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Between:


FIRST_NAME
LAST_NAME
Corporation Corp.
‍ Acme LLC.
Client

FIRST_NAME
LAST_NAME
Corporation Corp.

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.

Free Animation Contract Template

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Coaching
Contract

Date: March 8th 2023


Between:

Coach:

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client:

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.

This Contract is between Client (the "Client") and Acme LLC, a California limited liability company (the "Coach").

The Contract is dated January 23, 2023.

1. WORK AND PAYMENT.

1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Coach to develop a coaching relationship between the Client and Coach in order to cultivate the Client's personal, professional, or business goals and create a plan to achieve those goals through stimulating and creative interactions with the ultimate result of maximizing the Client's personal or professional potential.

1.2 Schedule. The Coach will begin work on February 1, 2023 and will continue until the work is completed. This Contract can be ended by either Client or Coach at any time, pursuant to the terms of Section 4, Term and Termination.

The Coach and Client will meet by video conference, 4 days per month for 2 hours.

1.3 Payment. The Client will pay the Coach an hourly rate of $150. Of this, the Client will pay the Coach $500.00 (USD) before work begins.

1.4 Expenses. The Client will reimburse the Coach's expenses. Expenses do not need to be pre-approved by the Client.

1.5 Invoices. The Coach will invoice the Client in accordance with the milestones in Section 1.3. The Client agrees to pay the amount owed within 15 days of receiving the invoice. Payment after that date will incur a late fee of 1.0% per month on the outstanding amount.

1.6 Support. The Coach will not be available by telephone, or email in between scheduled sessions.

2.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

- A coaching relationship is a partnership between two or more individuals or entities, like a teacher-student or coach-athlete relationship. Both the Client and Coach must uphold their obligations for the relationship to be successful.

- The Coach agrees to maintain the ethics and standards of behavior established by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

- The Client acknowledges and agrees that coaching is a comprehensive process that may explore different areas of the Client's life, including work, finances, health, and relationships.

- The Client is responsible for implementing the insights and techniques learned from the Coach.

3. REPRESENTATIONS.

3.1 Overview. This section contains important promises between the parties.

3.2 Authority To Sign. Each party promises to the other party that it has the authority to enter into this Contract and to perform all of its obligations under this Contract.

3.3 Coach Has Right To Give Client Work Product. The Coach promises that it owns the work product, that the Coach is able to give the work product to the Client, and that no other party will claim that it owns the work product. If the Coach uses employees or subcontractors, the Coach also promises that these employees and subcontractors have signed contracts with the Coach giving the Coach any rights that the employees or subcontractors have related to the Coach's background IP and work product.

3.4 Coach Will Comply With Laws. The Coach promises that the manner it does this job, its work product, and any background IP it uses comply with applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations.

3.5 Work Product Does Not Infringe. The Coach promises that its work product does not and will not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights, that the Coach has the right to let the Client use the background IP, and that this Contract does not and will not violate any contract that the Coach has entered into or will enter into with someone else.

3.7 Client-Supplied Material Does Not Infringe. If the Client provides the Coach with material to incorporate into the work product, the Client promises that this material does not infringe on someone else's intellectual property rights.

4. TERM AND TERMINATION

This Contract is ongoing until it expires or the work is completed. Either party may end this Contract for any reason by sending an email or letter to the other party, informing the recipient that the sender is ending the Contract and that the Contract will end in 7 days. The Contract officially ends once that time has passed. The party that is ending the Contract must provide notice by taking the steps explained in Section 9.4. The Coach must immediately stop working as soon as it receives this notice unless the notice says otherwise.

If either party ends this Contract before the Contract automatically ends, the Client will pay the Contractor for the work done up until when the Contract ends. The following sections don't end even after the Contract ends: 3 (Representations); 6 (Confidential Information); 7 (Limitation of Liability); 8 (Indemnity); and 9 (General).

3. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

The Client is hiring the Coach as an independent contractor. The following statements accurately reflect their relationship:

- The Coach will use its own equipment, tools, and material to do the work.

- The Client will not control how the job is performed on a day-to-day basis. Rather, the Coach is responsible for determining when, where, and how it will carry out the work.

- The Client will not provide the Coach with any training.

- The Client and the Coach do not have a partnership or employer-employee relationship.

- The Coach cannot enter into contracts, make promises, or act on behalf of the Client.

- The Coach is not entitled to the Client's benefits (e.g., group insurance, retirement benefits, retirement plans, vacation days).

- The Coach is responsible for its own taxes.

- The Client will not withhold social security and Medicare taxes or make payments for disability insurance, unemployment insurance, or workers compensation for the Coach or any of the Coach's employees or subcontractors.

6. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

6.1 Overview. This Contract imposes special restrictions on how the Client and the Coach must handle confidential information. These obligations are explained in this section.

6.2 The Client's Confidential Information. While working for the Client, the Coach may come across, or be given, Client information that is confidential. This is information like customer lists, business strategies, research & development notes, statistics about a website, and other information that is private. The Coach promises to treat this information as if it is the Coach's own confidential information. The Coach may use this information to do its job under this Contract, but not for anything else. For example, if the Client lets the Coach use a customer list to send out a newsletter, the Coach cannot use those email addresses for any other purpose. The one exception to this is if the Client gives the Coach written permission to use the information for another purpose, the Coach may use the information for that purpose, as well. When this Contract ends, the Coach must give back or destroy all confidential information, and confirm that it has done so. The Coach promises that it will not share confidential information with a third party, unless the Client gives the Coach written permission first. The Coach must continue to follow these obligations, even after the Contract ends. The Coach's responsibilities only stop if the Coach can show any of the following: (i) that the information was already public when the Coach came across it; (ii) the information became public after the Coach came across it, but not because of anything the Coach did or didn't do; (iii) the Coach already knew the information when the Coach came across it and the Coach didn't have any obligation to keep it secret; (iv) a third party provided the Coach with the information without requiring that the Coach keep it a secret; or (v) the Coach created the information on its own, without using anything belonging to the Client.

6.3 Third-Party Confidential Information. It's possible the Client and the Coach each have access to confidential information that belongs to third parties. The Client and the Coach each promise that it will not share with the other party confidential information that belongs to third parties, unless it is allowed to do so. If the Client or the Coach is allowed to share confidential information with the other party and does so, the sharing party promises to tell the other party in writing of any special restrictions regarding that information.

7. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

Neither party is liable for breach-of-contract damages that the breaching party could not reasonably have foreseen when it entered this Contract.

8. INDEMNITY.

8.1 Overview. This section transfers certain risks between the parties if a third party sues or goes after the Client or the Coach or both. For example, if the Client gets sued for something that the Coach did, then the Coach may promise to come to the Client's defense or to reimburse the Client for any losses.

8.2 Client Indemnity. In this Contract, the Coach agrees to indemnify the Client (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against all liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of: (i) the work the Coach has done under this Contract; (ii) a breach by the Coach of its obligations under this Contract; or (iii) a breach by the Coach of the promises it is making in Section 3 (Representations).

8.3 Coach Indemnity. In this Contract, the Client agrees to indemnify the Coach (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of a breach by the Client of its obligations under this Contract.

9. GENERAL.

9.1 Assignment​. This Contract applies only to the Client and the Coach. Neither the Client nor the Coach can assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Contract to a third-party (other than by will or intestate), without first receiving the other's written permission.

9.2 Arbitration. As the exclusive means of initiating adversarial proceedings to resolve any dispute arising under this Contract, a party may demand that the dispute be resolved by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules.

9.3 Modification; Waiver. To change anything in this Contract, the Client and the Coach must agree to that change in writing and sign a document showing their contract. Neither party can waive its rights under this Contract or release the other party from its obligations under this Contract, unless the waiving party acknowledges it is doing so in writing and signs a document that says so.

9.4. Noticies.

(a) Over the course of this Contract, one party may need to send a notice to the other party. For the notice to be valid, it must be in writing and delivered in one of the following ways: personal delivery, email, or certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested). The notice must be delivered to the party's address listed at the end of this Contract or to another address that the party has provided in writing as an appropriate address to receive notice.

(b) The timing of when a notice is received can be very important. To avoid confusion, a valid notice is considered received as follows: (i) if delivered personally, it is considered received immediately; (ii) if delivered by email, it is considered received upon acknowledgement of receipt; (iii) if delivered by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), it is considered received upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt. If a party refuses to accept notice or if notice cannot be delivered because of a change in address for which no notice was given, then it is considered received when the notice is rejected or unable to be delivered. If the notice is received after 5:00pm on a business day at the location specified in the address for that party, or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice is considered received at 9:00am on the next business day.

9.5 Severability. This section deals with what happens if a portion of the Contract is found to be unenforceable. If that's the case, the unenforceable portion will be changed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, unless that change is not permitted by law, in which case the portion will be disregarded. If any portion of the Contract is changed or disregarded because it is unenforceable, the rest of the Contract is still enforceable.

9.6 Signatures. The Client and the Coach must sign this document using Bonsai's e-signing system. These electronic signatures count as originals for all purposes.

