A missing clause in your contract can cost you more than the project was worth. Unpaid invoices, unlimited revisions, stolen work, and disputed ownership are all preventable with the right language in place. Here is what every freelance graphic designer's contract needs to cover before work begins.
Scope of work: the most important clause
Scope is where most design contracts fail. A vague scope statement like "logo design" invites a client to keep requesting changes until they are satisfied with something you never agreed to deliver. Your scope section must specify: exactly what deliverables are included, how many concepts are presented, how many rounds of revisions are included, and what constitutes a revision versus a new request.
When a client requests work outside this scope, you add it or swap it — you do not absorb it. This one clause, properly written, will save you from more frustration than any other.
Payment terms that actually get you paid
Always require a deposit before work begins — typically 30–50% of the total project fee. The deposit is not optional and it is not a sign of distrust. It is standard practice, and any client who refuses to pay a deposit before you start is a client you do not want.
- Specify invoice due dates (net 14 or net 30, not "upon completion")
- Include a late payment fee (1–2% per week is standard)
- Withhold final files until full payment is received
- Specify accepted payment methods
Intellectual property and usage rights
By default, the creator owns the copyright. Rights transfer to the client only when specified in writing. Your contract should clearly state: when ownership transfers (typically upon full payment), what the client is licensed to do with the work, and whether you retain the right to display it in your portfolio.
For commercial projects, usage rights are a separate line item from design fees. A brand identity used in a national advertising campaign has different commercial value than one used on a local bakery's packaging. Price accordingly and make the rights transfer explicit. Your rates guide covers how to factor this into pricing in graphic designer rates and pricing.
Kill fees and project cancellation
Projects get cancelled. Clients change direction. Budgets disappear. A kill fee clause ensures you are compensated for work already completed if a client cancels mid-project. A standard structure: the deposit is non-refundable, and if the client cancels after a major milestone, they owe a percentage of the remaining balance.
Without this clause, you have done real work and have no legal basis for compensation beyond the deposit. Include it on every contract, even with clients you trust completely.
Make signing easy and automatic
A contract you have to manually attach to emails and chase clients to sign is a contract that creates friction at the worst possible moment — when a new client is still deciding whether to proceed. Use a tool that sends and tracks contracts automatically. Threecus handles contract sending alongside inquiry management and invoicing so the entire onboarding process runs without manual overhead.
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