Two parties enter into a legally binding freelancer agreement. The term freelance contract is simply a conditional promise. Despite the fact that the initial proposal is shared with the freelancer, the freelancer isn’t at a point where they’re sending invoices.
Ten parts that make-up a freelance contract
1. Names, contact information, and dates
When creating a contract, both parties should include their full names at the beginning and throughout. For example, if your name is John Smith, do not use J. Smith but rather the full name John Smith. Companies should also use their full names. In their contracts, Coca Cola, for example, does not refer to itself as Coca Cola—they use The Coca Cola Company instead. Being exact prevents miscommunications between different parties.
In addition to the names and addresses of each party, contact information (e-mail addresses, phone numbers, etc.) should be provided.
The final step is to ensure that your contract is dated both when you write it and when each party signs it.
2. Your role
You should find all the information you need in your proposal.
- Start with the deliverables: In addition to driving your work, it will also be reviewed first if there are any problems, and it will also trigger the payment you’ll receive.
- Follow with your responsibilities: The proposal should only contain the responsibilities for completing the assigned work.
3. Payment information
Ensure that your contract clearly specifies payment terms, method, and deadlines in order to avoid becoming that freelance writer.
How
To get started, define how you expect to be paid. You might get more money by getting paid by the hour, but unless you use an online tracking system to log your hours, your client is probably going to prefer paying you by job. It’s just easier that way.
A portion of the payment is usually received upfront (around 25 percent to 50 percent) and the remainder is paid once the job is completed.
In order to avoid misunderstandings later on, you should put any method of payment in writing.
4. Deadlines
Having no boss to follow you around, and having the internet at your fingertips at all times, being a freelancer agreement india can make it difficult to concentrate. That’s not to mention the TV or any activity going on outside your window, or any distraction that might be going on inside your house.
When freelancers do not have deadlines, they lose focus and push projects back, while clients get anxious due to the length of time they have to wait for work to be completed.
Instead of having everything due all at once, it’s usually best to break up a project into different milestones. As a result, the freelancer will be less likely to have to deal with a large amount of work in a short timeframe. Furthermore, milestones make it easier to keep things organized, so both parties should benefit from them.
5. Ownership
Clients are usually going to require a contract for them to have full rights to your work since they’re paying you to do it. That’s just the way things work.
Occasionally, even if you don’t own the rights to your work, you may be credited for it. Before you go around touting your credits as your own creations, you should check with the client to make sure they don’t mind you placing the work you did for them in your portfolio. Credited works look great in your portfolio.
6. Confidential information
The client will likely want you to include a clause in your contract that prevents you from disclosing any confidential information you encounter while on a project.
There is also the possibility of getting access to third party information. You’ll have to promise not to disclose this information as well.
7. Independent contractor terms
Unlike in-house employees, independent contractors should have different expectations for their work.
A few of those differences:
- If you need physical tools to complete the project, the client will not provide them.
- Managing your daily schedule won’t be the client’s responsibility.
- The client is not represented by you.
- You are not represented by them.
- Taxes will also be your responsibility.
8. Limitation of liability
It’s not the responsibility of either party if the contract is breached in a way neither party could have reasonably expected.
9. Termination terms
Eventually, all projects come to an end. The client will probably pay you for all the work that has been completed so far if you set a final date by which, if all the work has not been completed yet, you will stop working, and the client will pay you for all the work that has already been completed.
10. Indemnity
Who is responsible if a third party sues an end result of a project, be it an app, article, website, or anything else?
If you are the reason why the client is suing you, they will want to confirm that your actions were at fault.
Furthermore, if a contract is breached by the other party, both parties will want to be reimbursed.