What should a freelance contract include?

A good freelance contract covers the basics in writing so both sides know what to expect.

At minimum, include:

• Names of the parties and the legal business name, if there is one
• Scope of work — the exact services, deliverables, and what is not included
• Timeline — start date, deadlines, review periods, and final delivery date
• Payment terms — flat fee or hourly rate, deposit if any, invoice schedule, due dates, and late-payment terms
• Revisions and change requests — how many rounds are included and what costs extra
• Ownership and license terms — who owns the final work product and when ownership transfers after payment
• Confidentiality — what business information must be kept private; sometimes this is handled in a separate NDA, which means a non-disclosure agreement
• Independent contractor status — that the freelancer is not an employee
• Termination terms — how either side can end the project and what happens to unfinished work and unpaid invoices
• Dispute terms — which state's law applies, where disputes are handled, and whether mediation or arbitration is required

If you use the same freelance agreement again and again, a lawyer can help you turn it into a stronger repeat-use form. You can learn more about contracts and agreements or get matched with a licensed business-law attorney for free.

Many disputes come from a few common gaps: vague scope, unclear payment rules, and confusion about ownership.

Be specific about the scope of work. Instead of saying "marketing help," say something like "write 4 email campaigns, 2 rounds of revisions each, and deliver editable files by June 30." If something is not included, say that too.

Be specific about payment. State the amount, when invoices go out, when payment is due, and whether work pauses if payment is late. If you charge hourly, say how time is tracked and billed.

Be specific about ownership. If the freelancer creates designs, code, writing, or videos, the contract should say whether the client owns the final deliverables after full payment or whether the freelancer keeps ownership and gives the client a limited right to use them. This point is often more important than people expect.

If the contract includes ongoing services, it may function like an MSA, which means a master services agreement — a general contract that sets the main rules for repeated work. A lawyer can help decide whether you need a one-project agreement or a broader form.

Example: A bakery hires a freelance designer to create a logo, menu board graphics, and 3 social media templates for a flat fee of $2,000.

A clearer contract would say:

• The exact files to be delivered
• The deadline for the first draft and the final files
• Two rounds of revisions are included
• Extra revisions cost a stated amount or hourly rate
• 50% is due up front and 50% is due on final delivery
• The bakery gets ownership of the final approved designs only after full payment
• The designer may display the work in a portfolio unless the contract says otherwise
• Either side may end the project in writing, but the designer is paid for work already completed

That kind of detail can prevent arguments later. It also makes it easier to compare proposals from different freelancers.

If you are hiring freelancers often, do not rely on handshake deals or copied templates that do not fit your business. Have a licensed attorney review your form before you use it widely.

A few practical next steps:

1. List the services you buy most often — design, software development, marketing, video, bookkeeping, or consulting.
2. Mark the terms that create the most friction for your business: revisions, late payment, deadlines, ownership, or confidentiality.
3. Gather your current template and any past dispute examples.
4. Ask a lawyer to review or draft an agreement that fits your state and your work style.

FoundryCounsel is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. If you want help, you can get matched for free with a licensed business-law attorney, or read more in our guides and on our page about contracts and agreements.