Why You Need a Contract (Even If You Trust Your Client)

So you're a freelancer or small studio - maybe you're a creative like us? 

Well whatever landed you here probably means you work with clients, so let's get into it. 

You might think contracts are for big agencies with in-house lawyers.

Well, they’re not.

They’re for anyone who’s ever been:

• Ghosted after delivering a project
• Asked to “just make a few more tweaks” for free
• Paid months later than promised

A contract isn’t about mistrust, it’s about clarity.

A contract or Client Agreement sets boundaries before you need to defend them.

It safeguards you from the bad clients in the world. 

And if something does go wrong, it gives you something solid to stand on.

So what should a Creative Contract Include?

A good freelance contract doesn’t need to sound like a courtroom transcript. It just needs to cover the basics:

• Revisions: How many rounds you’ll include before it becomes a “new project.”
• Copyright + Ownership: Who owns the work after payment is made.
• Termination: What happens if someone backs out halfway through.
• Payments + Scope: Which is already outlined in the Proposal. 

Plus a few more things like Conflicts of Interest and Confidentiality. 

It should always be accompanied with a Proposal which will outline:

• Scope of Work: What you’re doing, what you’re not, and when it’ll be done.
• Payment Terms: How much, when, and how (plus what happens if they’re late)

Always, always, always have both parties sign BOTH of these documents. 

Keep it short. Keep it clear. Keep it written down.

Common Freelance Contract Mistakes

Most freelancers slip up in one of three ways:

• They don't understand their clauses.
• They make clauses up that don't make sense. 
• They skip it entirely because “the client seems nice.”

That third one? Always the one that ends with an unpaid invoice.

Where to Find a Template That Actually Works

There are plenty of “free” business contract templates floating around the internet but most are outdated, overly legal, or don't align with the modern businesses and brands of today.

If you’re a freelancer or small studio, you need something built for how you work: straightforward, editable, and designed to cover the essentials without the fluff.

That’s why we made our own contract template.

They’re clean, readable, and ready to drop into your workflow.

👉 [See the Freelance Contract Template →]

The Bottom Line

You can’t stop every bad client.

But you can stop yourself from being unprotected.

A contract doesn’t make your business less cool, creative or casual -- it makes it sustainable.

Because the real freedom of freelancing comes from knowing you’re covered.