How to get a freelance contract signed

Why sign before you start

Most disputes with clients are about what was agreed: what the work covers, how much, when it is paid, and who owns the result. Putting those points in writing, and having both sides sign, makes them clear to everyone and gives you something to point to if there is a disagreement.

What to include

• Who the agreement is between, with names and addresses.
• What you will do, what is not included, and any dates.
• The price, when you will invoice and how long the client has to pay.
• Who owns the finished work and when ownership passes.
• How either side can end the agreement.
• Anything confidential that needs protecting.

This is general information, not legal advice. For a big or unusual job, ask a solicitor to check the wording.

Sending it for signature

1. Save the final agreement as a PDF.
2. Upload it, add a signature and date field for yourself and for the client, and add the client’s email address.
3. Send it with a short message. The client gets a link and signs on their phone or computer, with no account.
4. When both of you have signed, each of you receives the signed PDF. Keep it with the project files.

SignEdge has plain-English starter forms, including a freelance services agreement, with the fields already in place. They are general forms, so check they fit your job before you send them.

Quotes and proposals

If you send a quote or proposal first, you can have the client sign to accept it. An accepted quote is an agreement too. Make sure it states what is included and the payment terms so it works as the contract.

Keep the record

Keep the signed PDF and its activity trail. If you need to show later that the client agreed, the trail shows when the document was sent, opened and signed, and the document checker can confirm the file has not changed.