📝 Contract Review Checklist
Don't sign until you check these 15 points. Missing one could cost you thousands.
⚠️ Red Flag: If a contract is missing 3+ of these items, negotiate or walk away. Never sign a contract out of desperation.
💰 Payment Terms
Payment amount clearly stated
No vague language like "reasonable compensation"
Payment schedule defined
50% upfront + 50% on delivery? Milestones? Monthly?
Late payment terms included
Interest rate after X days overdue
Kill fee / termination clause
If client cancels, you still get paid for work done
📋 Scope & Deliverables
Specific deliverables listed
Exactly what you're delivering, not "design work"
Revision limits defined
"2 rounds of revisions included" — not unlimited
Timeline with deadlines
Start date, milestone dates, final delivery date
Out-of-scope work clause
Additional work requires separate written agreement
🛡️ Rights & Ownership
Intellectual property rights
Who owns the work? When does ownership transfer?
Portfolio rights
Can you show the work in your portfolio? Always negotiate this.
Confidentiality / NDA
Reasonable NDA is fine. Broad NDA that prevents you from working in the industry is not.
⚖️ Legal Protection
Indemnification clause
Client indemnifies you if their content causes legal issues
Limitation of liability
Your liability is capped at the project fee, not unlimited
Dispute resolution
Arbitration vs court? Which state law applies?
Independent contractor status
Explicitly states you're not an employee (tax implications)
💡 Pro tip: Score 13+? Contract is solid. Score 10-12? Negotiate the missing items. Score under 10? Walk away. A bad contract is worse than no contract.
Built by a freelancer who signed a bad contract and lost $8,000. Never again. Open source on GitHub.