Freelance Contract Template (Free) + Terms That Prevent Scope Creep (2026)

Published Feb 9, 2026 · 9 min read

Most freelance pain comes from two things: unclear scope and unclear payment. A simple contract doesn’t need to be scary — it just needs to remove ambiguity. Below you’ll get a copy/paste freelance contract template, plus the few terms that save you from scope creep, late payments, and awkward “who owns what?” conversations.

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What a good freelance contract should include

You don’t need a 12-page legal thriller. A solid freelance agreement should cover:

• Parties: who’s hiring who.
• Scope + deliverables: what “done” means.
• Timeline: start date + expected end or milestones.
• Fees + payment terms: how you get paid, when, and what happens if they don’t pay.
• Revisions: what’s included vs what’s billed extra.
• IP ownership: who owns the deliverables (and when ownership transfers).
• Confidentiality: you won’t leak their stuff; they won’t leak yours.
• Termination: how either party can end the project without drama.
• Liability cap: protects you from catastrophic outcomes.

Not legal advice. If the project is high-stakes (big money, regulated industry, complex IP), have a lawyer review your contract. Templates are for speed, not perfection.

Copy/paste freelance contract template (plain text)

Here’s a minimal template you can paste into Google Docs or Notion:

FREELANCE SERVICES AGREEMENT

Effective date: 2026-02-09

This Agreement is between Client (“Client”) and Freelancer (“Freelancer”).

1) Project
- Project name: [Project]
- Jurisdiction: [Country/State]

2) Scope of Services
Freelancer will provide the services described in writing (email/Notion), including the deliverables below.

3) Deliverables
- [Deliverable 1]
- [Deliverable 2]

4) Timeline
Work starts on [Start date]. End date is [End date] (unless terminated earlier).

5) Fees
- Fee type: hourly / fixed / retainer
- Amount: €___ / hour OR €___ total

6) Payment Terms
- [e.g. 50% upfront, 50% on delivery]
- Invoices due net 14
- Late payments may pause work until balance is cleared

7) Revisions
Includes [1] revision round. Additional revisions billed at the hourly rate.

8) Client Responsibilities
Client will provide timely feedback, assets, and access needed to deliver the work.

9) Intellectual Property
Upon full payment, Freelancer assigns to Client all rights in the final deliverables created under this Agreement, excluding pre-existing materials, tools, and templates.

10) Confidentiality
Both parties will keep confidential information private and use it only to perform this Agreement.

11) Termination
Either party may terminate with written notice. Client pays for work completed to date.

12) Liability
Freelancer’s total liability is limited to fees paid under this Agreement.

SIGNATURES

Client: _______________________   Date: ____________
Freelancer: ___________________   Date: ____________

The 5 contract terms that do 90% of the work

1) “Scope is what’s written”

Scope creep usually starts with “quick question” and ends with “can you also…”. Your contract should make it clear: the scope is what you agreed in writing.

Scope of services: as described in writing (email/Notion) and limited to the deliverables listed in this Agreement.

2) Deposits (or retainers) change the client’s behavior

For project work, ask for 25–50% upfront. It filters time-wasters and reduces late payments.

Payment: 50% upfront to start work, 50% due on delivery. Invoices due net 14.

3) Revisions policy

If you don’t define revisions, clients will assume unlimited iterations. Keep it simple:

Includes 1 revision round. Additional revisions billed at the hourly rate.

4) IP transfers only after payment

This is the cleanest leverage you have. If they haven’t paid, they don’t own the deliverables yet.

Ownership: final deliverables transfer to Client only after full payment.

5) Liability cap

This is protection against worst-case scenarios. A reasonable cap is the amount they paid you.

Liability: Freelancer’s total liability is limited to fees paid under this Agreement.

Next: pair contracts with a simple freelance system

If you’re freelancing seriously, contracts are just one piece. The other pieces that keep you sane:

• proposal template (to set expectations early)
• invoice + follow-up emails (to get paid on time)
• client onboarding checklist (to start projects smoothly)