Every freelance job should start with a signed agreement — it sets the scope, protects your payment, and makes you look like the professional you are. This is a free, ready-to-use freelance service agreement you can copy, fill in, and send. Below the template you'll find a plain-English guide to each section, then the fastest way to actually get it signed.

This template is provided for general information and is not legal advice. Laws vary by state and situation. Have a qualified attorney review any contract before you rely on it, especially for high-value or specialized work.

The template

Copy everything in this section and replace the [bracketed] parts with your details.

FREELANCE SERVICE AGREEMENT

This Freelance Service Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of [Date] by and between [Freelancer Name / Business Name] ("Freelancer") and [Client Name / Company Name] ("Client"). Freelancer and Client may be referred to individually as a "Party" and together as the "Parties."

1. Services. Freelancer agrees to provide the following services (the "Services"): [describe the work — e.g., design of a 5-page marketing website, including homepage, about, services, blog, and contact pages].

2. Deliverables & Timeline. Freelancer will deliver: [list deliverables]. Estimated completion: [date or milestone schedule]. Timelines assume Client provides required materials and feedback on time; delays by Client extend deadlines accordingly.

3. Fees & Payment. Client agrees to pay Freelancer [$ amount] for the Services, structured as: [e.g., 50% deposit due before work begins, 50% due on completion]. Invoices are due within [e.g., 14] days. Late payments accrue interest of [e.g., 1.5%] per month or the maximum allowed by law.

4. Expenses. Client will reimburse pre-approved expenses (e.g., stock assets, third-party licenses) incurred by Freelancer in performing the Services.

5. Revisions. The fee includes [e.g., two] rounds of revisions per deliverable. Additional revisions or changes to the agreed scope are billed at [$ rate] per [hour / round].

6. Intellectual Property. Upon Freelancer's receipt of full payment, Freelancer assigns to Client all rights in the final deliverables, except for Freelancer's pre-existing materials and any third-party assets, which are licensed for use in the deliverables. Freelancer may display the work in a portfolio unless the Parties agree otherwise in writing.

7. Confidentiality. Each Party will keep the other's non-public information confidential and use it only to perform this Agreement.

8. Independent Contractor. Freelancer is an independent contractor, not an employee. Freelancer is responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and equipment, and controls how the Services are performed.

9. Termination. Either Party may terminate with [e.g., 7] days' written notice. On termination, Client pays for all work performed up to the termination date, and Freelancer delivers completed and in-progress work for that portion.

10. Limitation of Liability. Neither Party is liable to the other for indirect or consequential damages. Freelancer's total liability under this Agreement will not exceed the total fees paid by Client.

11. Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by the laws of [State], without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules.

12. Entire Agreement. This Agreement is the entire understanding between the Parties and supersedes any prior discussions. Changes must be in writing and signed by both Parties.

Signatures.

Freelancer: ______________________ Date: __________

[Freelancer Name]

Client: ______________________ Date: __________

[Client Name]

How to use each section

A quick guide so you can fill it in with confidence:

Services & Deliverables (1–2). Be specific. "Design a website" invites scope creep; "design a 5-page website with these pages" gives you a line to point to when a client asks for a sixth. The more concrete this is, the easier it is to get paid for extra work.

Fees & Payment (3). Always take a deposit — it filters out clients who won't pay and covers you if a project stalls. Set clear due dates and a late fee; you're a business, not a bank.

Revisions (5). Capping revisions is how you avoid the endless-tweaks trap. Two rounds included, more at your hourly rate, in writing.

Intellectual Property (6). The key phrase is "upon full payment." The client doesn't own the work until they've paid for it — this is your single biggest protection against non-payment on creative work.

Independent Contractor (8). This clause keeps the relationship clearly contractor-not-employee, which matters for taxes and liability on both sides.

Termination (9). A clean exit with a kill fee (payment for work done) means a canceled project doesn't leave you unpaid.

The fastest way to get it signed

Don't print, sign, scan, and email this around — that's slow and it makes you look small. Paste it into a document, drop in signature and date fields, and send your client a link they sign in the browser in under a minute. You both get a sealed, legally-binding copy with an audit trail. Here's how to send a document for signature, and the background on why electronic signatures are legally binding.

Save it as a reusable template and every future client is a two-minute send. For more on the right signing setup for a one-person business, see our e-signature guide for freelancers.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a freelance contract legally binding if it's signed electronically?

Yes. Under the U.S. ESIGN Act and UETA, an electronically signed contract carries the same legal weight as a handwritten one, provided it's signed with clear intent and backed by an audit trail. A sealed document with a certificate of completion is what makes it enforceable.

Do I really need a contract for small freelance jobs?

Yes — small jobs are where disputes over scope and payment are most common precisely because people skip the paperwork. A short, signed agreement takes minutes and gives you leverage if a client disputes the work or the invoice.

What's the most important clause for getting paid?

The intellectual-property clause that assigns rights "upon full payment," combined with a deposit and clear payment terms. Together they mean the client doesn't own the finished work until they've paid for it.

Can I reuse this template for every client?

Yes. Fill in your standard terms once, save it as a reusable template, and send it to each new client in a couple of minutes by updating the client details and scope.