Freelance contract guides

Published guides

• How to Review a Freelance Contract in 10–15 Minutes

  Use this 10–15 minute freelance contract review workflow to check scope, payment, revisions, IP, termination, liability and other key terms before signing.

• Should a Freelancer Hand Over Source Code Before Payment?

  Source-code handover can interact with payment and IP ownership. Learn what developers should check before delivering final code to a client.

• Should a Freelancer Accept Unlimited Liability?

  Unlimited liability can expose a freelancer to losses far beyond the project fee. Learn what to check before agreeing to uncapped liability.

• Is Net 60 Normal for Freelancers?

  Net 60 payment terms are common in some freelance contracts, but they can affect cash flow. Learn what Net 60 means and what to check before agreeing.

• Freelance Indemnification Clauses: What Should You Look Out For?

  Learn what indemnification clauses mean in freelance contracts, common red flags to look for, and what to check before agreeing to cover a client's losses.

• Freelance Termination Clauses: What Should You Look Out For?

  Learn how freelance termination clauses work, what to check about notice periods, payment for completed work, termination for convenience, and common red flags.

• Freelance Liability Clauses: What Should You Look Out For?

  Learn how liability clauses work in freelance contracts, what liability caps and exclusions mean, and common red flags to check before signing.

• Freelance Scope of Work Clauses: How to Avoid Scope Creep

  Learn how freelance scope of work clauses work, common scope creep red flags, and what to check before agreeing to deliverables, extras and change requests.

• How Many Revisions Should a Freelance Contract Include?

  Learn how revision limits work in freelance contracts, why unlimited revisions create scope risk, and what to define before starting a project.

• Who Owns the Copyright in Freelance Work?

  Who owns copyright in freelance work depends on the contract and jurisdiction. Learn what to check before transferring rights to a client.

• Can a Freelancer Use Client Work in a Portfolio?

  Portfolio rights can be limited by confidentiality and IP clauses. Learn what freelancers should check before showing client work publicly.

• What Is a Non-Solicitation Clause for Freelancers?

  Non-solicitation clauses can restrict contact with a client's customers or staff. Learn what freelancers should check before signing.

• Should a Freelancer Accept an Exclusivity Clause?

  An exclusivity clause can stop a freelancer taking other work during a project. Learn what to check before agreeing to be exclusive.

• Can a Freelance Contract Ban Subcontracting?

  Some freelance agreements prohibit subcontractors or require client approval. Learn what to check if you use collaborators or specialists.

• Do Freelancers Need Professional Indemnity Insurance?

  Some client contracts require professional indemnity insurance. Learn what to check when insurance requirements appear in a freelance agreement.

• Should a Freelancer Sign an NDA?

  NDAs are common in freelance work, but the wording can be broad. Learn what to check before signing a confidentiality agreement.

• When Should IP Transfer to a Client: Delivery or Payment?

  Freelance contracts can transfer IP on creation, delivery or payment. Learn why the timing matters before you sign.

• Can a Client Own My Pre-Existing Templates and Tools?

  Freelance IP clauses can accidentally capture templates, code and tools you created before the project. Learn what to check before signing.

• Can a Freelance Client Reject Work Indefinitely?

  Acceptance clauses can let payment and completion drift if the client never approves the work. Learn what to check before signing.

• Can a Client Stop a Freelancer Working for Competitors?

  Freelance contracts sometimes restrict competitor work. Learn what to check in non-compete, exclusivity and confidentiality clauses before signing.

• What Happens If a Client Cancels a Freelance Project?

  A client cancellation can leave a freelancer with unpaid work and lost capacity. Learn what termination and payment clauses to check before signing.

• What Is a Kill Fee in a Freelance Contract?

  A kill fee compensates a freelancer when commissioned work is cancelled. Learn how kill fees work and what to check in your contract.

• What Is a Pay-When-Paid Clause for Freelancers?

  A pay-when-paid clause makes your payment depend on someone else paying your client. Learn what to check before accepting one.

• Should Freelancers Charge Late Payment Fees?

  Late payment clauses can encourage prompt payment, but the details matter. Learn what to check before adding or accepting one.

• What Happens to Unpaid Invoices When a Freelance Contract Ends?

  Ending a freelance contract does not automatically explain what happens to outstanding invoices. Learn which payment and termination terms to check.

• Freelance Dispute Resolution Clauses: What Should You Look Out For?

  Learn how dispute resolution clauses work in freelance contracts, including arbitration, governing law, court jurisdiction and common red flags to check before signing.

• Freelance Confidentiality Clauses: What Should You Look Out For?

  Learn how freelance confidentiality clauses work, common red flags to look for, and what to check before agreeing to protect a client's confidential information.

• Freelance Payment Terms: What Should You Look Out For?

  Learn how freelance payment terms work, what Net 30 and Net 60 mean, common payment red flags, and what to check before signing a client contract.

• Freelance Unlimited Revisions Clauses: What Should You Look Out For?

  Learn why unlimited revisions can cause problems in freelance contracts, common red flags to look for, and how to make revision terms clearer before signing.

• Freelance IP Ownership Clauses: What Should You Look Out For?

  Learn how freelance IP ownership clauses work, common red flags to look for, and what to check before transferring rights to a client.

• Freelance Non-Compete Clauses: What Should You Look Out For?

  Learn how freelance non-compete clauses work, common red flags to look for, and questions to ask before signing your next client contract.