Free Design Contract Template

Fully editable with standard terms and clauses. Send and e-sign it online.

Free Design Contract Template

Fully editable with standard terms and clauses. Send and e-sign it online.

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Design Contract Template

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Design Contract Template

Designer
First Name
Last Name
Acme LLC.
Client
First Name
Last Name
Corporation Corp.

This Contract is between Client (the "Client") and Acme LLC (the "Designer").

The Contract is dated [DATE BOTH PARTIES SIGN].

1. WORK AND PAYMENT.

1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Designer to do the following: Building a design wireframe for the cms

1.2 Schedule. The Designer will begin work on December 09, 2022 and will continue until the work is completed. This Contract can be ended by either Client or Designer at any time, pursuant to the terms of Section 6, Term and Termination.

1.3 Payment. The Client will pay the Designer a rate of [PROJECT RATE]per hour. Of this, the Client will pay the Designer [DEPOSIT AMOUNT] before work begins.

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

1.5 Invoices. The Designer will invoice the Client every two weeks. 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 [LATE FEE PERCENTAGE]% per month on the outstanding amount.

1.6 Support. The Designer will not provide support for any deliverable once the Client accepts it, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

2. OWNERSHIP AND LICENSES.

2.1 Client Owns All Work Product. As part of this job, the Designer is creating “work product” for the Client. To avoid confusion, work product is the finished product, as well as drafts, notes, materials, mockups, hardware, designs, inventions, patents, code, and anything else that the Designer works on—that is, conceives, creates, designs, develops, invents, works on, or reduces to practice—as part of this project, whether before the date of this Contract or after. The Designer hereby gives the Client this work product once the Client pays for it in full. This means the Designer is giving the Client all of its rights, titles, and interests in and to the work product (including intellectual property rights), and the Client will be the sole owner of it. The Client can use the work product however it wants or it can decide not to use the work product at all. The Client, for example, can modify, destroy, or sell it, as it sees fit.

2.2 Designer’s Use Of Work Product. Once the Designer gives the work product to the Client, the Designer does not have any rights to it, except those that the Client explicitly gives the Designer here. The Client gives permission to use the work product as part of portfolios and websites, in galleries, and in other media, so long as it is to showcase the work and not for any other purpose. The Client does not give permission to sell or otherwise use the work product to make money or for any other commercial use. The Client is not allowed to take back this license, even after the Contract ends.

2.3 Designer’s Help Securing Ownership. In the future, the Client may need the Designer’s help to show that the Client owns the work product or to complete the transfer. The Designer agrees to help with that. For example, the Designer may have to sign a patent application. The Client will pay any required expenses for this. If the Client can’t find the Designer, the Designer agrees that the Client can act on the Designer’s behalf to accomplish the same thing. The following language gives the Client that right: if the Client can’t find the Designer after spending reasonable effort trying to do so, the Designer hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Client as the Designer’s agent and attorney-in-fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for the Designer and on the Designer’s behalf to execute, verify, and file the required documents and to take any other legal action to accomplish the purposes of paragraph 2.1 (Client Owns All Work Product).

2.4 Designer’s IP That Is Not Work Product. During the course of this project, the Designer might use intellectual property that the Designer owns or has licensed from a third party, but that does not qualify as “work product.” This is called “background IP.” Possible examples of background IP are pre-existing code, type fonts, properly-licensed stock photos, and web application tools. The Designer is not giving the Client this background IP. But, as part of the Contract, the Designer is giving the Client a right to use and license (with the right to sublicense) the background IP to develop, market, sell, and support the Client’s products and services. The Client may use this background IP worldwide and free of charge, but it cannot transfer its rights to the background IP (except as allowed in Section 11.1 (Assignment)). The Client cannot sell or license the background IP separately from its products or services. The Designer cannot take back this grant, and this grant does not end when the Contract is over.

2.5 Designer’s Right To Use Client IP. The Designer may need to use the Client’s intellectual property to do its job. For example, if the Client is hiring the Designer to build a website, the Designer may have to use the Client’s logo. The Client agrees to let the Designer use the Client’s intellectual property and other intellectual property that the Client controls to the extent reasonably necessary to do the Designer’s job. Beyond that, the Client is not giving the Designer any intellectual property rights, unless specifically stated otherwise in this Contract.

