Never Work Without a Freelance Design Contract

Craft a Contract for Your Desktop Publishing Business

Every design project should start with a freelance design contract. Contracts are standard operating procedure for businesses. It doesn't matter whether your client is a family member, a longtime associate, or someone that you just know is trustworthy, if you work without a design contract you and your business run a huge risk of not being taken seriously and you risk losing money, losing clients, and even losing friends.

You can put together a freelance design contract on your own pulling elements from some of the freelance contract samples available online; however, you probably should have a lawyer look over any contract you plan to use. It is, after all, a legal document.

Explore the key components of a freelance design contract.

1. Freelance Contract Components: Project Details
2. Freelance Contract Components: Project Costs
3. Freelance Contract Components: Ownership and Copyright

See the sidebar for specific clauses and wording.

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