Freelance Contract Checklist
Published June 2026 · Freelance Finance · 7 min read
"I didn't think we needed a contract. We were just friends."
That's what a freelancer told me after losing $8,000 to a client who "decided to go in a different direction" after 3 months of work.
Contracts aren't about distrust. They're about clarity. They protect both of you. Here's what every freelance contract needs.
✅ The Non-Negotiable Checklist
- Names and dates — Both parties' full legal names, the date, and contract effective date
- Scope of work — Exactly what you're delivering, in specific terms
- Deliverables — Number of concepts, revisions, rounds, files, formats
- Timeline — Start date, milestones, final delivery date
- Payment terms — Amount, schedule, method, currency
- Late fee policy — Rate, when it kicks in, how it's calculated
- Revision policy — How many rounds included, what counts as a revision
- Kill fee — What happens if the project is cancelled mid-way
- Intellectual property — Who owns the work, when rights transfer
- Confidentiality — NDA terms if applicable
- Termination clause — How either party can end the contract
- Dispute resolution — Mediation, arbitration, or court jurisdiction
💰 Payment Terms That Protect You
The Deposit
Always get a deposit. Always. 50% upfront is standard for new clients. 25% for long-term clients.
💡 Pro tip: "I require a 50% deposit to begin work. The remaining 50% is due upon delivery." This filters out serious clients from tire-kickers.
The Milestone Structure
For large projects, break payment into milestones:
- 25% — Project kickoff
- 25% — First draft / concept
- 25% — Revisions complete
- 25% — Final delivery
The Net-15 Rule
Never use Net-30 unless it's a massive enterprise client who literally can't pay faster. Net-15 is standard. "Due on receipt" for small invoices.
⚠️ Reality check: "Net-30" in client-speak means "Net-45 to Net-60." I use Net-15 for everything. It becomes Net-30 in practice, which is acceptable.
📝 Sample Contract Language
Late Fee Clause
LATE FEES: A late fee of 1.5% per month (18% APR) will be applied to any invoice not paid within 15 days of the due date. Late fees are calculated as simple interest on the outstanding balance.
Revision Clause
REVISIONS: This project includes up to 2 rounds of revisions. Additional revisions will be billed at $X/hour. A "revision" is defined as changes to existing work, not new work or scope changes.
Kill Fee Clause
KILL FEE: If this project is cancelled after work has begun, Client agrees to pay for all work completed to date plus a 25% kill fee on the remaining project balance. The deposit is non-refundable.
Scope Creep Clause
SCOPE: The scope of work is defined in Exhibit A. Any work outside this scope will require a separate quote and approval before proceeding.
🛡️ Red Flags in Client Contracts
- "Work for hire" without specifying deliverables. They own everything you create, even unused concepts. Negotiate.
- "Unlimited revisions." This is a death spiral. Cap at 2-3 rounds.
- "Payment upon client approval." Client approval is subjective. Use objective milestones.
- No late fee clause. Clients will pay late. It's not malice, it's bureaucracy. Protect yourself.
- "We can terminate at any time." Without a kill fee? You'll eat the cost. Negotiate.
- "Indemnification" clauses. Make sure they're mutual. Don't agree to indemnify the client for everything.
🧮 Free Tools to Help
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Built by a freelancer who learned the hard way. Open source on GitHub.