Free template
Freelance Contract Template
A one-page services agreement in plain English. Fill in the brackets, delete what you don't need, and send it before you start work.
What it covers
- Scope and “not included” — so extra requests become paid change orders, not free favours
- Revisions — a set number of rounds, then an hourly rate
- Deposit and payment terms — when you get paid, and what happens when you don’t
- Late fees and pausing work — leverage you can actually use on an overdue invoice
- Ownership — rights transfer only once you’re paid in full
- Cancellation — what the client owes if the project stops halfway
It ends with a short checklist of the gaps that most often cause disputes.
It's a plain text file, so it opens in anything. Paste it into Google Docs or Word to add your logo and send it as a PDF.
Before you use it
This is a general starting point, not legal advice. Contract law varies by country and state, and a template can't know your situation. For large projects, retainers or regulated work, have a local lawyer look it over — it usually costs far less than one unpaid invoice.
Need tools to send and sign it? See the contracts section of the Freelancer Toolkit.