Free Freelance Designer Contract

Freelance Contracts

Hi all,

While surfing forums and the like found a great free contract resource , over at WDF.

Freelance contract

This is a contract that I came up with several years ago, with the help of a lawyer [personal friend]. I didn’t want anything too technical or full of legal speak. Just wanted something simple, straightforward, that made sense and didn’t confuse or intimidate in any way. So there are no major legal terms in the document at all…it simply does what it’s meant to – lay out the information that client has supplied [the brief], say what you’re going to do for them and how much your going to charge and what deadlines there are…

A few pointers though:

1. When the terms ‘client’, ‘job’ or ‘your company name’ appear in your text always use a capital letter ‘Client’ – ‘Job’ – ‘Eskymo’ as these are terms that have been defined at the beginning of the document and this is the proper way to refer to things.

2. I generally send clients a contract via email – I export the document as a PDF [so they can't edit it in anyway] and email it to them. They then have the option of printing it out and signing it and sending it back to me via the post, or they can ‘digitally’ sign it and email it back, or I just ask them to respond to the email with a formal acceptance of the contract – I then print out this email and keep it on file. Always make sure you get an agreement either in writing or an email – an agreement in a telephone conversation is no good as there is no way of referring back to it.

Contract, PDF download

Contract, MS Office Download:

Contract, Open Office Download:

Don’t forget to pop on over to the Web Designer Forums for more great resources. As a web designer and logo designer their forum’s are a great place for advice.

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tasarhane says:

June 8, 2009 at 7:35 am

thanks.. checking.

[Reply]

Jeff says:

June 9, 2009 at 9:43 am

Nice source, great research for beginners and experienced designers like myself, thanks.

prabu says:

June 12, 2009 at 3:27 pm

The template was awesome. Thank you.
.-= prabu´s last blog ..I want to write desperately =-.

My Freelance Suitcase - Useful tools for Freelancers | DivageekDesigns.com says:

June 15, 2009 at 8:52 am

[...] Freelance Contracts [...]

Jay says:

July 6, 2009 at 7:09 pm

Great post and very helpful resource,

thanks

Jay

Giselle says:

July 15, 2009 at 10:10 am

Thank you for this template, it’s very helpful!

Freelance Graphic Design | Tony says:

September 17, 2009 at 3:51 pm

This is a very helpful resource for upstarts still trying to make it big in the field of freelance graphic design as well as the pros who are in search of new ventures and wants to send out a contract to their respective clients.