15+ Freelance Contract Examples in MS Word | Pages | Google Docs | PDF

Freelancing is one of those career choices where you can be your own boss. You can set your own work schedule and work at your own pace. Plus, you have the freedom to work anywhere, either at home or at cafes like Starbucks. Those are just two good reasons why there are 57 million freelancers in the US, according to 99Firms. That’s 36% of the country’s working population. So, if you want to partake in freelance work, that would be a great move. A better work-life balance could be waiting for you. But the challenge of freelancing is you’ll be contract writing independently. As we’ve said, you can be your own boss in this career choice; you’ll have no colleagues. But not to worry. Our freelance contract examples will come to your rescue! Check them out!

15+ Freelance Contract Examples

1. Freelance Contract Template

2. Freelance Video Contract Template

3. Professional Freelance Design Contract Template

4. Freelance Design Contract Template

5. Freelance Employment Contract Template

6. Free Freelance Contract Notice Template

7. Free Simple Freelance Contract Template

8. Free Basic Freelance Contract Template

9. Free Sample Freelancer Contract Template

10. Terms of Contract for Freelancers

11. Example of Contract for Freelance Staff

12. Freelance Contract in PDF

13. General Freelance Contract

14. Freelance Service Contract

15. Freelance Project Contract Agreement

16. Freelance Contract Example

What Is Freelancing?

Freelancing is a career path where individuals work independently, not associated with any company or employee recruitment agency. In other words, they’re self-employed workers, technically called freelancers. When freelancers look for clients, they have no representatives but themselves. They do all the heavy lifting to progress their careers. That includes creating marketing plans to promote themselves, writing contracts, and, of course, working on their contractual projects.

Just like other career choices, freelancing also has challenges. For one, the independence it brings is a challenge itself. So if you’re serious about jumping into the freelancing world, you need to be ready, especially when it comes to preparing your freelance contracts.

Speaking of freelance contracts, let’s now discuss it further.

What Is a Freelance Contract?

A freelance contract is a legally binding contract of agreement between a freelancer and a client. It makes the freelancer’s temporary employment under a client official. Basically, freelance contracts have the same functions as other types of contracts.

Although there are many cases where a freelancer and a client doesn’t prepare a contract, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. A freelance contract enables your client deals to be more secure. It protects your rights as a freelancer, such as the right to receive equitable payment on time. On a clients’ side, a contract assures them that you’ll deliver what they need as per their requirements. To sum it all up, a freelance contract solidifies a win-win deal.

How to Write a Freelance Contract

With the weight of importance that freelance contracts carry, don’t get intimated in preparing them. Yes, they can be a nuisance to make, but they do make your freelancing experience smooth. Here, we’ll show you the basic steps in writing a winning freelance contract.

Define Your Role and the Client’s Role

This step is important to clarify what both parties of the contract will do. You, as the freelancer, must state your job description is the work agreement. And you must emphasize what the client will do, which is to provide instructions about the project and pay your invoice. Even though it’s already understood what your respective roles will be, defining them on the contract is necessary for formality.

Discuss the Scope of Work

In your freelance contract sample letter, you need to discuss the scope of work—the project’s size and its main components. It’s the same principle that a contract for services template has—this allows for a clear understanding of the project, especially on your part as the service provider. You have to collaborate with the client when writing this part of the contract sample.

Set Clear Deadlines and Due Dates

For instance, if you’re a graphic designer, you have to make a freelance graphic design contract example. That’s one example of a freelance contract, among many. Now in your contract, you and the client must negotiate a deadline for the project. As the graphic designer, you have to make sure that it’s achievable. Next, schedule a due date of when the client must pay your service fee.

The project deadline and payment due date are the contract’s two factors that ensure a win-win deal. The deadline ensures that you’ll deliver the goods on time, and the due date prompts the client to pay you on time. Both of you will achieve your objectives.

Establish Indemnity Terms

Indemnities are contract terms that obligate a party to pay for damages that they caused on the other party. Regardless if it’s a freelance developer contract template, a freelance consultant contract template, or any other freelance contract, indemnity terms must always be present. They protect you from any contract breaches a client might commit, such as very late payments. And also, indemnity terms protect a client if ever you’ll incur damages. But you shouldn’t worry about them as long as you do honest work.

Freelancing is a growing economy. And it’ll continue to do so because of the digital tech that we have. That said, they’re many opportunities for you in this field. All you need is the determination to chase them. So, ready your freelance resume now and start honing your contract writing skills. You may also check out our business contract template for more reference.