3. COMPETITIVE ENGAGEMENTS.

The Designer won’t work for a competitor of the Client until this Contract ends. To avoid confusion, a competitor is any third party that develops, manufactures, promotes, sells, licenses, distributes, or provides products or services that are substantially similar to the Client’s products or services. A competitor is also a third party that plans to do any of those things. The one exception to this restriction is if the Designer asks for permission beforehand and the Client agrees to it in writing. If the Designer uses employees or subcontractors, the Designer must make sure they follow the obligations in this paragraph, as well.

4. NON-SOLICITATION.

Until this Contract ends, the Designer won’t: (a) encourage Client employees or service providers to stop working for the Client; (b) encourage Client customers or clients to stop doing business with the Client; or (c) hire anyone who worked for the Client over the 12-month period before the Contract ended. The one exception is if the Designer puts out a general ad and someone who happened to work for the Client responds. In that case, the Designer may hire that candidate. The Designer promises that it won’t do anything in this paragraph on behalf of itself or a third party.

5. REPRESENTATIONS.

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

5.2 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.

5.3 Designer Has Right To Give Client Work Product. The Designer promises that it owns the work product, that the Designer 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 Designer uses employees or subcontractors, the Designer also promises that these employees and subcontractors have signed contracts with the Designer giving the Designer any rights that the employees or subcontractors have related to the Designer’s background IP and work product.

5.4 Designer Will Comply With Laws. The Designer 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.

5.5 Work Product Does Not Infringe. The Designer promises that its work product does not and will not infringe on someone else’s intellectual property rights, that the Designer 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 Designer has entered into or will enter into with someone else.

5.6 Client Will Review Work. The Client promises to review the work product, to be reasonably available to the Designer if the Designer has questions regarding this project, and to provide timely feedback and decisions.

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

6. TERM AND TERMINATION.

This Contract is ongoing until 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 11.4. The Designer must immediately stop working as soon as it receives this notice, unless the notice says otherwise. The Client will pay the Designer for the work done up until when the Contract ends and will reimburse the Designer for any agreed-upon, non-cancellable expenses. The following sections don’t end even after the Contract ends: 2 (Ownership and Licenses); 3 (Competitive Engagements); 4 (Non-Solicitation); 5 (Representations); 8 (Confidential Information); 9 (Limitation of Liability); 10 (Indemnity); and 11 (General).

7. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

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

  • The Designer 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 Designer is responsible for determining when, where, and how it will carry out the work.
  • The Client will not provide the Designer with any training.
  • The Client and the Designer do not have a partnership or employer-employee relationship.
  • The Designer cannot enter into contracts, make promises, or act on behalf of the Client.
  • The Designer is not entitled to the Client’s benefits (e.g., group insurance, retirement benefits, retirement plans, vacation days).
  • The Designer 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 Designer or any of the Designer’s employees or subcontractors.

8. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

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

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

8.3 Third-Party Confidential Information. It’s possible the Client and the Designer each have access to confidential information that belongs to third parties. The Client and the Designer 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 Designer 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.

9. 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.

10. INDEMNITY.

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

10.2 Client Indemnity. In this Contract, the Designer 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 Designer has done under this Contract; (ii) a breach by the Designer of its obligations under this Contract; or (iii) a breach by the Designer of the promises it is making in Section 5 (Representations).

10.3 Designer Indemnity. In this Contract, the Client agrees to indemnify the Designer (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.

11. GENERAL.

11.1 Assignment. This Contract applies only to the Client and the Designer. The Designer cannot assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Contract to a third-party (other than by will or intestate), without first receiving the Client’s written permission. In contrast, the Client may assign its rights and delegate its obligations under this Contract without the Designer’s permission. This is necessary in case, for example, another Client buys out the Client or if the Client decides to sell the work product that results from this Contract.

11.2 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.

11.3 Modification; Waiver. To change anything in this Contract, the Client and the Designer 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.

11.4 Notices.

(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.

11.5 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.

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

11.7 Governing Law. The laws of the state of Illinois govern the rights and obligations of the Client and the Designer under this Contract, without regard to conflict of law principles of that state.

11.8 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.

Designer
First Name
Last Name
Acme LLC.
Client
First Name
Last Name
Corporation Corp.

Free Design Contract Template

Fully editable with standard terms and clauses. Send and e-sign it online.

