How to Create a Freelancer Contract (Step-by-Step Tutorial!)

As a freelancer, you don’t have another company to rely on that will negotiate terms on your behalf. That company is you! And as much as we don’t want to think about it, things can go wrong along the way. So, in this video, we’ll walk through step-by-step how to create a freelance contract that keeps you protected. Who are we? We’re Indy! A platform for freelancers, giving you the productivity tools, the resources, and the knowledge to help you own it: your work, your success, and your way of life. 00:00 Introduction 00:46 Who are we? 01:40 What to include in your contracts 02:31 Name/contact information 03:13 Scope of work 04:41 Term 05:02 Payment 06:06 Termination clause 06:47 Cooperation 07:02 Proprietary information 08:08 Limitation of liability 08:36 Indemnity 08:52 Independent contractor terms 09:38 Additional clauses you need in your contract 10:51 Signatures 11:21 Outro Here are 12 elements every contract template needs: #1 Name/Contact Information A very important note: If your business name happens to be different than your legal name, be sure to include your *business* name. #2 Scope of Work This section describes all of the work you will complete for the client. The more specific you are, the less likely you will deal with “scope creep,” which is when a client adds more work to the project than you originally agreed upon. #3 Term A timeline for how long you will be working with the client. You can either assign a specific due date or have the contract end when the project is completed. #4 Payment A description of how and when the client will pay you. #5 Termination Clause A lot of things can go wrong during a project, so it’s crucial to define the circumstances under which a contract can be ended. #6 Cooperation You agree to fully cooperate with an insurer if a policy claim occurs. #7 Proprietary Information An agreement that you will not reveal any trade secrets or other private information that belongs to the client. #8 Liability This clause caps the number of potential damages incurred and can eliminate a party’s right to certain types of damages. #9 Indemnity Indemnity can protect you from damages and lawsuits by detailing the amount of risk you are willing to undertake when working with the client. For a stricter line, you can draft an indemnification clause that only holds you liable for gross negligence and willful misconduct. #10 Independent Contractor Terms This states whether you will be using your or your client’s equipment, how you will perform your day-to-day operations, and that you will be responsible for your taxes and benefits. #11 General A catch-all section that includes other important clauses, such as Force Majeure, Severability, and Arbitration. #12 Signature No contract is binding without the signature of you and your client. Check out Indy’s free contracts tool to create your contract: https://weareindy.com/tools/contracts More tips for creating iron-clad contracts: https://weareindy.com/blog/search?term=contracts Get started with Indy for free: https://weareindy.com Subscribe to our channel for more freelance tips: https://www.youtube.com/c/WeAreIndy Follow our socials: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/weare_indy/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/weare_indy LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareindy Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/weareindy