Freelance contract template

A freelance contract is a project agreement between a freelancer and a client that fixes the scope, the price, the number of revisions, the payment schedule and who owns the finished work.

What it is

Freelancers write, design, build, edit, film and translate for clients on a project basis. A freelance contract is how both sides agree on the job before it starts. It is usually shorter and more project-focused than an independent contractor agreement, which a company often writes for ongoing work.

Please treat this page as general information and not legal advice. A lawyer who knows your work and your location can tell you what your contract needs.

When it is used

A designer quotes a logo and brand kit for a fixed fee.
A developer agrees to build a site in three milestones.
A writer takes on a monthly retainer for blog posts.
A videographer books a shoot and an edit. If people appear on camera, add a model release form or a photography release form.

Here the freelancer is usually the one sending the contract, and the client signs.

What it usually contains

Project description. The deliverables in plain words, with formats and counts.
Timeline and milestones. Dates for drafts, reviews and final delivery.
Revisions. How many rounds are included and what extra rounds cost.
Fees. Fixed price, hourly rate or retainer.
Deposit and payment schedule. Many freelancers ask for part up front and the rest on delivery.
Late payment. What happens if an invoice is overdue.
Client duties. What the client must provide, such as content, access or feedback within a set time.
Ownership and licence. When rights in the work pass to the client, often on full payment, and whether the freelancer may show it in a portfolio.
Cancellation. What is owed if the client stops the project.
Signatures. Freelancer and client.

Things to get right

Scope creep starts in vague wording. "A website" invites ten more pages. "A five-page site with one contact form" does not.
Tie ownership to payment. Many freelancers transfer rights only once they are paid in full. Ask a lawyer how to word it.
Get the client's real signer. In a company, the person you email may not have authority to sign. Ask who should.
Send your copy and theirs. Every signer gets an email with a link to download the sealed PDF, so neither side needs to ask for a copy later.

How to send it for signature with docuinked

In the app

Upload your contract as a PDF and add your client. Place their signature and date fields, and initials on the page with fees if you want a clear sign that they read it. Sign it yourself as the second signer. Save it as a template and reuse it for every new client. Your first 5 completed documents are free, so you can try it on your next project at no cost. See pricing.

By API

A freelancer with a small booking site can send the contract straight from the quote form. This example adds initials on the fees page.

curl https://docuinked.com/v1/documents \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $DOCUINKED_API_KEY" \
  -H "Idempotency-Key: quote-2026-118" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"title": "Freelance contract: brand kit for Example Co",
       "pdf_url": "https://example.com/quotes/2026-118.pdf",
       "message": "Here is the contract for the brand kit. The deposit invoice follows once it is signed.",
       "signers": [{"name": "Morgan Diaz", "email": "morgan@example.com"},
                   {"name": "Alex Kim", "email": "alex@example.org"}],
       "fields": [{"signer": 1, "kind": "initials", "anchor": "Client initials:"},
                  {"signer": 1, "kind": "signature", "anchor": "Client signature:"},
                  {"signer": 1, "kind": "date", "anchor": "Client date:"},
                  {"signer": 2, "kind": "signature", "anchor": "Freelancer signature:"}],
       "send": true}'

From an agent

If you run your business through Claude or ChatGPT, connect the MCP server. Ask it to "prepare my freelance contract for Morgan at Example Co for the brand kit quote". It fills a template and asks to send. You get an approval link, read the draft and approve. Your agent handles the paperwork, and only you decide what goes out. See docuinked for agents.

Sources

Checked 2026-11-07.

ESIGN Act, 15 USC 7001
UETA, 1999 text: s.8 on giving the recipient a record they can keep.

Common questions

Should the freelancer or the client send the contract?

Either can. Freelancers often send their own, because it is their standard terms. If the client sends theirs, read it closely and ask for changes before anyone signs.

Can a client sign a freelance contract on their phone?

Yes. The signing page works in any phone browser. The client does not need an account or an app, and they never pay.

What if the client wants to change one clause?

Edit the PDF, void the old document if it was already sent, and send the new one. The old one stays on record as voided, so the history is honest.

Is a deposit clause enough to get paid up front?

The clause sets the expectation. It does not collect the money. docuinked does not take payments, so send your invoice from your usual tool once the contract is signed.

Try it in test mode

Free during the beta. Test keys send no email, so you can build the whole flow first.

Get an API key Read the quickstart