Student Freelancer Service Agreement

What a good one includes

• A highly specific scope of work that lists the deliverables and tasks you will perform, leaving no room for unexpected extra requests.
• Clear payment terms detailing your rates, deposit requirements, payment deadlines, and any late fees to ensure you get paid on time.
• A revision policy setting a strict limit on how many rounds of edits are included in the price before additional fees apply.
• An intellectual property clause stating exactly when ownership of the work transfers to the client, typically only after full payment is received.
• A schedule and milestone timeline that aligns with your academic calendar, accounting for exam periods or university holidays.
• A termination clause explaining how either party can end the contract early and how you will be compensated for work completed up to that point.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Agreeing to start working before both parties have signed the contract, which leaves you legally unprotected.
• Leaving the scope of work vague, which often leads to scope creep where clients ask for free extra tasks.
• Forgetting to align project deadlines with your university exam schedule, leading to unnecessary academic stress.
• Transferring intellectual property ownership to the client before receiving your final payment.

Frequently asked questions