The clauses that earn their keep
Three clauses do the heaviest lifting. The deposit clause filters clients: anyone unwilling to pay 25–50% upfront is telling you how they'll behave at the final invoice. The IP transfer clause is your collection mechanism: when rights transfer only on full payment, an unpaid invoice means the client doesn't own the work they're using. And the revision limit converts 'I'll know it when I see it' clients from a hazard into billable hours.
The rest are cheap insurance. A kill fee means a cancelled project pays for the time you reserved. A liability cap means a bug in a $5,000 website can't expose you to a $500,000 claim. Client-responsibility deadlines mean their three-week feedback delay doesn't become your missed deadline.
You don't need a lawyer to have a contract
A plain-language agreement covering these twelve points, signed by both parties — even over email — is enormously better than nothing, and it's what the majority of working freelancers use. The contract's main job isn't winning lawsuits; it's preventing disputes by making expectations explicit while everyone is still friendly.
That said, scale the formality to the stakes. For five-figure projects, agency subcontracting, or anything involving sensitive data, paying a lawyer to review your template once is money well spent — you'll reuse it for years.
Frequently asked questions
- Is an email agreement legally binding?
- In most jurisdictions, yes — contracts generally require offer, acceptance, and consideration, not a specific format. A clear email thread where both sides agree to scope, price, and terms is enforceable. A signed document is still stronger evidence and worth the extra step for larger projects.
- What's a reasonable deposit to ask for?
- 25–50% before work begins is standard. For small projects, 50% up front and 50% on delivery is the simplest split; for longer ones, a deposit plus monthly or milestone invoicing keeps cash flowing and limits how much unpaid work you're ever carrying.
- The client sent me their contract — what should I look for?
- Read for the same 12 items, plus red flags pointed the other way: unlimited revisions, payment 'net 60' or longer, IP transferring before payment, non-compete clauses that block future work, and indemnification language that puts their business risk on you.