Template only, not legal advice. Laws on contracts, intellectual property, late fees and liability differ by state and country. Have a qualified lawyer review this agreement before you rely on it, and delete this notice once they have.
Freelance Services Agreement
1. Parties
This Freelance Services Agreement (the "Agreement") is between [Your name or business] ("Freelancer") and [Client name or business] ("Client").
2. Services and deliverables
Freelancer will provide the following services: [describe the services].
Work outside this scope needs a written change order (email is enough) that both parties agree to before the work starts, including any added fee and timeline.
3. Timeline
Work starts on the date both parties sign.
The timeline depends on Client providing content, feedback and approvals when needed. If either party is delayed, the schedule moves by a reasonable amount and the parties will agree the new dates in writing.
4. Fees and payment
Client will pay Freelancer a fixed fee of [amount] for the services.
A deposit of 50% of the estimated fee is due before work starts and is credited to the final invoice.
Invoices are due within 14 days of the invoice date.
Expenses that Client approves in advance (for example stock assets, fonts or software licenses bought for the project) are billed at cost.
5. Revisions
The fee includes 2 rounds of revisions on each deliverable. Further revisions are billed as a change order.
6. Client responsibilities
Client will provide the content, access and information Freelancer needs, give feedback within a reasonable time, and name one person who can approve work.
7. Ownership and use of the work
Once Client has paid all fees under this Agreement in full, Freelancer transfers to Client the rights in the final deliverables. Until then, Freelancer keeps those rights.
Freelancer keeps ownership of tools, templates, code, methods and materials created before or outside this project. Where any of these are part of a deliverable, Client may use them as part of that deliverable.
Third-party materials (such as fonts, stock images or plugins) are covered by their own licenses, which Client must follow.
Freelancer may show the work in a portfolio or case study once it is public, unless Client asks in writing for it to stay private.
8. Confidentiality
Each party will keep the other’s confidential information private and use it only for this project. This does not cover information that is already public or that a party is required by law to disclose. This section continues after the Agreement ends.
9. Independent contractor
Freelancer is an independent contractor, not an employee. Freelancer chooses how and when to do the work, provides their own equipment, and is responsible for their own taxes and insurance.
10. Ending the Agreement
Either party may end this Agreement with 14 days’ written notice.
If the Agreement ends early, Client pays for the work done up to the end date, and Freelancer delivers the completed work once that payment is made.
11. Limitation of liability
Each party’s total liability under this Agreement is limited to the fees paid or payable under it. Neither party is liable for indirect or consequential losses, such as lost profits. These limits do not apply to unpaid fees, breach of confidentiality, or anything that cannot be limited by law.
12. General
The parties will first try to resolve any disagreement by talking in good faith.
This Agreement is the whole agreement between the parties about this project. Changes must be in writing and agreed by both parties. It may be signed electronically and in separate copies.
