Freelance Contracts: How to Protect Yourself Legally

Why Contracts Are Mandatory

"Why bother with a contract, we agreed in chat" — the phrase that starts all problems. A contract defines: scope of work, deadlines, cost, payment schedule, number of revisions, liability. Without one, you're powerless in a dispute.

Key Contract Clauses

• Deposit — minimum 30%, for new clients 50%
• Milestones — break the project into phases with interim payments
• Revision rounds — specify them (usually 2–3 rounds)
• IP transfer — intellectual property transfers after full payment
• Kill fee — what happens if the project is cancelled mid-way

Without a Contract

Chat messages are legally binding in many jurisdictions. Save screenshots with dates. But it's always better to send a contract BEFORE starting work.

Templates

Use Bonsai, AND.CO, or HelloSign for freelance contract templates. Customize for your niche and reuse across projects.