While paperwork is definitely not what you signed up for when you became a freelance, a tailored contract for each client is a necessity. Indeed this approach is often seen as a minimum and a contract should be drafted for each project, as it can help ensure that both parties are happy with the work. If you’re still not convinced that it’s worth the time, read on for some reasons why contracts are so important for freelancers today.
Contracts protect you as a freelancer
Some freelancers have a hard time with their clients, and this is a common trait among many freelancers. You’ve built a nice set of regulars that you’re on the same page as, and you feel you understand each other.
However, many freelancers, sooner or later, fall into a misunderstanding with their clients. It could be that you weren’t aligned when you scoped out that latest project together. They ask you to redo the work for free or change the scope of it in the middle of execution. Your payment may be 20 days late, and you can’t feasibly ignore your bills anymore.
Working for yourself can put you in a vulnerable position, both financially and emotionally. Having a contract in place can help protect you from situations like late payments, being paid less than what was agreed, or being expected to make extensive amends without charging for the time.
If the client has agreed on only two rounds of adjustments without further cost or to pay you within 30 days of receiving an invoice, then that has to be honored by law. Knowing they’ve signed against it enables you to speak up.
Contracts protect your clients
Having clauses in your contract that protect the client reflects that you’re credible and trustworthy. It could also make them more willing to sign the rest of your specifications with little negotiation.
Stories of clients having hired a freelancer but not receiving a completed product or service are sadly common. Not only can this result in the client losing money, but it could also mean that they have difficulty hiring someone to finish a bad job.
Including a client protection clause may be the deciding factor that lands you on the project, especially when it comes to a client who has had a bad experience with a previous freelancer. It also helps to convey the sense of professionalism that you bring to the table and reassures your client that you take their work seriously. It also goes a long way to counteracting any bad taste left in a let-down client’s mouth about freelancers, which is good for everyone’s business.
Contracts boost your accountability
A contract is a vital part of any project, and it can help set expectations and provide assurance that both parties are on board. It reinforces accountability on a project, to both the client and yourself. At some point in your life, you’ll have to sign a contract or a legal document. Doing so will have implications for both you and the people around you: do what you’ve agreed to do or there’ll be trouble.
This type of motivation can help you meet a deadline, produce an award-winning product, or get excited about a new idea. It can also stimulate your creativity and improve your overall performance. If you know that you’ve signed up to a set of expectations, it can have a spurring effect on your approach to the project.
This works the same way for your clients. If they know that they’ve signed an agreement to pay you within a specific time, they’re more likely to do it. If you’ve identified that you can’t start work without access to a website backend or any access or tool you need, they’re forced to deliver those things first.
However, it’s important to make sure that your contract is clear. Make sure the contract includes as much plain old English as it possibly can. It’ll help both your client and you understand what you’re agreeing to and start to foster that trust that’s so crucial to new client-freelancer relationships. It’ll also make it clear that you have nothing to hide.
Final freelancer contract advice
It’s always best to get any contract that you’re considering to be done by a legal professional, and not rely on random templates you find on websites.
It’s also very important to note that if a client gets edgy about signing a contract, they’re not worth working with. That ‘no’ makes room for a better ‘yes’; don’t make exceptions, no matter how great their industry connections are or how much you want the project. It’s mostly a sign of deeper problems to come.
Finally, saying no to a client is never easy, but you can use a good contract as a point of reference. If they haven’t paid you in a certain amount of time, refer them back to your contract. If they’re asking for more work than you agreed to for the price, refer them back to your contract. Use it as a tool to help you get the very best out of your time as a freelancer.
Don’t wait until a breach occurs to fall back on your ‘Freelancer Agreement‘. Start proactively preparing and enforcing one today!
Lexyom’s Freelancer Agreement service saves you time and effort so you can know your rights as a freelancer. Log on to your Dashboard, create your account with Lexyom, and get your Freelancer Agreement ready in just a few minutes.
Legally Yours.
