Freelance Contract Clause Library (Copy & Paste)

Copy-and-paste contract clauses in plain English, grouped by what they do. Each one is a starting point you adapt: swap the bracketed placeholders for your project, delete what you don't need, and drop the rest into your agreement. Pair them with the invoice generator and the late-payment calculator once the work is underway.

How to use this page. Read the short note above each clause to check it fits your situation, then click Copy clause and paste it into your document. Anything in square brackets is meant to be replaced with your own details: amounts, dates, party names, and percentages. A useful freelance agreement usually pulls one clause from most of the categories below, plus the basics that tie them together: both parties' names and addresses, the date, the total fee, and a signature line for each side.

Payment terms

These clauses set out how much you are paid, when, and what happens if payment is late. They are the ones that most directly decide whether you get paid on time.

Due date & Net terms

Use when you want a concrete, chase-able deadline instead of the vague "due on receipt."

Payment is due within [14] days of the invoice date (Net 14). Invoices are payable in [USD] by [bank transfer / the payment link shown on the invoice]. If an invoice does not state a due date, payment is due within [14] days of the date it was issued.

Deposit / upfront payment

Use for new clients or larger projects, so you are not funding the work out of your own pocket.

A non-refundable deposit of [50]% of the total project fee is due before work begins. Work is scheduled only once the deposit has cleared. The deposit is credited against the final invoice, and the remaining balance is due [on delivery / according to the payment schedule set out in this agreement].

Late-payment interest

This adds a real cost to paying late, so the due date is harder to ignore. Rates and caps are set by local law, so check what your jurisdiction allows, and use the late-payment calculator to work out what an overdue invoice is owed.

Invoices not paid by their due date accrue interest at [1.5]% per month on the outstanding balance (or the maximum rate allowed by law, whichever is lower), charged from the day after the due date until the invoice is paid in full. The Client also agrees to reimburse reasonable costs of collection. The Freelancer may pause work on any current project while an invoice is overdue.

Expenses

Use when a project may need paid assets, software, hosting, or travel that you don't want to absorb.

Pre-approved out-of-pocket expenses (for example stock assets, fonts, third-party software, hosting, or travel purchased on the Client's behalf) are billed at cost and added to the next invoice. The Freelancer will obtain the Client's written approval before incurring any single expense over [$100]. Receipts are provided on request.

Scope

Scope clauses define what you agreed to do, and also what you did not agree to. They are your defence against a project that grows to twice the size for the same fee.

Scope of work

Every other clause depends on this one. Be specific: list deliverables, formats, and what is explicitly excluded.

The Freelancer will provide the following services: [describe the deliverables, e.g. "design of a five-page marketing website, delivered as a Figma file plus exported image assets"]. Deliverables, file formats, and milestones are as set out in [the proposal dated ____ / Exhibit A], which forms part of this agreement. Any work not expressly listed here is outside the scope of this agreement.

Scope creep / change requests

Use so extra requests become a priced, approved change instead of unpaid work you feel obliged to do.

Any request for work beyond the agreed scope will be handled as a change request. The Freelancer will provide a written estimate of the additional time and cost, and will begin the extra work only after the Client approves that estimate in writing. Approved changes may affect the project timeline and are billed at [$__ per hour / a separately quoted fixed fee].

Revisions limit

Use to prevent an endless "just one more tweak" loop while still giving the client fair revisions.

The fee includes up to [two] rounds of revisions on each deliverable. A "round" is a single, consolidated set of feedback from the Client. Further rounds, or changes to work the Client has already approved, are billed at [$__ per hour]. Revision requests should be sent within [10] days of delivery, after which the deliverable is treated as accepted.

Kill fee & cancellation

These clauses cover what happens if the project stops early through no fault of yours. A kill fee compensates you for the time you set aside and the work you could have booked instead.

Kill fee / cancellation

Use on fixed-fee projects and retainers so a cancelled or stalled job still pays for work done plus a share of the rest.