9.7 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this document shall be governed by the laws of the United States of America.

9.8 Entire Contract. This Contract represents the parties' final and complete understanding of this job and the subject matter discussed in this Contract. This Contract supersedes all other contracts (both written and oral) between the parties.

THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO THE FOREGOING AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW.

Coach

First_name
Last_name
Acme LLC.
Client

First_name
Last_name
Corporation Corp.
Table of contents
Animation Contract Template
Use this animation contract now for free

What is an animation contract?


An animation contract is the formal written agreement between an animation agency or freelancer and their client that discusses the scope of the project and the boundaries of their working relationship. 

All freelancers and providers of animation services should have their own animation contract template to ensure that their rights are protected when working with a new client. The easiest way to do this is by creating and using an animation contract template. Both parties should review and sign this document in writing to constitute the start of the work agreement. 

Note: We’ve done the hard work of looking over thousands of animation contracts, so we know what should be included. Create and edit your own animation contract template here for free! 

What to include in the animation contract 


Your animation contract should cover the basics of the working relationship, such as the work scope, the roles of all involved stakeholders, copyright ownership, the management of confidential information, and how any disputes will be addressed. Getting the contract signed means it’s in full force. The contract is a legal document to reference and use when one or more parties are not upholding their end of the bargain, so the contract terms are essential. 

The scope of work 

All involved parties should agree on the services required. Specificity is critical in all contracts between freelancers and their clients. Without specificity, terms are left up to interpretation. If a specific service is included, such as a kickoff call or mockup, that should be listed in this section of the contract. 

Details on the work scope to be incorporated into a final animation contract include: 

  • The name of the contractor and the company owner or client 
  • Payment terms, including deposits or final payment requirements 
  • Milestone and deadline dates, including target project completion 
  • How revisions will be handled 
  • What, if anything, the client agrees to provide (like logos, color palettes, or other collateral) 
  • What items are not included in the scope of work
  • A termination clause which details what is required for either party to end the contract 

Payment terms 

Payment terms are some of the most important aspects of any animation contract. A freelancer’s business can suffer if a client doesn’t pay on time. The right terms increase a freelancer’s likelihood of being paid the total amount owed on time. Some additional payment issues to evaluate are: 

  • Fees for late payments 
  • An hourly rate for other time spent or additional fees for other work requested by the client outside the scope of the contract 
  • Explanations of full payment and the milestones it’s broken into, such as monthly payments or a series of milestones to be released to the freelancer 
  • How payment must be made, such as through ACH or credit card 

Milestone and deadline dates 

Details around milestones and deadline dates are vital. A client might have a specific launch date intended for their final animation and a freelancer should do everything in their power to make sure their efforts align with this day. Remember that adding deadline dates could put you in the position of breach of contract if you don’t meet these deadlines, so take these seriously. 

Deadlines and milestones are also important for payment purposes. For example, you might include a clause that says you will be unable to begin on the second draft of an animation until the milestone payment for the first draft has been approved and released to you. This protects a freelancer’s boundaries and increases their chances of being paid on time. 

How revisions will be handled 

Revisions are a big gray area for many freelancers, but being specific upfront will limit arguments and frustration for both parties. It’s reasonable for animation contract clients to expect the chance to provide feedback and to have their edits incorporated. At the same time, it’s not a good idea to offer unlimited revisions. 

Most animation freelancers will offer 2-3 rounds of revisions maximum to ensure a clear endpoint for the working relationship. If the client requests further edits, make sure the price is updated to reflect that. 

What the client agrees to provide 

The freelancer can be blocked from completing their work if they don’t get the support, files, or revisions needed from the client. Therefore, it’s helpful to call out what the client must provide for the freelancer to deliver. 

What services are not included 

Ambiguity causes problems in contracts, especially when the client misunderstood what “completed work” means. Perhaps custom files, promotion of the finished product, or unique animations are not included in the freelancer’s package. If a client gets confused, it’s helpful to refer back to this as a very clear indication of those services sitting outside of the existing contract’s scope. 

A termination clause 

A termination clause allows either party to end the working relationship because of unforeseen circumstances, an inability to come to terms or agreement with a client, or some other reason. A termination clause might require written notice of 30 days, for example. 

Roles 

For freelancers, it’s vital to read between the lines of any template or client-provided contract to determine what the agreement constitutes or doesn’t. Most work-for-hire agreements, for example, make it very clear the client is not the employer of the independent contractor. 

An independent contractor clause confirms the relationship between the client and the freelancer and also provides the freelancer with a reference point if the client tries to alter the relationship once the project starts.

