, timeline, and deliverables from the contract so everyone is on the same page.

Use the contract as a project management tool. When planning your work, refer back to the contract to make sure you're delivering what you promised. When the client asks for something extra, refer to the contract to show why it's out of scope. When it's time to invoice, use the payment schedule from the contract.

The contract isn't just a legal document. It's your project roadmap. I've found that projects run smoother when I treat the contract as a living document I reference regularly, not something I sign and forget about.

How to Handle Contract Violations

Eventually, someone will violate the contract. Usually it's a missed payment deadline, sometimes it's scope creep, occasionally it's something more serious.

First, assume good faith. People forget, things slip through the cracks. Send a friendly reminder: "Hey, just noticed the invoice from [date] is now past due. Can you check on the status?" Most issues resolve here.

If that doesn't work, reference the contract explicitly: "According to our agreement, payment was due on [date]. We're now [X] days past due, which triggers the late fee clause in section [Y]. I'll need to receive payment within 5 business days to avoid pausing work on the project."

If they still don't pay or fix the issue, exercise your rights under the contract. If it says you can pause work after 14 days of non-payment, pause work. If it says you can charge late fees, charge them. The contract gave you these rights for a reason.

Document everything. Save all emails, messages, and records of phone conversations. If you end up in arbitration or small claims court, you'll need this paper trail.

Know when to cut your losses. Sometimes enforcing a contract costs more than the contract was worth. If a client owes you $2,000 and it'll cost $3,000 in legal fees and weeks of your time to collect, you might be better off writing it off and moving on. Frustrating, but practical.

That said, I've taken two clients to small claims court for non-payment. Won both times. Small claims is designed for exactly this situation, costs less than $100 to file, and you don't need a lawyer. If the amount is under your state's small claims limit (usually $5,000 to $10,000), it's worth pursuing if the client genuinely owes you money and your contract is solid.

Industry-Specific Contract Considerations

Design and creative work: Focus on revision limits, how you'll present concepts, what file formats you'll deliver, and whether you retain portfolio rights. Include a clause that lets you showcase the work in your portfolio unless the client specifically requires confidentiality.

Web development: Specify hosting responsibilities, browser compatibility requirements, whether you're providing ongoing maintenance, what happens if third-party integrations break, and how change requests to functionality are handled. Also clarify whether you're transferring code ownership or licensing it.

Writing and content: Define word counts, research requirements, revision limits, SEO specifications if applicable, and whether the client can edit your work after delivery. Include whether you get a byline and portfolio rights.

Marketing and lead generation: This is what I did most. Specify whether you're providing leads, strategy, execution, or all three. Define what counts as a qualified lead if you're building lists. If you're using tools to scrape or compile contact data, mention them. I'd note that I was using an email finding tool to source contacts, which set expectations about data quality and compliance. Clarify who owns the lists and data after the project ends.

Consulting and strategy: Focus on deliverables (reports, presentations, frameworks) rather than outcomes (increase revenue by X%). Include how many meetings or calls are included, how you'll deliver recommendations, and what implementation support if any you're providing.

Photography and video: Specify how many shots or hours of footage, how many final edited deliverables, what the usage rights are (web only, print, unlimited, exclusive), how long you retain the raw files, and whether the client can request additional edits later.

Using Proposals Alongside Contracts

I send a proposal first, then a contract. The proposal is the sales document: it outlines what I'll do, why it'll work, what it costs, and why they should hire me. The contract is the legal document: it specifies terms, conditions, and protections.

The proposal includes my understanding of their problem, my proposed solution, the deliverables, the timeline, the investment (price), and case studies or social proof. It's designed to get them to say yes.

Once they accept the proposal, I send the contract with more detailed legal terms. The scope in the contract should match what's in the proposal, but with more specificity. The proposal might say "cold email campaign to book 20 sales meetings." The contract says "cold email campaign including: list of 1,000 prospects in [industry], 4 email templates, email sending via [platform], reporting dashboard, with goal of 20 booked meetings over 60-day period."

If you want help creating better proposals, check out the proposal AI templates I've put together. They speed up the proposal creation process so you can focus on the actual work.

Some freelancers combine the proposal and contract into one document. I don't love this approach because the tones are different. A proposal should be exciting and persuasive. A contract should be clear and protective. Combining them makes for a weird document that's neither persuasive nor protective.

How Often to Update Your Contract Template

Review your contract template at least once a year. Your business changes, laws change, you learn from experience. What worked three years ago might not protect you today.

I update mine every time I have a bad experience. Client tries to avoid paying by claiming something wasn't in scope? I add more specific scope language. Client sits on my deliverables for a month then complains about timeline? I add stricter language about client response times.

Also update when your business model changes. When I shifted from project work to retainers, I needed a new contract type. When I started doing revenue share deals, I needed additional clauses. When I formed an LLC, I had to update the parties section in every contract.

Pay attention to changes in your industry's regulations. If you're doing email marketing, you need to stay compliant with CAN-SPAM, GDPR, and other regulations. Your contract should include a clause that the client warrants they have permission to contact the people on their list and that you're not responsible for their compliance failures.

Have your lawyer review major updates. You can make minor tweaks yourself, but if you're adding entire new sections or changing how liability works, spend a few hundred bucks to have a professional make sure you didn't accidentally create a loophole.

Final Thoughts on Freelance Contracts

A contract isn't about being paranoid or expecting the worst from clients. It's about being professional and setting clear expectations. The best client relationships I've had were the ones with the clearest contracts.

Your contract should make clients feel more confident working with you, not less. It shows you're organized, you've done this before, and you take your business seriously.

Get your contract sorted once, then you can focus on the actual work instead of wondering if you're going to get paid or dealing with scope creep. Download a template, customize it for your services, and start using it on every single project. No exceptions.

The freelancers who succeed long-term are the ones who treat their freelance work like a business, not a hobby. That means professional contracts, clear processes, and boundaries that protect your time and income. Your contract is the foundation of all of that.

Start with the one-page contract template if you're just getting started. Move to the full agency contract when your projects get bigger. And if you need help with the entire process of landing clients and running projects profitably, that's exactly what I cover in Galadon Gold.