Freelance Contracts That Get Signed Before You Start
Every freelancer has a story about a client who did not pay, paid late or kept asking for one more revision. Almost every one of those stories starts with work that began before a contract was signed. Codec Document helps freelancers send a clear contract with the proposal and get it signed in minutes, so the project starts on written terms instead of good intentions.
Scope creep and late payment start with a missing contract
Freelancers skip contracts because they feel formal, slow or awkward with a client who seems friendly. Then the project grows: an extra page, another round of changes, a deadline moved. Without a written scope, every addition is a negotiation, and without written payment terms, every late invoice is a favor you are asking for. A short contract that the client signs from their phone is not a sign of distrust; it is the thing that keeps a good client relationship good.
How it helps freelancers
Proposal and contract in one step
Describe the project, the deliverables and the price, and let the client sign to approve. The proposal becomes the contract.
Revisions and extras in writing
Say how many revision rounds are included and how extra work is billed, so scope creep becomes a paid change instead of a favor.
Payment terms and deposits
Deposit before starting, milestone payments and the due date for the final invoice, agreed before you do the work.
Who owns the work
State when ownership of the deliverables transfers to the client, usually on full payment, which is your strongest leverage for getting paid.
Some cities and states require a written freelance contract
New York State Freelance Isnt Free Act, effective in 2024, and the earlier New York City law of the same name, require a written contract for freelance work of $800 or more, alone or combined over 120 days, including the scope, the rate, the payment date and the method of payment, and they protect freelancers from retaliation for asserting their rights. Other jurisdictions, including Illinois, have adopted similar laws. The ESIGN Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001, allows the contract to be signed electronically.
Round seven
A freelance designer in Brooklyn agreed on a logo project by email. The client asked for a seventh round of revisions and then said the final payment would come when the logo was right. Her next project used a signed contract with two revision rounds included and extra rounds at a stated hourly rate. The client asked for a fourth round, received a small invoice for it, and paid without discussion. The contract did not make the client less demanding; it made the demands paid.
What to put in writing before you start a project
- The deliverables, described precisely enough that done is not a matter of opinion.
- The number of revision rounds included and the rate for additional rounds.
- The deposit, the milestone payments and the due date for each invoice.
- When ownership of the work transfers, usually on full payment.
- What happens if the client pauses or cancels the project midway.
- Which law governs the contract when the client is in another state or country.
Questions people ask about this
Do my clients need to create an account to sign?
No. Clients sign through a link in their browser, from a phone or a computer.
Can I send an NDA before discussing a project?
Yes. Send a mutual NDA first, then the proposal and contract once the project is defined.
Can I use this with international clients?
Yes. Clients anywhere can sign online. Choose which law governs the contract and state it in the document.
Is it free for freelancers?
You can start free without a credit card, which covers most freelancers starting out. Paid plans add unlimited documents.