Free Design Contract Template

Fully editable with standard terms and clauses. Send and e-sign it online.

Bonsai has helped create 1,023,928 documents and counting.

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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

Free Design Contract

A major mistake made by inexperienced freelance graphic designers is not bothering with a contract.

As a freelance designer, a contract is an essential protection for both you and your client, and the best way to ensure things go as smoothly as possible.

In this article we’ll cover:

  • What a freelance graphic design contract is
  • What you should include in your contract
  • A contract sample
  • Why you need to have a contract
  • When you should introduce your contract to your client
  • Why you should use Bonsai
  • How to create a Bonsai graphic design contract
  • Frequently asked questions.

Let’s get into it!

What is a design contract?


A graphic design contract is a legally binding document and agreement between you, the graphic designer, and your client.

That makes sense, right? A solid graphic design contract will detail all your requirements and list out your professional services. If you’re a specialist in typography, brand recognition, layout and print, or logo design, a contract is going to outline those particular responsibilities and make sure both parties understand exactly what it is you’re being hired to do.

As a graphic designer, you represent a business’s visual communication. So, a graphic design contract will represent your ability to visually communicate the business’s goals, as well as protect both parties' best interests.

Note: Create a well-designed and personal template in minutes without the help of Photoshop. Sign up to Bonsai now and get started.

What Should Be Included in a Freelance Graphic Design Contract?

Because graphic design is fluid and subjective, you may need to edit your contract depending on your client and project.

1. Detailed Descriptions of Work

This is the most important part of a graphic design contract.

You should clearly explain all the work you’ll perform for your client in detail, with nothing left out. Describe what you’ll do, and what they’ll receive at the end.

You can refer back to the client’s proposal when writing this section to understand exactly what you’ll need to create.

2. Timeline for Deliverables

Next, you should outline the exact timeline of the project.

This should include any milestones along the way, as well as the final date of handover. Include anything that may extend the timeline, such as client-requested revisions, and explain how this will impact it.

Whatever you do, be specific! A contract should avoid being vague at all costs.

3. Payment Details

Any graphic design contract should explain exactly how and when your client is expected to pay you. Describe the method they’ll pay with, how much and whether you want a non-refundable deposit before you start working.

Some designers charge by the hours, while others prefer to set a price for the whole project, or milestones within it. Explain which system you use in your contract.

You should also include whether you charge a late fee for missed payments.

4. Copyright (Intellectual Property) Ownership and Use

Intellectual property (IP) is incredibly important as a graphic designer, especially when you hope to use client work in your portfolio.

Some clients may want you to sign an NDA, and not disclose the work you make for them publicly.

Clients need to know exactly how they can use your work, and how much of it they own. Explain who owns the IP, and at what point this transfers from the original creator (you) to the client. This should be once you’re fully paid for your work.

You should also define whether a client can edit your work later, or expand on it with a different designer.

5. Termination Clause

Ideally, nothing will ever go wrong while working with a client. Realistically, something will go wrong eventually!

Your contract should include details of how either party can end the agreement.

You should include a required notice period, for example three weeks, so that you’ll have some warning if a client decides to back out.

In the case of a project canceled halfway, you should define what you’ll be paid for, who will own the IP of the half-finished work, and what you’ll hand over to the client.

Graphic Design Contract Sample

If you’re looking to create a new design contract, Bonsai has an excellent template and a super easy method to fill it out, combining text boxes and drop-down options.

Whatever the specifics are of your business or client, all information is customizable so that you’ll have a personal graphic design contract, ready to go!

Signing up is free, and we’ll walk you through every step of the way!

Why It’s Critical to Have a Graphic Design Contract Template

1. Clearly Outlines Project Scope

A contract creates clear expectations for both the client and designer about exactly what work will get done over the course of the project.

By avoiding misunderstandings about scope, you avoid disagreements with your clients and create a smoother work process for both of you.

2. Defines Client and Designer Responsibilities

The contract will lay out the responsibilities of you, the designer, and the client.

This ensures that all parties know what they need to do throughout the project, and what they can expect from the other party.

It establishes boundaries, creates accountability and keeps communication clear.

3. Sets Project Timeline and Milestones

By establishing when your project will start, end and how it might be extended, your contract further improves clarity for both parties.

