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As said in part one of this article, contracts are one of the most vital and misunderstood tools of the freelancers arsenal. Here in the fifth installment of the Client Tactics Series, we will look at schedules in contracts between a freelancer and his clients.
A schedule is just a fancy legal way of saying “this is my work process and this is how you (dear client) will pay me.”. Schedules like contracts benefit the client and the freelancer in the fact that it lays everything out on the table. No hidden surprises, everything is accounted for.
Depending on the length of language on your contract. Your schedules could fall on the same sheet or a secondary sheet. I opt for the secondary sheet, (It’s not OCD, it’s just a compulsion; okay?) That way it isn’t muddled into the middle of the contract. Lets face it, once the client signs your contract and they get their copy, they will only look at it should problems arise. By putting the schedules on its own page, the client will be more apt to look at that page more frequently.
How many schedules one has depends on how one break apart one’s design flow and invoicing style. For smaller projects I have two, bigger projects three. Here’s what a sample schedule would look like:
| SCHEDULE 1 for My Eager Client provided by MyDesignStudio | ||
|---|---|---|
| Item 1 | The Freelancer’s Fees: | My Hourly Fee ($xx.xx) Estimate of Time Needed: xx hours. Special Software: Expression Engine ($xxx.xx) |
| Item 2 | The Premises: | MyDesignStudio, INC. 123 Maple St. Anywhere, TN 37067 |
| Item 3 | The Services: | Custom Expression Engine Template Development Valid xHtml and CSS PHP Search Engine Optimization |
| Item 4 | The Products: | One fully licensed install of Expression Engine. Twenty-two (22) Fully licensed stock photos, and a completed website. |
| Item 5 | Commencement Date: | 05/01/2010 |
| Item 6 | Termination Date: | 07/01/2010 |
The above would only need to be duplicated for situations for multiple invoice stages, which are a definitely beneficial idea. State what you are doing and what was being utilized in each section, saving the products until the last schedule unless they are needed during that particular phrase or schedule.
Here are some additional questions to comprehend when building a contract.
When making your first contract its wise to look over a pre-made contract or the contract of a freelance buddy. The most intimidating part of writing a contract is legalese. Its boring, hard to understand, and complicated. Like my writing style. According to wikipedia here is the definition of legalese:
Legalese is an English term first used in 1914 for legal writing that is designed to be difficult for laymen to read and understand, the implication being that this abstruseness is deliberate for excluding the legally untrained and to justify high fees.
By starting with a template and adding in the special bits that make your business different, you’ll decrease a lot of the overhead that would come by either having an attorney write up or having to learn all the in and outs of contracts. By looking at either a pre-made template or one from a freelancing friend, you’ll be able to pick up legalese and be living it up like Robert Shapiro! Okay so maybe you won’t be living it up like Mr. Shapiro but you’ll at least know what a tortfeasor is.
Would you guys like to see a complete downloadable sample contract written by yours truly and distributed through 1webdesigner? Do you have any questions or comments leave them below and I would be glad to help out.
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Jeff Boshers is a freelance web designer from Tennessee. He enjoys discussing classic design principles, css, printing techniques, and client management among other things. You can find him on twitter @boundbystars and see his work. He is currently doing a 52 week project called 52 luchadors.
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 09:48
Kindly send me a template of the contract from a customers perspective.
Regards Alice
Monday, May 3rd, 2010 23:37
I was searching for a template earlier this morning so that I could get an idea of how I should write mine. Lot’s of good info here on how I will make one, but would still like to see one distributed too.
Monday, May 3rd, 2010 14:04
Great articles Jeff!
The importance of a good contract is often one of the last things to be considered, often after a bad experience.
Would love to see your sample contract. I hope it is an easy read!
Monday, May 3rd, 2010 05:31
Thanks for these articles- can’t wait to see the sample contract =)
Saturday, May 1st, 2010 08:54
Useful article.
Could I translate this article to my Language : Thai Could I?
Friday, April 30th, 2010 19:05
Hi, Would you have a repeat client sign a contract for every little job the want? Signing and mailing or faxing is very annoying to some clients, what is your solution?
Monday, May 3rd, 2010 17:05
I use one contract but I update the schedules. When I send them the contract packet I sent them another copy of the contract they have signed from before.
Friday, April 30th, 2010 18:45
Thanks for the article. Waiting for the contract.
Friday, April 30th, 2010 14:26
@mike – I definitely agree with you. That should be in a “hold harmless” section. Which is basically where you say that the content and views expressed are their own (Client) and doesn’t reflect on you or your business.
Thank you guys for all of your comments! Well I guess that settles it then. Look for a sample contract soon!
