How to Structure Freelance Contracts

I’ve had 4 legal battles since starting my business. Could I have avoided them? Probably. But I didn’t have the funds for a proper lawyer. I didn’t have the founder network to ask the right questions. I was figuring it out as I went - like most of us do. So, let me help you not learn the hard way. Here are 5 clauses I now include in every contract to protect my work, my business, and my sanity: 1. Non-cancellable, non-refundable agreements If you’ve qualified your clients properly, this shouldn’t be a problem. But if someone signs, onboards, and then disappears? We still get paid. And so should you. 2. Immediate or short payment terms We don’t do 30- to 90-day terms. You wouldn’t work for 3 months without pay - so why should your business? Cash flow isn’t just admin. It’s survival. 3. Enforceable payment protection Your contract should include: Interest on late invoices A “stop work” clause if payment isn’t made A clause that guarantees you still get paid even if the client delays the project Your time is not free. Put it in writing. 4. Intellectual Property stays yours Anything we bring to the table = ours. Anything we create for you = yours. Clear. Simple. No grey area. We once had a client record a training session… and try to resell it behind a paywall. Now our contract includes a £10,000 fine per breach. And in that case, per breach = per view. 5. Don’t work with d*ckheads. Not a legal clause - more like legal wisdom... 😂 🚩 If they’re pushing for discounts before asking about outcomes 🚩 If they want to start work before signing or paying 🚩 If they delay, ghost, or act shady in the first 10 days… Walk away. Trust me. Yes, contracts are important. But court is expensive, stressful, and slow. The best legal advice I can give you; - Protect your business. - Trust your gut. - And don’t work with d*ckheads. Learning from someone else’s mistakes is a hell of a lot cheaper than learning from your own. You’re welcome 💜 😉 P.S - Want to finally get the confidence to start building your personal brand online? This is your sign. I’m hosting a FREE Zoom masterclass SEPT 10th. Join here: https://lnkd.in/gMwytmS3 and I'll show you exactly how to build your personal brand (and the life you want!).

The designer disappeared mid-project. Here’s the 1 clause that saved the deal. It looked like a dream deal. • One SaaS client. • One product agency. • One freelance designer on UI. Three parties. Everyone aligned. Everything moving forward. The agency came to us for the contract. They just wanted something “simple.” Scope, timeline, payments - done. But simple contracts don’t survive complex projects. So we asked the real questions. • What if the client delays feedback? • What if the designer goes missing mid-project? • What if the agency needs to push deadlines? They’re the parts that blow up a deal if they’re not written down. So we built the contract around the "what ifs." Not just the plan, but the back-up plan. • Clear responsibilities. • Fallback options. • Defined resolution timelines. And sure enough - a few weeks in, the designer dropped out. But instead of chaos, everyone opened the contract. Turned to page 5. Followed the steps. • No finger-pointing. • No legal panic. • No awkward emails. And if you want to do the same, then I recommend focusing on: 1) Contingency Clauses: What if feedback is late? Add a clause that pauses the timeline until it’s received.  2) Risks by People: If a designer or developer drops out, have a backup plan - like a replacement within 15 days.  3) Scope Creep If the client asks for extra features, ensure there’s a process for approving changes and costs.  4) Clear Termination Terms Can you exit if the project isn’t working? Include notice periods and payment for work done.  5) Dispute Resolution If things go south, arbitration under Indian law can resolve issues faster than courts. Ultimately, that’s what good contracts do. They don’t just record what you hope happens. They prepare you for what probably will. If you’re drafting contracts based on assumptions, you’re building your business on luck. And luck’s not a strategy. Plan for the messy parts. That’s what keeps the project - and the partnership - alive. --- ✍ Question: What’s the biggest project surprise you wish your contract had covered?

This kills more freelancers than bad reviews. “Can you just add this one thing?” They said. I thought it was harmless. A small tweak, nothing major. But then it became two things. Then three. And suddenly, the project is unrecognizable. What started as a simple email sequence grew legs. A landing page edit here. A social caption there. By the end, I was doing 3x the work for same pay. The scope had crept so far, I barely recognized the brief. What's worse? It consumed so much time, I had no time for other clients. Here’s what I'd do differently to prevent project scope creeps: 1) Client signs contract with 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀. 2) Always confirm changes 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 3) Quote for extras. Every. Single. Time. 4) Learn to say 𝗡𝗢 without guilt. For newbie freelancers, 1 & 2 might be daunting, so, practice 3 & 4 unapologetically. Boundaries are what protect your creativity, ensures you are paid what you're worth. Without them, you’re a yes-machine, not a professional. Agree? P.S. -- I created a guide to setting client boundaries "5 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺". You can easily copy-paste this to your contract. Want it? DM me "Set client boundaries" and I'll send you a copy for free - no strings attached