Get your freelance contract in order before you start working
A solid freelance contract is the cornerstone of any good collaboration, but is all too often overlooked because "you have things on email".
The truth is, however, it's often information that is scattered across many email threads and if things don't go according to plan, both parties lack a common document that can be revisited.
You can find the link to download our freelance contract template below.
Free freelance contract template
If you need to manage the formalities between you and your customer, you can download our free contract template right here.
When you start a new collaboration, it's therefore essential that you know what needs to be delivered, when it needs to be delivered, what is included and what it costs.
Our users have sent invoices to thousands of Danish and foreign companies. We have gathered all the experiences we and our freelancers have made, and present your cheat sheet for what to consider when you have landed the client and need to draw up your freelance contract.
Ongoing and one-off agreements
Collaboration agreements can usually be divided into two main groups: ongoing collaboration agreements and those where a specific task has been agreed to be delivered.
Depending on the type of work you're about to do, it's something you'll be able to use in your next freelance contract.
But is it even necessary to draw up a contract, as you've already agreed the most important things via email and phone, and you may already have your standard terms and conditions that you refer to?
Unfortunately, many times we have seen the freelancer and the client with quite different perceptions of what was agreed - even if there were several emails back and forth.
So take the extra time to get it all in writing. You'll appear much more professional, resulting in more successful projects and ultimately happy customers.
And when you're clear about what's included and what's extra from the start, it's also a great opportunity to increase your revenue per customer.
💡 Remember that as a Factofly user, you have access to a number of standard contracts that you can use as a starting point, and our lawyer will also be happy to read through everything and give you feedback.
1. What needs to be delivered
As a starting point, you should be able to check these items:
- Precise description of what is to be delivered. When you're writing the description, write it so that someone who walks in off the street and doesn't know you or your customer knows exactly what has been agreed and will be delivered.
- Correction times and when they are placed. Include a fixed number and a price if the customer wants more.
- Get a fixed agreement on what happens if you need to do work beyond the project. Is it at a fixed price or do you need to provide quotes, hourly rates, etc.
- Get a clear agreement on whether extra work needs to be approved first or if you can just start.
- What happens if you are delayed.
- How and in what format to deliver.
- Are transportation costs and time spent on transportation part of the agreement or should it be paid separately.
Freelance with Factofly
Use Factofly to invoice and get paid without having your own VAT number or registered company. We take care of all the boring stuff so you can spend your time where it's most fun.
2. Duration for ongoing agreements
If you have an ongoing agreement with your customer, there are several things you need to be aware of:
- How long does the contract run for. Fixed end date or ongoing until terminated by either you or your customer.
- What is the notice period both if it is an ongoing agreement or if there is a fixed end date? Should it be possible to terminate it before that date?
- A normal notice period is 30 days to the first of a month.
- As a freelancer, are you guaranteed a certain number of hours during the contract? In other words, your client can't stop providing you with work overnight, even though there might be a one-month notice period.
3. Rights over what you produce
- Who has the rights to what you make? If it's your customer, when do the rights pass, on delivery, on payment, etc.
- Can what you create be used everywhere or do you have to pay extra if your customer wants to use it both on their own website and in an advertisement, for example?
4. Liability & Compensation
- Remember to consider compensation. Fortunately, this happens very rarely, but you can risk being presented with quite hefty compensation claims. Remember to address this in the contract. A good rule of thumb is to limit the compensation to the payment you receive for the work so that the compensation cannot be higher than that. If you don't remember to limit the compensation, there is, in principle, no upper limit to how large it can be.
- Remember that your own personal insurance usually doesn't cover you when you do freelance work, so check if your insurance covers or take out professional liability/occupational injury insurance before you start working.
5 References
- Customers bring customers. Being able to see what work you've done before is crucial for your future customers. It gives them both reassurance that others have worked successfully with you, an opportunity to see what type of work you've done before and whether it's the style they're looking for.
- So remember to write into the agreement that you can use them as a reference, show examples of the work you've done, and use their company name and logo for a testimonial.
Items 1 to 4 are a need to have, item 5 is a nice to have.
You'll be in an incredibly strong position and have your back covered by having the above points covered in your freelance contract.
Prepare for divorce before you get married with an agreement that both parties are happy with. If the project goes off track, the freelance contract is your most important document to be able to go back and see what agreement you made in the first place.
Get started by downloading our freelance contract template. And if you're a Factofly user, you can talk to us before you sign a contract with a customer.
Freelance with Factofly
Use Factofly to invoice and get paid without having your own VAT number or registered company. We take care of all the boring stuff so you can spend your time where it's most fun.
Frequently asked questions about freelance contracts
What is a freelance contract?
A freelance contract is a legal agreement between your client and you as a freelancer. This type of contract defines the terms of the project, including payment schedule, work expectations, duration of the agreement and rights. A good freelance contract outlines all the rights and responsibilities of each party and it's important to have one in place before you start your project.
At Factofly, we also have a lawyer who can help you review your freelance contract and give you feedback.
What should a contract look like?
In short, make sure you have the following in place in your freelance contract:
- What work you as a freelancer need to deliver to your client
- Contract duration - is there a fixed end date or is it ongoing work. And what is the notice period?
- Rights over the work - does the customer have the rights over the product you produce and if so, when do the rights pass to the customer?
- Liability and compensation so you don't risk facing an unmanageable claim in the event of an accident
- References - Can you use the client as a reference? This point is nice to have but nevertheless quite valuable for your freelance business.
