Protecting yourself as a remote worker requires certain steps and things every freelancer must always keep in mind. Countless freelancers all around the globe have already experienced late payments, disappearing invoices and fraud. If you don’t want to be one of them, continue reading this article because we will discuss the topic related to freelancers, employers, clients and written contracts, as well as take a look at the safety of verbal between the two sides in the freelance business.
Why freelancers need a written contract with a client
Although creating a written contract still sounds too complicated to many freelancers, and especially those who are new in the remote business, you must know one thing – creating a written contract is actually very simple, and we will prove that in this article. First of all, let’s take a look what is a written freelance contract. A written contract related to remote work, especially freelance online business, is a document that represents the services you provide to a certain client.
Besides that, such a document also contains the information related to compensation you’ll receive from that client. It’s important that a written contract between the freelancer and the client contains information related to the rights of work. Who owns the rights, can you use your work in the portfolio, etc.?
Experienced freelancers who have higher salaries and financial stability very often hire a professional for these services. If you’re open for that, the best would be to include a lawyer in the entire process. Don’t have the resources and want to do it on your own? Don’t worry, we will help you to learn everything you need and achieve that through this article.
Freelancers who want to create their own contract for online business should follow this advice
We’ve promised you to help you with creating a written contract, so it’s time to start working on it together. As mentioned, hiring a lawyer for this purpose is a great idea, but if you don’t want that, at least think about providing your written freelance contract to a lawyer after you finish creating in on your own.
Every contract between the freelancer and a client should, or better said must, include these things:
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–Freelancers must start with identifying the contract. Contract header and introduction is always very welcomed, and the best would be to start your online business contract with words – contract agreement. You can also use caps lock for this purpose, or at least make that title larger or bold, compared to other font size in the document. Write your business name on the left size of the paper (if you have a business name – if not, it’s not a must). It’s important to write your own name as well, together with the title and your own contact details. After you’ve finished with your own information, add your client’s information and the date when you are making the contract.
-Continue with describing the work you’re providing to the client and add the date when it starts. It’s good to make a summary of the services you’ll offer.
-Think about all those details related to the project that may be important both for you and the client. It’s important to specify everything that you will do for that client, but also everything you won’t do. In that case, you won’t end up with numerous obligations that are not under your concern. If the client needs other services that are not in the contract, and a freelancer is willing to do them, it can always be done for extra fee or a bonus.
-Now we talk about invoices. How much will you get paid for your services, when, and how often. It’s important to write down the way of payment as well. What happens when the client doesn’t pay on time? Specify that information as well.
-All new freelancers think about building their portfolio, but before you upload the work you’ve done for a certain client on your own profile, you must know information related to copyright. Therefore, your written contract for online business must include information related to copyright. Confidentiality is also important, so be sure that it’s clear whether you can talk about your client’s business with someone else.
–Cancelling the contract. What happens if you or your client cancel the contract before it’s ended? Be sure to explain in details how would you handle such a situation.
-Client wants your contract to go in the different direction. This may happen as well, and it’s connected to the previous fact we’ve mentioned. If a client decides that they want a contract to start going in the different direction at some moment, how will you to solve that situation? Will the payment change? Think about it and write it down.
–Signing a contract. The last thing a written contract between a freelancer and the client must include would be signatures. “I accept the terms of work” is also a must.
*When you are sending a contract to your client, be sure to save it in PDF file. Client can sign contract digitally – there’s nothing wrong with that.
Benefits freelancers and remote workers get from creating a written contract with a client
Okay, now when we have learned together how to create a written contract between the freelancer and the client, let’s remind ourselves about all those benefits freelancer and remote workers get from creating it.
This is why a written contract is important both for freelancers and clients:
–Helps you get paid. Experienced freelancers claim that a written contract with the client has helped them get paid. Clients who sign a contract are more likely to pay the milestones and invoices on time as well.
–Freelancers who write a written contract are fairly compensated. The second benefit a written contract brings for the freelancer is doing only the tasks they have agreed on with the client. Numerous freelancers all around the globe are struggling with that “scope creep”. Scope creep means that you are doing services you haven’t agreed on. With a written contract between a freelancer and the client, this becomes the past.
–Your clients are protected as well. Written contracts are not only great for the freelancers, but they also protect the clients. They can be completely sure that you won’t just disappear and that you will complete the project they want and need.
–Written contracts make you look and work in a professional manner. Everyone who is serious about freelancing and remote work takes doesn’t take their job and services for granted. Clients like freelancers who look and are professional. Written contracts help you achieve that.
-The last great benefit coming from written contracts in the freelance business is that you won’t spend time on shady clients anymore. Everyone who is serious about doing business online would be willing to create a contract. If they don’t want to sign it, you probably haven’t lost a trustworthy client.
It’s good to keep in mind a few more things. For example, in some states if the SMS message or e-mail contains all the elements of the contract, it can be considered a valid written contract between a freelancer and the client. That’s why freelancers have to be very careful what they agree with and what they accept, even in e-mails or text messages. Be sure to learn more about laws related to different states and countries.
Besides that, if the freelancer works through a freelancing platform, like UpWork, Fiverr, TopTal, or some other, he does not need a written contract in a form we’ve talked about here. Accepting a job on these platforms goes in the same category as a legally valid contract – it is clearly written in terms and conditions.
In this article, we have learned what is a written contract between a freelancer and the client, how to create one step-by-step, and what are the benefits a written contract can bring both to freelancers and clients.
If you would like to see a sample of the written contract between a freelancer and the client, simply visit this link.
