Freelance contract template that protects your time and your invoices
A new client says yes, and you need paperwork today. This prompt has your todo.is agent write a freelance contract for that exact project: what is in scope, how many revision rounds, when you get paid, what happens with late payments or cancellation, and who owns the work once the invoice is paid.
The prompt
- Write a freelance contract between me, [YOUR NAME OR BUSINESS], and my client [CLIENT NAME]. The project is [PROJECT AND DELIVERABLES]. Price: [FEE AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE]. Include [NUMBER] rounds of revisions, then extra work billed at [HOURLY OR DAY RATE]. Add these sections: scope and what is out of scope, timeline with milestones, payment terms (invoice due in 14 days, late fee), deposit before work starts, kill fee if the client cancels, intellectual property transferring only after full payment, my right to show the work in my portfolio, confidentiality, independent contractor status, termination by either side, and signatures. Governing law: [COUNTRY OR STATE]. Plain English, 2 to 3 pages. Save it as a Word file and a PDF, and give me a short checklist of things to confirm with the client before signing.
What to change
- [YOUR NAME OR BUSINESS]: Your legal or trading name, e.g. "Maya Ortiz Design".
- [CLIENT NAME]: The client's company or full name, e.g. "Pinegrove Coffee Co.".
- [PROJECT AND DELIVERABLES]: What you will hand over, e.g. "a logo, brand colors and a 10-page brand guide". Or attach your proposal.
- [FEE AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE]: e.g. "$4,800: 40% deposit, 30% at first concepts, 30% on delivery" or a monthly retainer.
- [NUMBER]: Revision rounds included, e.g. "2". Clear numbers prevent endless tweaks.
- [HOURLY OR DAY RATE]: Your rate for extra work, e.g. "$85 per hour".
- [COUNTRY OR STATE]: Where you work, e.g. "California, USA" or "Ontario, Canada".
Example result
- Freelance Services Agreement (sample draft)
- Between Maya Ortiz Design ("Designer") and Pinegrove Coffee Co. ("Client").
- 1. Services. Designer will create a logo (3 initial concepts), a color palette and a 10-page brand guide.
- 2. Out of scope. Packaging, website design, printing costs and stock image licenses, unless agreed in writing.
- 3. Timeline. Concepts by week 2, refined logo by week 4, brand guide by week 6. Dates move if Client feedback is late by more than 5 business days.
- 4. Revisions. Two rounds of revisions are included. Further changes are billed at $85 per hour, estimated in advance.
- 5. Fees. Total $4,800: 40% deposit before work starts, 30% on delivery of concepts, 30% on final delivery. Invoices are due within 14 days. Late payments incur 1.5% per month where allowed by law.
- 6. Kill fee. If Client cancels, Client pays for work completed to date and the deposit is non-refundable.
- 7. Ownership. On full payment, Client owns the final logo and brand guide. Unused concepts stay with Designer.
- 8. Portfolio. Designer may show the final work in a portfolio after public launch.
- 9. Confidentiality. Both sides keep non-public information private.
- 10. Independent contractor. Designer is not an employee and handles their own taxes and equipment.
- 11. Termination. Either party may end this agreement with 7 days' written notice. Sections 6 and 7 still apply.
- 12. Governing law. California, USA.
- Checklist before signing
- • Confirm who gives feedback and approves each stage
- • Agree on file formats delivered (AI, SVG, PNG)
- • Check the client's legal company name for the signature block
- • Send the deposit invoice with the contract
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in the client, project, fee and revision rounds.
- Paste it into todo.is from the Today screen. Attach your proposal or the client brief if you have one.
- Your agent writes the contract and sends you a Word file and a PDF ready for signatures.
- Ask for edits like "add a monthly retainer clause" or "make the kill fee 50%", then send it to your client.
Tips for a better result
- Always list what is out of scope. Most freelance disputes start with "I thought that was included".
- Tie ownership of the work to full payment. It is your strongest lever if an invoice goes unpaid.
- A deposit of 30 to 50% is common for new clients and filters out people who are not serious.
- Tell your agent to remember your standard terms. Next time you only send the client, project and fee.
- This is a draft, not legal advice. Have a lawyer check it for your country or state, especially for large projects.
freelance contract template: FAQ
- What should a freelance contract include? At minimum: scope, deliverables, timeline, fees and payment dates, revisions, ownership of the work, confidentiality, how either side can end the deal, and signatures.
- What is a kill fee? A kill fee is what the client pays if they cancel the project partway. It usually covers work done so far and keeps the deposit non-refundable.
- Do I need a contract for a small freelance job? Even a one-page agreement helps. It sets expectations on scope and payment and gives you something to point to if things go wrong.
- Can my agent review a contract a client sent me? Yes. Attach the PDF or Word file and your agent explains each clause and flags risky terms like unlimited revisions or payment on 90 days. It is not legal advice.
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