Freelance Business Terms and Conditions

What a good one includes

• A precise definition of what is included in the project price, specifying the exact number of revision rounds and how additional requests are billed.
• Clear payment milestone schedules, acceptable payment methods, and specific late payment penalties or interest rates.
• A clause detailing when ownership of the work transfers to the client, which should ideally only happen after final payment is received in full.
• A kill-fee provision that outlines how either party can cancel the project and how you will be compensated for work completed up to that point.
• A timeline for client feedback and asset delivery, stating that delays on their end will push back the final delivery date.
• A protective clause that limits your financial liability to the total amount paid by the client under the specific contract.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Copying and pasting a generic corporate template that contains irrelevant clauses and fails to address the unique workflow of a solo freelancer.
• Failing to define a "kill fee" or cancellation policy, leaving you unpaid for hours of work if a client suddenly shelves a project.
• Transferring copyright ownership to the client upon delivery of the first draft rather than withholding it until the final invoice is paid.
• Using overly aggressive, hostile language that damages the client relationship before the project even begins instead of maintaining a firm, professional tone.

Frequently asked questions