Free Freelance Contract Template

The Freelancer's Legal Safety Net

Whether you're a designer, developer, writer, or consultant, working without a contract is working without a safety net. This template covers the unique needs of freelance work that generic contracts miss.

Freelance-Specific Clauses

• Revision rounds - How many rounds are included (and what extra revisions cost)
• Kill fee - What you get paid if the client cancels mid-project
• Scope changes - How to handle requests outside the original brief
• Portfolio rights - Permission to show the work in your portfolio
• IP transfer timing - Ownership transfers on final payment (protects you from non-payment)
• Communication expectations - Response times, meeting availability, preferred channels

Payment Protection

This template includes a 50% upfront deposit clause, milestone-based payments for large projects, and a late payment fee structure. Freelancers who use contracts get paid 2x faster on average.