Free Freelance Contract Template

Craft a Freelance Contract that establishes the terms for a fruitful working relationship. Use our comprehensive guidelines and user-friendly form-building tools to create your document today.

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Last Update September 13th, 2024

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Table of Contents:

What is a Freelance Contract

A Freelance Contract is a legally binding agreement between a freelancer and a client that outlines the terms and conditions of their working relationship. This business document serves to protect the rights and interests of both parties involved.

With this contract in place, freelancers and clients can establish clear expectations, define payment terms, address ownership of intellectual property, and establish mechanisms for dispute resolution.

Typical elements of a Freelance Contract agreement include:

When to Use a Freelance Contract

Freelance contracts are commonly used in various industries and job roles where individuals provide services on a project or assignment basis.

Below you will find some examples of industries and job roles that frequently utilize freelance contracts:

These examples represent just a fraction of the industries and job roles where freelance contracts may be used.

Freelancing offers flexibility and enables individuals to leverage their expertise in various fields, providing a wide array of services to clients who require specialized assistance.

Importance of a Freelance Contract

A Freelance Contract agreement carries significant importance for both freelancers and clients and is essential for the following reasons:

In summary, a Freelance Contract builds a strong foundation for a successful working relationship.

How to Write a Freelance Contract

Review and complete the following steps before writing your own Freelance Contract:

Term: Determine the duration of the agreement or indicate that it is intended to cover specific works until completion.

freelance contract terms

Work(s): Clearly describe the type of work to be created and provide general descriptions and specifications.

freelance contract works

Contributor responsibilities: Specify that the contributor must deliver the work on a timely basis according to the specified formats, address, and media.

freelance contract responsabilities

Grant of rights: State if the company will be the sole and exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interests in the work, including copyrights and intellectual property rights.

freelance contract rights

Ownership: Clarify if the contributor will retain ownership of the work, subject to the limited license granted to the company.

freelance contract ownership

Use of the contributor’s name, likeness, and information: In this section, you can grant the company the perpetual right to use the contributor's name, image, likeness, and biographical information in connection with the work.

freelance contract use

Payment: Specify the amount and basis for determining payment, and clarify if the company is not obligated to pay for work that is delivered late or does not comply with the agreement.

freelance contract payment

Indemnification: Require the contributor to indemnify and hold the company harmless from any claims or liabilities arising from a breach of the agreement.

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Miscellaneous: Include provisions on assignment and transfer of rights, governing law, entire agreement, amendment requirements, and signature lines for both parties.

freelance contract miscellaneous

Use our pre-defined freelance contract template to create your document and avoid missing any important information.

Difference Between Freelance and Contract

Contract freelance work and contract work are two terms often used interchangeably, but they refer to different types of work arrangements.

Aspect Freelance Work Contract Work
Employment Relationship Freelancers are independent contractors Contract workers are employees of a company
Work Arrangement Project-based Duration-based
Compensation Set by freelancer Set by employer
Benefits Typically not included May be included
Work Schedule Determined by freelancer Determined by employer
Tax Withholdings Not required Required

Both freelancers and contract workers enjoy the freedom of working outside a traditional employment relationship, but the key difference lies in the nature of the work arrangement and the legal classification of the worker.

Freelance Contract Sample

It can be beneficial to look at a sample before drafting your own document. Doing so will help you become acquainted with the format and terminology commonly employed in such agreements.

Please refer to the sample Freelance Contract we have provided below. It will provide you with a more comprehensive grasp of how your final document should be organized and which components it should contain.