Friday, April 30th, 2010 11:41
Excellent article Jeff. I’m keen to start freelancing on the side and a downloadable contract template would be helpful with starting out. Thanks.
Friday, April 30th, 2010 09:13
Nice articles! I have started freelancing within the last year, and would certainly like to see your contract sample. Thanks for sharing!
Friday, April 30th, 2010 09:04
I remember the first job I ever did I never used a contract… but, oh boy, the second job and every subsequent job I did! You’re left hanging from a rope of your own creating without a good contract
Thursday, April 29th, 2010 23:41
Great article, and great timing since I plan on revising my contract within the next week.
One thing I put in my contracts is that the client is solely responsible if they use the website in an illegal fashion or use copyrighted material without permission, especially for CMS websites.
Friday, April 30th, 2010 05:22
I would like to see the downloadable contract template. I am looking to pic up some freelance work on the side to bring in some extra cash.
Friday, April 30th, 2010 05:10
Excellent series of articles! I’m going to be starting up my own freelance business in the next few months and this is exactly the sort of information I’m looking for.
In answer to your question, I would love to see a sample contract distributed through 1STWD.
Many thanks and keep up the good work.
Tim
Friday, April 30th, 2010 04:50
Great Article.
I would be very interested in seeong a full version of one of tour contracts.
Many Thanks
Friday, April 30th, 2010 03:15
Nice write up, I would love to see the downloadable sample contracts please do share.
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G13 Media
Friday, April 30th, 2010 03:15
Nice write up, I would love to see the downloadable sample contracts please do share.
Richard
Friday, April 30th, 2010 09:13
Nice articles! I have started freelancing within the last year, and would certainly like to see your contract sample. Thanks for sharing!
Guy Williams
Friday, April 30th, 2010 11:41
Excellent article Jeff. I’m keen to start freelancing on the side and a downloadable contract template would be helpful with starting out. Thanks.
Andy Walpole
Friday, April 30th, 2010 09:04
I remember the first job I ever did I never used a contract… but, oh boy, the second job and every subsequent job I did! You’re left hanging from a rope of your own creating without a good contract
Mike McKeown
Thursday, April 29th, 2010 23:41
Great article, and great timing since I plan on revising my contract within the next week.
One thing I put in my contracts is that the client is solely responsible if they use the website in an illegal fashion or use copyrighted material without permission, especially for CMS websites.
nathan
Friday, April 30th, 2010 04:50
Great Article.
I would be very interested in seeong a full version of one of tour contracts.
Many Thanks
Tim
Friday, April 30th, 2010 05:10
Excellent series of articles! I’m going to be starting up my own freelance business in the next few months and this is exactly the sort of information I’m looking for.
In answer to your question, I would love to see a sample contract distributed through 1STWD.
Many thanks and keep up the good work.
Tim
Michael
Friday, April 30th, 2010 05:22
I would like to see the downloadable contract template. I am looking to pic up some freelance work on the side to bring in some extra cash.
Jeff Boshers
Friday, April 30th, 2010 14:26
@mike – I definitely agree with you. That should be in a “hold harmless” section. Which is basically where you say that the content and views expressed are their own (Client) and doesn’t reflect on you or your business.
Thank you guys for all of your comments! Well I guess that settles it then. Look for a sample contract soon!
Adrian Botea
Friday, April 30th, 2010 09:48
Waiting for the contract sample too
David Silva
Monday, May 3rd, 2010 23:37
I was searching for a template earlier this morning so that I could get an idea of how I should write mine. Lot’s of good info here on how I will make one, but would still like to see one distributed too.
Alice
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 09:48
Kindly send me a template of the contract from a customers perspective.
Regards Alice
Seth
Monday, May 3rd, 2010 14:04
Great articles Jeff!
The importance of a good contract is often one of the last things to be considered, often after a bad experience.
Would love to see your sample contract. I hope it is an easy read!
Keri
Monday, May 3rd, 2010 05:31
Thanks for these articles- can’t wait to see the sample contract =)
William
Friday, April 30th, 2010 18:45
Thanks for the article. Waiting for the contract.
crazywabbit
Friday, April 30th, 2010 19:05
Hi, Would you have a repeat client sign a contract for every little job the want? Signing and mailing or faxing is very annoying to some clients, what is your solution?
Jeff Boshers
Monday, May 3rd, 2010 17:05
I use one contract but I update the schedules. When I send them the contract packet I sent them another copy of the contract they have signed from before.
designbyarm
Saturday, May 1st, 2010 08:54
Useful article.
Could I translate this article to my Language : Thai Could I?