5 Basic Contract Templates for Freelancers
One of the best ways to protect yourself, your business, and your time is to have a contract in place before projects or retainer work begins. While hiring a lawyer to hammer out a reusable contract template is always a smart investment there are alternatives. You might be able to get help from your professional union (such as the National Writers Union which has a contract template for their members). However, if neither of those options is appropriate or available, it's still advisable to have a contract because when it comes to money, things can get sticky.
Keep in mind writers aren't lawyers and the following contract templates are simply a summary of the basic contracts, along with advice from professional legal counsel. They are meant to give insight into the contract language before you are confronted with having to sign a document you know nothing about. Understanding the language of these contracts will not only protect you, you'll look more professional in the process.
After you've become familiar with the templates below, don't forget to check out the step-by-step guide on writing a contract.
Informal Contract: The Letter of Agreement (LOA)
The Letter of Agreement is an informal variation of a contract. It is best used with clients such as individual authors, small companies, and websites. It's also useful when contracting for services with friends, co-workers, or someone that you know and trust. As you can tell from its name, the LOA comes in the form of a simple letter. Its strength lies in the easy to understand language and the specific listing of details. However, the downside is that it's likely the least airtight (i.e., legally binding) contractual document you'll come across.
The Letter of Agreement is an informal variation of a contract. It is best used with clients such as individual authors, small companies, and websites. It's also useful when contracting for services with friends, co-workers, or someone that you know and trust. As you can tell from its name, the LOA comes in the form of a simple letter. Its strength lies in the easy to understand language and the specific listing of details. However, the downside is that it's likely the least airtight (i.e., legally binding) contractual document you'll come across.
Formal Contract
A formal contract is often provided to the freelance writer by the client, especially in the case of a larger client such as a major magazine or publisher. A formal contract is generally the most legally airtight and is often a common template used by the client for all freelance agreements. For this reason, freelancers should be careful to vet such documents with a professional attorney if the language isn't plain enough.
Keep in mind writers aren't lawyers and the following contract templates are simply a summary of the basic contracts, along with advice from professional legal counsel. They are meant to give insight into the contract language before you are confronted with having to sign a document you know nothing about. Understanding the language of these contracts will not only protect you, you'll look more professional in the process.
After you've become familiar with the templates below, don't forget to check out the step-by-step guide on writing a contract.
Informal Contract: The Letter of Agreement (LOA)
The Letter of Agreement is an informal variation of a contract. It is best used with clients such as individual authors, small companies, and websites. It's also useful when contracting for services with friends, co-workers, or someone that you know and trust. As you can tell from its name, the LOA comes in the form of a simple letter. Its strength lies in the easy to understand language and the specific listing of details. However, the downside is that it's likely the least airtight (i.e., legally binding) contractual document you'll come across.
The Letter of Agreement is an informal variation of a contract. It is best used with clients such as individual authors, small companies, and websites. It's also useful when contracting for services with friends, co-workers, or someone that you know and trust. As you can tell from its name, the LOA comes in the form of a simple letter. Its strength lies in the easy to understand language and the specific listing of details. However, the downside is that it's likely the least airtight (i.e., legally binding) contractual document you'll come across.
Formal Contract
A formal contract is often provided to the freelance writer by the client, especially in the case of a larger client such as a major magazine or publisher. A formal contract is generally the most legally airtight and is often a common template used by the client for all freelance agreements. For this reason, freelancers should be careful to vet such documents with a professional attorney if the language isn't plain enough.
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