Legally, freelancers cannot be treated like employees and paid like freelancers, so it’s worth calling out the independent contractor/client relationship within your contract. 

Copyright ownership 

Animators put a lot of hard work into their finished product, but copyright typically belongs to the client. If an animation freelancer wants to be able to include a portion or the finished product in their portfolio as an example of services performed, this should be listed in the animation contract. 

If the freelancer will own the work and is instead licensing the right to use it to the client, it’s very important the client agrees by signing the document in full and possibly even initialing that section of the contract. 

Confidential information details 

Freelancers might learn confidential information about a company’s proprietary process or product in the course of creating an animation. The company might want peace of mind that you won’t disclose this confidential data. 

How disputes will be handled 

In the case of a dispute arising between an animation freelancer and their client, it’s a good idea to have the terms of dispute resolution addressed in advance. A standard contract template, for example, might stipulate that the parties agree to resolve things in arbitration or in small claims court in the city and state where the freelancer lives. 

In addition to addressing dispute management, clauses stating who will be responsible for legal costs incurred for one party to resolve the issue should be included. 

How to write an animation contract 


The good news: you don’t have to start from scratch when creating an animation contract. Whether this is the first time you’ve quoted animation services or whether you’re looking for an animation contract template you can use all the time, we have a template that includes all the most important elements of animation and other services you might provide. 

Start by finding out what the client wants and use that information to create custom proposal materials. Once the proposal is approved, this information can be copied into your animation contract. 

Find out exactly what the client wants

Your conversation and discovery call with the client is your opportunity to determine what they need. During a sales or discovery call, ask them about their end goals. 

Remember that not all clients will be familiar with the work that goes into a completed piece of animation, so this is your chance to adjust their expectations within their budget and timeline, if necessary. You don’t need to determine on the call exactly what the client needs, but take good notes that you can return to after the fact as you create your animation proposal. 

Ask questions of the client during this discovery call such as: 

  • Where will you use this completed animation? 
  • How long would you like the animation? 
  • What other animations do you like? 
  • Who will voice over this animation? Has that person already been hired? 
  • Are there any design elements you don’t want to use or styles you don’t like? 
  • Are there any third-party materials you want incorporated into the animation? 

Use the answers to these questions to create a custom proposal for the client. 

Highlight what sets you apart 

During your initial conversation with the client, get to know what’s most important to them, not just in terms of final product, but working relationship. You will use that information to begin creating a custom proposal and contract. This is especially important when you’re not the only agency or freelancer the client is speaking with because you need to create a proposal that stands out from the crowd. 

Here are some ways that you might set yourself apart:

  • Custom animation designs 
  • Ability to deliver quickly 
  • Providing several options to the client to review in a first draft 
  • Previous work performed for brand name clients 
  • Awards you’ve received for animation work 
  • Repeat business or great feedback from other clients 

Creating an animation contract is simple with Bonsai 


When using the Bonsai animation contract template, the most important elements of your agreement are already loaded in. You can simply use the contract template as a base for each client, making adjustments as necessary. 

With our professional contract, you get the confidence of knowing that you have protected your work and your right to be paid while also presenting a professional image to the client. 

Animation contract FAQs


What if the other party wants to alter the contract? 

If you create and use your own animation contract template, there might come a time when a client asks to add or remove elements. As a freelancer, it’s recommended that you tread carefully in these situations as you could be impacting your rights. In the case of a big project with substantial changes in your animation contract template, a business lawyer’s review is valuable. 

What is a breach of contract? 

Breach of contract is a term used to describe when one or more parties have failed to provide the services outlined in the contract. For example, if the client was obligated to review the final deliverables within two months of submission but has failed to do so, the freelancer could allege that the client is in breach of contract. A breach of contract can lead to legal action, which is why the wording of any animation contract is so important.


Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about this template.

How much should you charge for an animation?

Depending on experience, freelance animators can expect to make $20 to $150 per hour. This averages a yearly wage of $39,000 to $260,000. Some may charge a flat fee per job. Use Bonsai's freelance animator contract to outline this and all other crucial elements when taking on a new project.

Are animators freelancers?

Before going it alone as a freelancer, many animators will develop their art at an animation studio. As a result, independent animators are frequently the most skilled, capable, and qualified professionals in the industry. If you're ready to go solo, use Bonsai's freelance animator contract to land your first project!

How do animation contracts work?

Using Bonsai's Animation contract template you can easily layout the working arrangement, like job scope, copyright ownership, secret information management, etc. This contract serves as a legal reference and basis for action when either party fails to fulfill their obligations. Series animation contracts often last between three and twelve months.