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In five years of freelance marketing, I had never had a great system for contracts. I'd hope the client had something they could provide, or piece something together from Honeybook and what I knew I wanted to cover.
Honestly, I often prayed I would never have to fall back on it legally. And I never did! But as more creative entrepreneurs started asking me how that side of things worked, I wanted to have a better answer.
It turns out there is such a thing as solo-preneur lawyers who create resources specifically FOR solo-preneurs. So I purchased a package of freelancer contract templates, and I couldn't believe all the things a solid contract can give you, or make you think about up-front, even as you're setting up your packages and services.
Setting and keeping your boundaries. Your contract can spell out exactly how and when you will (and will not) be available, and when a client should reasonably expect to hear back from you. It can also lay out how a project's timeline can change based on their response time and delivering materials to you. Ie: we can meet this deadline IF I have everything I need by X date. If I do not, we will not be able to complete the project until X date.
Preventing scope creep. If your client is a retainer client to whom you've offered full services for whatever they need, "scope creep" isn't really a thing. But if you've agreed to create a website for a set price, but then you're asked to set up a Google business listing, give them a logo and branding guidelines, it can get tricky to navigate. If these are things you WANT to take on, you can confidently send a new estimate that includes these items you hadn't initially agreed to. If you don't want to add those items, a contract that had clearly spelled out the deliverables and compensation is something you can point back to.
Payment. This might be the number one reason we know we need a contract in the first place! Of course we need to make sure we are paid on time - or at all - in some cases. The template I purchased actually laid out several terms I was never sure I could present to a client, as far as refunds for retainers and your ability to deliver based on the nature of the request and materials provided to you.
Other items included in my lawyer-created contracts that I wouldn't have thought of are a clause about guaranteed results and an acknowledgement that the client has reviewed the freelancer's style and portfolio and knows what to expect.
The other thing that purchasing these templates reinforced for me is that there is no one right way to do things as a freelancer. The template for freelancing alone has several different variables to choose from, as far as charging hourly, retainer-based or project/installment-based, and different methods of laying out timelines and deliverables.
In addition to contract templates, you can find website legal copy templates, coaching contract templates and more at artfulcontracts.com. Also find:
A free legal masterclass
A checklist of steps to take to make sure your business is legally legit
All of the contract templates
AND, you get 10% off your purchase if you use the code HANNAH.
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