The client will understand when they can expect updates from you, and what reasons may result in the project being extended. This builds trust in you, and keeps the client from constantly asking about your progress.

4. Addresses Revisions and Change Requests

Scope creep is a major problem for graphic designers.

Often, a client will ask for small extras or changes that mean extra work for you, but no extra pay. These small things are easy to say yes to in the moment, but they add up quickly, and constantly push your boundaries back by a small amount.

Clearly outlining what changes, revisions and extras are included in your original fee, and which will require extra funds, avoids this.

As your client requests extra work, you can refer them to your contract and explain the cost associated.

5. Establishes Intellectual Property Rights

Within your contract, you should lay out exactly who owns what, and at which point ownership of your work transfers to your client.

By fully explaining how IP will work, you avoid any legal troubles later on, and ensure you can use the project in your portfolio in future.

6. Includes Confidentiality Clauses

In some cases, your client may want to keep aspects of your work private. This can be for a variety of reasons.

In this case, your contract should clearly define which information is confidential, how long it should be kept private for, and what happens if confidentiality is breached.

7. Outlines Dispute Resolution Processes

Inevitably, every designer will eventually have a disagreement with a client.

Your contract should outline exactly how these should be handled, including if they escalate to legal action.

This protects both you and your client, and prevents any ambiguity about who is responsible for what during the course of the project.

8. Protects Both Parties Legally

Ideally, you’ll never end up in court with a client. However, it’s best to be protected just in case the worst happens.

The contract will act as proof that both of you understood your responsibilities, and knew what to expect from the other. It will ensure that the result of a court case will be fair according to what was originally agreed upon.

9. Ensures Project Expectations Are Aligned

You and your client should be fully aligned in your expectations. Ambiguity breeds conflict.
If your client knows exactly what to expect, and what’s expected of them, they won’t be unpleasantly surprised. The last thing you want is to suddenly find out there’s been a huge miscommunication about your work, and now your client is upset.

When they know what to expect, your client will enjoy working with you. When they enjoy working with you, they’ll be more likely to return to you for work in future, and recommend you to others.

When to introduce a Graphic Design Contract

Once you get an understanding of your clients wants, and exactly what they’re seeking from your project, you should turn your attention to creating a suitable contract. Generally, you’ll do this by customizing your existing template.

You should absolutely have your client sign a contract:

  • Before you start any graphic design work
  • Before you share any concepts or drafts
  • Before you discuss pricing or payment
  • Before you receive or share sensitive information with the client
  • Before you commit significant time to the project.

Once the client has clearly outlined their requirements, you should present a contract.

A great time to do this is at an early meeting with them, or even the first meeting if you already have the necessary information.

Whatever you do, don’t begin work until they’ve signed and confirmed the contract

What’s the benefit of using Bonsai, rather than editing your own template?

Bonsai is a widely-used service that makes creating contracts super easy and quick.

We’re trusted by over 500,000 business owners of all kinds, including graphic designers. With over a million documents created, you could say we know how to build a contract!

But why use Bonsai?

1. Saves Time, Money, and Effort

As a freelancer, you probably know that time, money and effort are all precious commodities.

Using Bonsai, your contract creation process will be streamlined. We’ll walk you through the whole process, making it as simple and quick as possible, even if you have no experience in writing contracts at all.

We’re also way cheaper than hiring a lawyer to create one from scratch!

2. Provides Professionally Designed and Vetted Templates

If you don’t have access to a lawyer, writing a contract on your own can be risky. You may misunderstand the law and end up with a contract that isn’t legally enforceable.

All Bonsai templates are created and vetted by professionals, and approved by actual lawyers. 

3. Offers a High Level of Customization

A lot of contract template sites will use a few basic, one-size-fits-all templates for almost any purpose.

In reality, every contract will have different needs and priorities, especially in a unique field like graphic design.

We know this, and so we have highly specific templates for all kinds of purposes. This includes a specialized freelance graphic design template specifically for your needs.

We also let you customize your contract to a high level, changing any aspect you want.

4. Manages Project Details Easily

Because of our question-and-answer setup, we help you organize the details of your project easily, even if you aren’t fluent in legalese.

Our main purpose is keeping things as simple as possible, without sacrificing quality.

