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FREELANCE SERVICES AGREEMENT
Between Your Studio ("Contractor") and Northwind Studio ("Client").
1. SCOPE
The Contractor will provide the services described in the attached proposal. Work beyond that scope is a new, separately quoted engagement.
2. FEES & PAYMENT
Total fee: $12,000. Invoices are due within 14 days of the invoice date (Net 14). Overdue balances accrue 1.5% per month.
3. DEPOSIT
A non-refundable deposit of 40% is due before work begins and is applied to the final balance.
4. OWNERSHIP
Final deliverables transfer to the Client upon full payment. The Contractor retains the right to display the work in a portfolio.
5. REVISIONS
Two rounds of revisions are included per deliverable. Further rounds are billed at the Contractor's hourly rate.
6. TERMINATION
Either party may end this agreement with 14 days' written notice. The Client pays for all work completed to that date.
7. LIABILITY
The Contractor's total liability is limited to the fees paid under this agreement.
8. GOVERNING LAW
This agreement is governed by the laws of [State or country].
Signed: ______________________ Date: __________
Northwind Studio
Signed: ______________________ Date: __________
Your Studio
(Late-fee limits vary by place. Some states and countries cap late fees, so check that 1.5% per month is allowed where you and your client are before you use it.)
(This is a plain-language starting point, not legal advice. Have a professional review before signing.)Everything stays in your browser. Nothing is sent or saved.
How to use the freelance contract template
- Add your name or studio, the client, the fee, your payment terms and the state or country whose law applies.
- Copy the agreement and attach your proposal or scope of work.
- Have a lawyer review it once, then reuse it for every client.
How the freelance contract template works
The template covers eight things: scope, fees and payment, deposit, ownership, revisions, termination, liability and governing law. Each clause is short enough that a client will actually read it.
The clausesscope · payment · deposit · ownership · revisions · termination · liability · governing law
The names, fee, payment terms and governing law you enter flow straight into the clauses, so the agreement matches your proposal. The rest is written to be read once, signed and then left alone, which is what a good contract should be.
- Deposit before work begins (40%)
- $4,800
- Balance on the final invoice
- $7,200
- Due
- 14 days after invoicing
- Late fee if a month overdue (1.5%)
- $108
The deposit protects your calendar: once it’s paid, the dates are booked. The late fee only applies if the final invoice runs past its due date. Late-fee limits vary by place, so check that 1.5% a month is allowed where you work.
Freelance contract template FAQ
Is this contract legally binding?
A signed agreement generally is, but the law varies by place. This is a starting point, not legal advice, so have it reviewed before you rely on it.
Do I need a contract for small jobs?
Yes. Even a one-page agreement settles scope, price and payment before anyone gets annoyed.
What should a freelance contract include?
At minimum: what you’ll deliver, the fee and when it’s due, who owns the work, how changes are handled and how either side can end it.
Can my client sign it online?
Paste it into any e-signature tool, or send it from Meadow Desk, where your client e-signs and you countersign.
Who owns the work before it’s paid for?
In this template, you do. Ownership of the final deliverables passes to your client once the invoice is paid in full, and you keep the right to show the work in your portfolio. Change that clause if your client needs ownership sooner.
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