Most web designers skip contracts on small projects or use templates they found online without understanding what they cover. Then a project goes sideways and they discover the contract did not protect them from the specific thing that went wrong. Here is what your contract actually needs.
Scope of work: the most important clause
The scope of work defines exactly what you are building: every page, every feature, every integration, and every platform. It also defines what you are not building. A vague scope is an invitation to dispute every decision. Be specific enough that neither party could interpret the agreement differently.
The scope should reference revision rounds explicitly — typically two rounds per deliverable. It should also clarify content responsibility: who writes the copy, who provides photos, and what happens if the client does not deliver content on schedule. A missed content deadline should pause the project timeline, not just delay your work.
Payment terms that protect your cash flow
Never start a project without a deposit. Fifty percent upfront is standard for web design. The remaining fifty percent should be tied to a milestone — typically delivery of the final files or launch — not to client satisfaction. "Satisfaction" is subjective and can be weaponized to delay payment indefinitely.
Include a late payment clause: a percentage fee on overdue invoices, triggered after a set number of days (typically 14-30). Also include a kill fee clause: if the client cancels after work has begun, they owe a percentage of the remaining balance. This covers your time and opportunity cost.
Intellectual property and ownership
By default, you own everything you create until you transfer ownership. Your contract should specify when ownership transfers — typically upon receipt of final payment in full. Until then, the client has a license to use the work, not ownership of it.
- Specify that ownership transfers only upon full payment
- Retain rights to display the work in your portfolio
- Address third-party assets (stock photos, fonts, plugins) separately
- Clarify who owns any custom code you write
Change orders and scope expansion
Your contract should include a change order process: any work outside the agreed scope will be scoped, quoted, and approved in writing before it begins. This single clause is the most effective tool for preventing scope creep. It is not confrontational — it is professional, and most clients respect it.
Termination and dispute resolution
Include a termination clause that specifies what happens if either party ends the project early. Your work to date is billable. Specify how disputes are handled — typically written notice followed by a defined resolution period. Choose your jurisdiction explicitly.
Once your contract is solid, Threecus lets you send it for signature and track when it is returned — all before the first line of code is written. A signed contract in your system is worth more than a verbal agreement in your memory. For everything that comes after, see our guide on how to onboard web design clients.
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