4 Things To Include In The Freelance Contract To Protect Your Business

People love to say that freelancing is all about freedom — calling the shots, working on your terms, all the while making money. What’s not to love? But here’s the twist: that freedom only feels good if you've got a solid contract backing you up. Nothing cuts into “freedom” faster than being constantly asked for “just one more little thing” or hit with sneaky requests for free labor.

Before taking on any gig, make sure you’ve got a signed contract backing you up. Think of it as your shield, safeguarding your time and your money (plus your sanity, too). With the right terms and conditions, you can walk into every gig confident your business is protected. Here are four must-have clauses to keep you covered on every job.

When a client wants to add more to the project, but you’re working on a flat fee rate, it’s a classic case of scope creep. The gig grows beyond the original plan, meaning more work without more pay. Freelancers aren’t the only ones who face this; a 2021 report by the Project Management Insititute shows that 34% of project leaders reported experiencing scope creep. Imagine if that were the case for you. It could mean a lot of unpaid work.

So, how can you prevent this? A solid scope change clause to protect your time and effort. Start with a clear agreement about what you’re delivering. This way, if the client starts adding requests, you’ve got a baseline to refer........

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