5. Tracks Contracts and Invoices

Thanks to our built-in systems, you can use Bonsai to track your contracts and invoices easily. 
It can be hard to keep track of these things as a freelancer, especially if you have several clients at once. With Bonsai, you can keep them all in one place, and reference them with our easy interface as needed.

6. Provides e-Signature Capabilities

All of our contracts have built-in e-signature tech, meaning you and your client can sign them online without having to print and re-scan.

This helps keep things fluid and simple for both you and your client.

7. Automate reminders and Follow-Ups

Our system will automatically remind you to follow up on aspects of your work as needed, like when a contract milestone is coming up soon.

This can help streamline your process and acts as a safety net if something important gets forgotten or missed.

8. Enhances Client Communication

Using our contract templates, you ensure that your contract will be robust, detailed and fully fleshed out.

This avoids any miscommunication with your clients, and lays out all important expectations clearly. Any freelance graphic designer will know this is crucial.

9. Offers Integrated Payment Options

Bonsai has completely integrated payment options within our contracts, making things super simple for your clients.

It also helps you keep track of your payments and contracts all in one place, simplifying your work as much as possible. Ultimately, Bonsai’s goal is doing the boring stuff so you can get back to what you love: design!

How to create a graphic design contract with Bonsai


Creating a graphic design contract with Bonsai is super simple. Following these steps, you’ll have a complete contract in no time!

1. Sign Up or Log In to Bonsai

Head to the top right of our site and either sign in to an existing account, or create a new one.

2. Choose “Create New Contract”

Head to our contract creator and choose “create new contract” to get started.

3. Select “Graphic Design”

In the list of contract templates, choose “graphic design”.

4. Input Project and Client Details

Define all details about you, your project and your client. This includes things like names, project types and locations.

It pays to be as detailed as possible in all steps of this process.

5. Define Scope, Deliverables, and Timeline

This is where detail is most crucial. Explain the exact scope, deliverables and timeline of your project.

Leave nothing out — it’s better to overdo it when you’re creating a contract!

6. Specify Payment Terms and Schedule

Describe exactly how and when your client will pay you.

This should include things like hourly vs. milestone rates, and the specifics of your late payment policy if you have one.

7. Add Clauses for Revisions, Rights, etc.

Explain whether your client has any revisions included in their initial contract, and how much extra it would cost to have any more.

Make sure to clearly define how IP will be assigned once your work is finished.

8. Customize With Bonsai’s Tools

Use Bonsai’s easy interface to customize your contract as needed. You can add or remove sections, and ensure that your contract suits your needs exactly.

You may use one basic template for all your contracts, or change it slightly between clients.

9. Preview and Make Necessary Adjustments

Make sure to look over your contract before you finish. Ensure there aren’t any mistakes, especially in regard to money and responsibilities.

Remember, once it’s signed, it becomes binding.

10. Send for Client Review or e-signature

Once you’re happy, send your contract off for your client to review and sign.

They may request changes to the contract, which you can negotiate as needed. Once you’re both satisfied, you can sign and get started on the real work.

References

  1. https://www.hellobonsai.com/a/freelance-design-contract 
  2. https://dribbble.com/resources/graphic-design-contract 
  3. https://www.waveapps.com/freelancing/graphic-design-contract 
  4. https://creative-boost.com/why-graphic-designers-need-contracts

Graphic Design Contract FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this template.

How much should a freelance graphic designer charge?

The rates of a freelance graphic designer vary greatly depending on experience, the project, client and your skillset. In the U.S., a designer can charge anything between $30 and $60 USD per hour. Remember your worth, and make sure you’re not being taken advantage of, especially as a new designer.

Do I need a contract as a freelance graphic designer?

A contract is essential for any freelance graphic designer. It protects both you and your client, and makes sure clients know exactly what to expect from your work for them. This avoids conflict before it happens, and means a much smoother working experience for you.

How do you negotiate a graphic design contract?

Consider your client’s needs, budget and priority. Understand what things are non-negotiable for you, and the minimum price you’d be happy with. Be respectful, but also firm as needed. Always value yourself and your work. It’s okay to turn a client away if you just can’t agree on a price.

How do I terminate a graphic design contract?

A good contract will lay out the exact method of terminating it. Generally, there will be a required notice period, meaning you have to tell the other party x number of weeks before you stop the project. There may also be non-refundable deposits or fees associated with termination.