Flori / Templates

Freelance contract template (free, copyable)

By the Flori team · Published 2026-10-28 · Updated 2026-10-29

A freelance contract is a written agreement between you and a client that sets out the work, the price, the schedule, who owns the result and how either side can end the deal. Get one signed before you start any paid work, even for a short project or a friendly client.

This template is a starting point, not legal advice; have a lawyer review it for your country or state.

The template

Copy the numbered clauses into a doc. Replace the brackets. Plain language is fine; clarity matters more than formality.

1. Parties and date: This agreement is between [Your name or business] ("Freelancer") and [Client legal name] ("Client"), effective [Date].
2. Services: The Freelancer will provide [description of services] as detailed in [the attached statement of work or the list of deliverables].
3. Term and schedule: Work begins [Date] and is expected to finish by [Date]. Delivery dates depend on the Client providing materials and feedback within [number] business days.
4. Fees: The Client will pay [fixed fee, or rate per hour with an estimate]. Expenses over [amount] need written approval first.
5. Payment schedule: [Percent] deposit on signing; [percent] at [milestone]; the balance on delivery. Invoices are due within [number] days. Late balances accrue [rate] per month where the law allows.
6. Revisions: [Number] rounds of revisions per deliverable are included. Further revisions are billed at [rate].
7. Changes to scope: Work not listed in section 2 needs a written change request with price and date impact, approved before it starts.
8. Client responsibilities: The Client will provide [content, access, approvals], name one approver, and respond within the stated time.
9. Ownership of work: On full payment, the Freelancer assigns to the Client the rights in the final deliverables. Until then the Freelancer keeps all rights. The Freelancer may keep [pre-existing tools, templates and methods] and may show the work in a portfolio unless the Client objects in writing.
10. Confidentiality: Each side will keep the other's non-public information private and use it only for this project.
11. Independent contractor: The Freelancer is self-employed, chooses how to do the work, and is responsible for their own taxes, insurance and equipment.
12. Termination: Either side may end the agreement with [number] days' written notice. The Client pays for work done up to the end date, and the deposit is [refundable or non-refundable].
13. Liability: The Freelancer's total liability is limited to the fees paid under this agreement, to the extent the law allows.
14. Governing law and disputes: This agreement is governed by the laws of [state or country]. The parties will try to resolve disputes by talking first, then [mediation or courts].
15. Signatures: Name, title, date and signature for each party.

What does a completed freelance contract look like?

A completed freelance contract records the agreed services, fees, schedule, revisions, ownership and other terms for a client engagement.

A freelance developer, Sam Rivera, signs with a small agency. Names are invented.

• Parties: Sam Rivera ("Freelancer") and Fieldwork Studio LLC ("Client"), effective 3 November 2026.
• Services: Build and test a booking form integration, as listed in the attached statement of work.
• Term: 3 November to 15 December 2026, with feedback due within three business days.
• Fees and payment: Fixed fee of 5,000 USD: 30 percent on signing, 40 percent at staging delivery, 30 percent at launch. Net 14.
• Revisions: Two rounds per deliverable.
• Ownership: Rights pass to the Client on full payment; Sam keeps reusable code libraries.
• Termination: Seven days' written notice; payment for work completed.
• Governing law: State of Oregon.

How do I use a freelance contract template?

Use a freelance contract for the legal terms and attach a statement of work for each project's details.

1. Attach a statement of work. The contract holds the legal terms once; each project's details go in a statement of work.
2. Never start before the deposit and signature. Most payment problems start with "let's just get going".
3. Make ownership conditional on payment. It gives you real leverage.
4. Be specific about revisions and changes. This is where scope creep begins.
5. Check local rules. Contractor classification, late interest, tax and non-compete limits vary widely.
6. Common mistakes: copying a contract from a different country; leaving out a termination clause; no deposit; accepting the client's template without reading the liability and ownership clauses.

If the client sends their own contract, compare it to this one clause by clause and negotiate the differences. Freelancers who want a full-cycle workflow can start from the freelancers page.

How can I keep a freelance contract with the project in Flori?

In Flori, a signed freelance contract can live as a document linked to the project and client, with deadlines and deliverables turned into tasks.

Keep the signed contract in one place so you can find it when a dispute or renewal arrives. In Flori, the signed agreement can live as a doc linked to the project and the client, with its deadlines and deliverables turned into tasks. An assistant such as Claude or ChatGPT connected to your Flori workspace can draft the first version from your deal notes, and you can request submission of the draft for review.

Flori does not do e-signatures. Sign the final version with your usual signing tool and attach the signed copy to the client record. For what to do after signing, use the client onboarding template.

FAQ

What should a freelance contract include? Include the parties, services, schedule, fees and payment schedule, revision limit, change process, client responsibilities, ownership of the work, confidentiality, contractor status, termination, liability and governing law. Attach a statement of work with the project details so the contract can be reused.

Do freelancers really need a written contract? Yes. Verbal agreements are hard to prove and easy to remember differently. A written contract protects both sides by fixing scope, price and payment dates, and it gives you something to point to if the project changes or the client stops paying.

Who owns the work in a freelance contract? That depends on what you write. A common approach is that the freelancer owns everything until the client pays in full, then assigns rights in the final deliverables to the client. Laws differ by country, so ask a lawyer how ownership transfers where you work.

Should I take a deposit? Usually yes. A deposit of 30 to 50 percent on signing filters out clients who are not serious and covers you if the project stops. For longer projects, add milestone payments so you are never carrying much unpaid work.

Can I use this template for an independent contractor agreement? It covers the same ground: an independent relationship, payment, ownership, confidentiality and termination. Contractor classification rules differ by place, so a lawyer should confirm it fits your situation before you rely on it.

Does Flori handle contract signatures? No. Flori does not do e-signatures. Sign with your usual tool, then store the signed document in Flori as a doc linked to the project and client, and create tasks from its deliverables.