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9 Things To Include in a Freelancer Contract
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9 Things To Include in a Freelancer Contract
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NewComma
career
5 mins read

Until the contract is signed โœ๐Ÿฟ, nothing is real, nothing is yet concrete, and you're only dealing in โœจhypotheticalsโœจ.

Drawing up contracts can be such a nightmare ๐ŸงŒ when you're starting out as a freelancer.

There are so many things to consider to ensure all parties involved are on the same page ๐Ÿ“„ย .

Thatโ€™s why weโ€™re here to make life simpler .

Yes, just call us your guardian angels ๐Ÿ‘ผ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ‘ผ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿ‘ผ๐Ÿฝ.

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These tips will hold you for a long time yet so make sure to get into them, share them with your creative network who no doubt will also be in need of them and circle back whenever necessary.

Letโ€™s get into it! ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿฟ

  1. Scope of Work ๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿฟโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿพโ€โ™‚๏ธ๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿฟโ€โ™‚๏ธ

Itโ€™s suprisingly easy ๐Ÿซข to get to a place with a client where the conditions of your collaboration escape you.

โ€ฆ But thatโ€™s what contracts are for! ๐Ÿ“„

Be sure to include the number of revisions and deliverables in this section.

This gives you a great point of reference when you need to push back on a client exceeding ๐Ÿšซย them.

This way, both your lives are made easier ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฟ. You both know what to expect, what youโ€™re expected to put in and what youโ€™re getting โ€” the paper wonโ€™t lie.

  1. Deadlines ๐Ÿชฆ๐Ÿชฆ๐Ÿชฆ

Keeping track of deadlines mentally or having to constantly ask can be extra work ๐Ÿ˜“:

Having a contract to refer to, slices that work in half ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ.

Having it on paper also helps to set boundaries on expectations surrounding working hours and how long it will take to produce the requested deliverables.

Everybody wins! โ˜บ๏ธโ˜บ๏ธโ˜บ๏ธ

  1. Ownership and Rights ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿฟ

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This section should outline your intellectual property ownership and usage rights of whatever you produce for your client ๐Ÿ‘จ๐Ÿพโ€๐Ÿฆฑ๐Ÿ‘ฑ๐Ÿฟโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿง‘๐Ÿฝโ€๐Ÿฆฐ.

This is a safeguarding detail for the creator and also clarifies who is the actual creator and therefore who is entitled to use, own, or give away said property ๐Ÿซก.

  1. Resource Requirements ๐Ÿ”จ๐Ÿ”ง๐Ÿ”ฉ

If there are any additional resources ๐Ÿ›  you need to carry out your task (e.g. Your Client's Brand Guidelines or temporary access to their database), this can also be included in your contract ๐Ÿ“„.

This ensures for both parties that the one carrying out the service can receive the adequate and agreed materials, support needed to carry out their role ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฟ.

And for the provider that as long as their side of this agreement is met that the duties of the practitioner can be proven to be legally binding ๐Ÿซก.

  1. Payment Terms ๐Ÿ’ฐ๐Ÿ’ฐ๐Ÿ’ฐ

Itโ€™s a common conception that the business of finances tends to complicate things โ€” that need not be the case ๐Ÿคซ.

Ensure in your contractual agreement to address ๐Ÿก just how and when you want to be paid in this section, as well as the project duration, so you've got a reference point to a chase late invoice ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿฟโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿฟโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿฟโ€โ™€๏ธ.

  1. Non-Negotiables ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿšซ

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These are different for everyone, but never assume your client knows what they are ๐Ÿคง.

What might be obvious to you may not be so obvious to someone else.

In clearly outlining your non-negotiable you leave little to chance and everything to the hands of the law if ever it has to reach this ๐Ÿซฑ๐Ÿฝโ€๐Ÿซฒ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿซฑ๐Ÿฝโ€๐Ÿซฒ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿซฑ๐Ÿฝโ€๐Ÿซฒ๐Ÿฟ.

Do so clearly to ensure that it is thoroughly understood by your client.

Remember, itโ€™s better to be safe than sorry ๐Ÿ˜ฃ.

  1. Indemnity ๐Ÿ”’๐Ÿ”’๐Ÿ”’

There is the chance that things will not always go as smooth sailing โ›ต๏ธ as youโ€™d both hoped, in which case it is vital to protect yourself against this.

Indemnity is the opportunity to protect yourself from clients taking legal ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿฟโ€โš–๏ธaction against you if certain aspects of the project don't go according to plan ๐Ÿ—บย .

Of course, as with everything else in the contract, this section should be reviewed by a legal professional.

  1. Termination ๐Ÿ”š๐Ÿ”š๐Ÿ”š

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Clients wanting to up and leave in the middle of a contract happens more often than not ๐Ÿ˜•.

Having a clear and specified โ€œend ofโ€ contract date outlined and a contractual agreement for a client giving you at least a couple of weeks notice before they withdraw ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿฟ from the project may be the saving grace youโ€™ll end up needing ๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ.

That way, you donโ€™t feel as though youโ€™ve been left in the lurch or short-changed ๐Ÿ˜’.

  1. Signatures โœ๐Ÿฟโœ๐Ÿฟโœ๐Ÿฟ

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The conclusive signature indicates that both parties agree to comply with the arranged conditions outlined in the contract.๐Ÿฅณ.

Put simply, everything in the agreement means nothing.

โ€ฆNow you can breathe ๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ๐Ÿ˜ฎโ€๐Ÿ’จ.

After this, youโ€™re all set for the next stage, the one youโ€™re best at: CREATING ๐ŸŽจ๐ŸŽจ๐ŸŽจ!

As a creative, thereโ€™s no reason why you should not take the appropriate measures ๐Ÿ“ย to protect your creations, your work, and your business.

In the year 2022 where creatives have constantly shown that they can do it all, this extends to safeguarding ๐Ÿ”’ย and managing their business affairs.

Being creative does not mean you exclusively create.

Instead the title, asks you how many skills you can take on ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿฝ, how many hats ๐Ÿงขย you can wear and how serious you are about solidifying your craft both in perfecting it and protecting it.

Take advantage of these tips. Being it ALL can be hard, so let us do what we do best and make it easier on you โค๏ธ.

Youโ€™ve got this โ€” you always did๐Ÿฅฐ.

For more hard-hitting tips and posts tailored specifically for our Creative Geniuses be sure to head over to the New Comma page on Instagram @new.comma ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿฝ

For more hard-hitting tips and posts tailored specifically for our Creative Geniuses be sure to head over to the New Comma page on Instagram @new.comma ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿฝ

If youโ€™ve come this far but have yet to sign up to New Comma what are you doing?๐Ÿคฏ

Get into it and sign up over on the New Comma site to become the latest newcomer at New Comma

(See what we did there!๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜‰)

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