The freelance contract

A freelance contract records what the writer and client agree to deliver, accept and pay for. The parts divide by the agreement’s terms: scope, contracting party and content responsibility, risk allocation, and payment. Setting and negotiating prices, choosing a business form and delivering the project belong to neighbouring concerns.

• Defining the scope of freelance work — services, deliverables, exclusions, responsibilities, review cycles, assumptions and changes
• The contracting party and responsibility for content — the business engaged, professional review and responsibility for the document’s content
• The contract clauses that allocate risk — agreement review, indemnity and liability, restrictions on other work, negotiable conditions, security and termination
• Tie payment to milestones you control — delivery milestones and advances, terms and payment cycles, fees and reminders, collection and insolvent clients, with survey findings