Either party may end this agreement by giving [14] days' written notice. If the Client cancels, or the project is paused for more than [30] days, the Client will pay for all work completed up to that date plus a kill fee of [25]% of the remaining unbilled project fee. Any deposit already paid is non-refundable and is credited against these amounts. On cancellation, the Freelancer will hand over all work that has been completed and paid for.

Intellectual property

These clauses settle who owns the finished work and when ownership passes. Tying the transfer to full payment keeps your work as leverage until the invoice is settled.

IP transfer on final payment

Use so the client gets full rights only once they have paid in full.

Upon receipt of payment in full, the Freelancer assigns to the Client all intellectual property rights in the final deliverables created specifically for this project. Until full payment is received, the Freelancer retains all rights in the work and the Client has no licence to use it. This assignment does not cover the Freelancer's pre-existing materials, tools, or third-party assets (for example fonts, plugins, or stock images), which remain the property of their respective owners and are provided under their own licences.

Portfolio rights

Use to keep the right to show the work you made, while still respecting anything the client marks confidential.

The Freelancer may display the completed work, and describe their role in it, in their portfolio, on their website, and in marketing materials, and may state that they worked with the Client. The Freelancer will not disclose anything the Client has marked as confidential. The Client may ask in writing that specific sensitive work be excluded from public display.

Confidentiality

A short, mutual confidentiality clause covers most freelance work without the weight of a separate NDA. It protects both sides' private information.

Mutual NDA (short form)

Use when you and the client will exchange sensitive information and neither wants a long standalone NDA.

Each party may receive confidential information from the other, including business plans, client lists, pricing, and unreleased work. Each party agrees to keep the other's confidential information private, to use it only to carry out this agreement, and not to share it with anyone else without written permission. This does not apply to information that is already public, that the receiving party already knew, or that must be disclosed by law. These obligations continue for [two] years after the project ends.

Liability

A cap on liability limits your worst-case exposure if something goes wrong. It is one of the most valuable clauses in any services contract.

Limitation of liability (cap)

Use to cap your total exposure to what the client actually paid you. Some liability cannot be limited by law, so keep the final sentence.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither party is liable to the other for indirect or consequential losses, including lost profits, lost revenue, or lost data. The Freelancer's total liability under this agreement, for any and all claims taken together, is limited to the total fees the Client has paid for the work giving rise to the claim. Nothing in this clause limits any liability that cannot be limited or excluded by law.

Independent contractor status

This clause states plainly that you are running your own business rather than working as an employee. It matters for taxes and for how the relationship is classified. The wording alone does not settle the question, because classification depends on how you actually work.

Independent contractor status

Use in most freelance agreements. Classification is judged on the real working relationship, so check your local rules and read the freelancer tax basics guide.

The Freelancer is an independent contractor, not an employee, partner, or agent of the Client. The Freelancer controls how and when the work is carried out, provides their own equipment, and is free to work for other clients. The Freelancer is responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and benefits, and is not entitled to any employee benefits from the Client. Nothing in this agreement creates an employment or partnership relationship between the parties.

Recommended

For complex or high-value work, a lawyer-drafted contract template or a quick review is worth the cost. See our recommended contract templates & review services →

Frequently asked questions

Can I really use these clauses for free?

Yes. Copy, paste, and adapt any clause to your own project at no cost. They are plain-language starting points, not a finished contract and not legal advice, so change the bracketed placeholders and check anything important before you rely on it.

Do these clauses work in my country?

They are written in general plain English, but contract, tax, and employment law vary by country and by state or province. Some terms, such as late-payment interest rates or how independent-contractor status is judged, are governed by local rules. Have a qualified lawyer in your jurisdiction review any high-value or important contract.

How do I turn these clauses into a full contract?

Pick the clauses you need, then add the basics that hold them together: the names and addresses of both parties, the project or agreement date, the total fee, and a signature line for each side. Keep the whole thing in writing and make sure both parties sign before work starts.