Sample freelance design agreement
Example findings on a made-up agreement. Your report is written from your own document.
A fixed-scope agreement for a freelance designer to deliver a brand identity package for a small business. It sets the deliverables and a total fee, but payment timing is vague, the client takes broad rights to all work, and there is no protection if the project is cancelled. The governing jurisdiction is not stated.
In plain English
You do the design work and get paid a set fee. As written, the client can pay you whenever they decide is reasonable, owns every draft you make even if they never pay for it, and can cancel at any point without paying for work already done. Fix the payment and cancellation terms before you sign.
Parties
Key dates
Highest first. Quotes are from the sample agreement.
“3.2 Client shall pay Designer within a reasonable time after delivery of the final files.”
Why it matters
"Reasonable time" is not defined, so there is no clear due date to enforce or to charge late fees against. Ask for a fixed term such as 15 or 30 days from invoice.
“9.1 Client may terminate this Agreement at any time upon written notice to Designer.”
Why it matters
There is no payment owed on cancellation, so you could finish most of the project and receive nothing. Ask for payment for work completed plus a kill fee.
“7.1 All work product, including concepts, sketches and drafts, shall be the sole property of Client upon creation.”
Why it matters
Rights pass on creation, not on payment, and cover rejected concepts too. Limit the transfer to final deliverables, effective once you are paid in full.
“4.3 Designer shall make such revisions as Client reasonably requests until Client is satisfied.”
Why it matters
With no cap, the project can grow without extra pay. Set a number of revision rounds and an hourly rate for more.
“8.2 Designer shall keep all project materials confidential.”
Why it matters
Read strictly, this could stop you showing the work in your portfolio. Ask for a line allowing portfolio use after launch.
Clauses a contract like this often has, that this one does not.
Why you might want it
Pays you for work done and a share of the remaining fee if the client cancels mid-project, for example 50% after the concept stage.
Why you might want it
A stated late fee or interest rate gives the client a reason to pay on time and you a remedy if they do not.
Why you might want it
Says which place’s laws apply and where a dispute would be heard. Without it, enforcing the contract can be slower and costlier.
Clear deliverables
Schedule A lists each file and format, so it is easy to show when the work is complete.
Fixed total fee
The total fee is stated up front, so the price cannot be argued down after delivery.
Independent contractor status
Clause 2 confirms you are not an employee, so you keep control of how and when you work.
No deposit
All payment comes after delivery, so you carry the full risk until the end.
One-sided termination
Only the client can end the agreement early.
Client owns rejected work
Concepts the client turns down still become theirs.
Replace "reasonable time" in 3.2 with "within 15 days of invoice" and add a late fee.
Add a cancellation clause: payment for work done plus a 50% kill fee after concept approval.
Limit 7.1 to final deliverables, with rights passing only after full payment.
Cap revisions at two rounds, then bill extra rounds at your hourly rate.
Add a line allowing you to show the finished work in your portfolio.
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