James Patterson
Former Operations Manager at DoorDash
Negotiating Freelance Contracts
How to protect yourself and get better terms.
In This Article
Step-by-Step Guide
Always use a contract
Never work without a written agreement.
Define scope clearly
Exactly what you will and won't do.
Set revision limits
How many rounds of changes are included.
Payment terms
When and how you'll be paid.
Kill fee
What happens if project is cancelled.
Pro Tips
- 50% upfront is standard
- Scope creep costs you money
- Get everything in writing
- Use contract templates from Bonsai
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FAQs
How much upfront?
50% upfront is industry standard.
What about scope creep?
Define scope clearly; additional work = additional pay.
How long does it take to complete this guide?
This guide is designed to take approximately 20 min to read through. Actual implementation time varies based on your experience level and the complexity of your specific situation. First-time practitioners should expect to spend additional time on hands-on steps.
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