Question: Can I Skip Using a Freelance Design Contract With Friends or Family?
I was going to do business cards for my uncle and he was insulted when I asked him to sign a contract. My mom agreed with him. Should I just skip using a contract for friends and relatives?
Answer: How insulted would you be if you did work for a relative tnen discovered after the work was done that they expected to receive the family discount (i.e. free)? Same rules apply to friends and family as to any other potential client. Even if you were offering a discounted rate to a friend or family member, you should still spell out the terms of the arrangement in a contract.
If friends or family members don't take your business serious enough to sign a contract, there's a good chance they won't take it serious enough to pay the bill on-time or in full. Or, they may inundate you with additional requests, edits, or changes that go beyond the scope of what you originally discussed. Without a contract to back you up, you may be stuck with hours of uncompensated work that leads to resentment every time you see that family member.
A contract is not only for your own protection. It protects the client as well. Emphasizing that aspect of the contract may help make it less intimidating to some potential clients, even family. Explain how the contract spells out exactly what the client will get and how much they will be paying so that there are no surprises along the way. Family reunions and backyard barbecues will be filled with less tension if you don't have a job dispute with Uncle Bob or Cousin Lucy putting a damper on the festivities.
As a peace-keeping measure, you could craft a special friends and family contract that clearly spells out any special considerations -- discounts, alternative payment plans, a waiver of delivery charges. It would still contain all the necessary contract protections, but friends and family might be more willing to sign a contract if they felt they were receiving special treatment.
More Desktop Publishing Q&A