Get your freelance contract in order before you start working
A solid freelance contract is the cornerstone of any good collaboration, but is all too often overlooked because "you have things on email".
The truth is, however, it's often information that is scattered across many email threads and if things don't go according to plan, both parties lack a common document that can be revisited.
You can find the link to download our freelance contract template below.
Free freelance contract template
If you need to manage the formalities between you and your customer, you can download our free contract template right here.
When you start a new collaboration, it's therefore essential that you know what needs to be delivered, when it needs to be delivered, what is included and what it costs.
Our users have sent invoices to thousands of Danish and foreign companies. We have gathered all the experiences we and our freelancers have made, and present your cheat sheet for what to consider when you have landed the client and need to draw up your freelance contract.
Ongoing and one-off agreements
Collaboration agreements can usually be divided into two main groups: ongoing collaboration agreements and those where a specific task has been agreed to be delivered.
Depending on the type of work you're about to do, it's something you'll be able to use in your next freelance contract.
But is it even necessary to draw up a contract, as you've already agreed the most important things via email and phone, and you may already have your standard terms and conditions that you refer to?
Unfortunately, many times we have seen the freelancer and the client with quite different perceptions of what was agreed - even if there were several emails back and forth.
So take the extra time to get it all in writing. You'll appear much more professional, resulting in more successful projects and ultimately happy customers.
And when you're clear about what's included and what's extra from the start, it's also a great opportunity to increase your revenue per customer.
💡 Remember that as a Factofly user, you have access to a number of standard contracts that you can use as a starting point, and our lawyer will also be happy to read through everything and give you feedback.
1. What needs to be delivered
As a starting point, you should be able to check these items:
- Precise description of what is to be delivered. When you're writing the description, write it so that someone who walks in off the street and doesn't know you or your customer knows exactly what has been agreed and will be delivered.
- Correction times and when they are placed. Include a fixed number and a price if the customer wants more.
- Get a fixed agreement on what happens if you need to do work beyond the project. Is it at a fixed price or do you need to provide quotes, hourly rates, etc.
- Get a clear agreement on whether extra work needs to be approved first or if you can just start.
- What happens if you are delayed.
- How and in what format to deliver.
- Are transportation costs and time spent on transportation part of the agreement or should it be paid separately.
Freelance with Factofly
Use Factofly to invoice and get paid without having your own VAT number or registered company. We take care of all the boring stuff so you can spend your time where it's most fun.
2. Duration for ongoing agreements
If you have an ongoing agreement with your customer, there are several things you need to be aware of:
- How long does the contract run for. Fixed end date or ongoing until terminated by either you or your customer.
- What is the notice period both if it is an ongoing agreement or if there is a fixed end date? Should it be possible to terminate it before that date?
- A normal notice period is 30 days to the first of a month.
- As a freelancer, are you guaranteed a certain number of hours during the contract? In other words, your client can't stop providing you with work overnight, even though there might be a one-month notice period.
3. Rights over what you produce
- Who has the rights to what you make? If it's your customer, when do the rights pass, on delivery, on payment, etc.
- Can what you create be used everywhere or do you have to pay extra if your customer wants to use it both on their own website and in an advertisement, for example?
4. Liability & Compensation
- Remember to consider compensation. Fortunately, this happens very rarely, but you can risk being presented with quite hefty compensation claims. Remember to address this in the contract. A good rule of thumb is to limit the compensation to the payment you receive for the work so that the compensation cannot be higher than that. If you don't remember to limit the compensation, there is, in principle, no upper limit to how large it can be.
- Remember that your own personal insurance usually doesn't cover you when you do freelance work, so check if your insurance covers or take out professional liability/occupational injury insurance before you start working.
5 References
- Customers bring customers. Being able to see what work you've done before is crucial for your future customers. It gives them both reassurance that others have worked successfully with you, an opportunity to see what type of work you've done before and whether it's the style they're looking for.
- So remember to write into the agreement that you can use them as a reference, show examples of the work you've done, and use their company name and logo for a testimonial.
Items 1 to 4 are a need to have, item 5 is a nice to have.
You'll be in an incredibly strong position and have your back covered by having the above points covered in your freelance contract.
Prepare for divorce before you get married with an agreement that both parties are happy with. If the project goes off track, the freelance contract is your most important document to be able to go back and see what agreement you made in the first place.
Get started by downloading our freelance contract template. And if you're a Factofly user, you can talk to us before you sign a contract with a customer.
Freelance with Factofly
Use Factofly to invoice and get paid without having your own VAT number or registered company. We take care of all the boring stuff so you can spend your time where it's most fun.
Frequently asked questions about freelance contracts
What is a freelance contract?
A freelance contract is a legal agreement between your client and you as a freelancer. This type of contract defines the terms of the project, including payment schedule, work expectations, duration of the agreement and rights. A good freelance contract outlines all the rights and responsibilities of each party and it's important to have one in place before you start your project.
At Factofly, we also have a lawyer who can help you review your freelance contract and give you feedback.
What should a contract look like?
In short, make sure you have the following in place in your freelance contract:
- What work you as a freelancer need to deliver to your client
- Contract duration - is there a fixed end date or is it ongoing work. And what is the notice period?
- Rights over the work - does the customer have the rights over the product you produce and if so, when do the rights pass to the customer?
- Liability and compensation so you don't risk facing an unmanageable claim in the event of an accident
- References - Can you use the client as a reference? This point is nice to have but nevertheless quite valuable for your freelance business.
