Important Clauses in Freelance Contracts

Hiring a freelancer is an important way to accomplish more for your business, and can also reduce the need to officially hire more employees. But you want to make sure you're offering that freelancer a contract that works for all parties involved, and reducing any legal or financial risks you could incur. Here's what you need to know, to be sure you're filling in the gaps in the freelance contract template you're using.

There's no reason to worry about your freelance contract template, and any details you're filling out, when you're confident you've addressed all important aspects of the contract. We'll cover:

• Important Contract Clauses
• Best Practices for Freelance Contracts
• Tips for a Secure Contract
• Advice on Freelance Contracts
• Key Considerations
• Related Sources

There are some specific clauses that need to be in freelance contracts. But keep in mind that freelancing can involve a lot of different areas of work, including writing, SEO, art, and more. So the overall clauses should be open-ended enough to include all of those areas.

1. Pricing and Rates — How much you're paying the freelancer is something you both need to know and agree to.
   
2. Revisions — If you aren't happy with the freelancer's work, they need to know if they're obligated to revise it, and how many times you can ask for that.
   
3. Deadlines — When their work is expected helps them (and you) stay on track.
   
4. Independent Contractor — Making sure it's clear that they are not an employee is extremely important for legal purposes.

By ensuring accuracy in these clauses when you're creating the freelance contract, you can feel good about the security of that contract for the future. Then the freelancer can sign the agreement, and you will both benefit from the collaboration.

By using a freelance contract template, you can feel comfortable with the legalities and "boilerplate" language included. You'll know that the contract is clear that the freelancer isn't an employee, so you don't accidentally establish a relationship with the freelancer that your company isn't looking to create. Still, you have to make sure you're filling out the parts of the contract you're responsible for. In other words:

• Make sure the freelance contract is complete before you send it out for a signature.
• Don't try to change any terms you've already agreed to with the freelancer.
• Make sure you keep the boilerplate language, and if you change something, highlight it.

The freelancer should have a good idea of what to expect, and they don't want to spend hours looking through the contract for anything you changed that they weren't expecting. Honesty is absolutely the best policy for these types of agreements.

One of the best ways to make sure your freelance contract is secure, is to send it electronically. That way, the freelancer you're going to be working with can sign it online. It's a great way for everyone to complete the contract, and feel confident that their signatures are protected. When signing your contract,use Nitro Sign to get your contracts or important documents signed. It's fast and easy, and it's secure and convenient. Set a time limit for signing the contract, too, so your chosen freelancer can get started.

The most important thing to be aware of when using a freelance contract, is that they can be pretty standard in a lot of ways. The basic tenets of a freelancing relationship are going to be the same, no matter what kind of specific services the freelancer is performing. Having a freelance contract template is a great idea, so you only need to fill in blanks and make a few little adjustments, to ensure that everything is covered properly.

Among the biggest considerations for a freelance contract are:

• The right wording to avoid legal issues.
• Clarity for everyone involved.
• Timeliness for the work to be completed.
• Security for the business and the freelancer.
• Protection if there are legal concerns.

With a freelance contract, you can get big benefits for your business without needing to hire additional employees. Just make sure you're handling the contract the right way.

Want to learn more about freelance contracts? Here's some of the best resources you can consider.

Vital Clauses for Freelance Contracts
What to Include in a Freelance Contract
Does Freelance Work Need a Contract?