Free Wordpress Website Design Contract Template

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What is a freelance WordPress design contract?


A freelance WordPress design contract is a legally binding agreement between two parties that outlines the details of a web design project. It's the legal document that's referred to in the case of any issues or disputes when working on a project.

The contract includes all the information surrounding a web design project, such as the scope of work, payment schedule, and termination.

Note: To start editing your freelance WordPress design contract, sign up for Bonsai today—it's free.

Why you need a freelance WordPress web design contract


Freelance WordPress web design contracts are essential for freelancers who work in the world of web design and development. They protect both the client and the web designer while working on a WordPress site. A web design contract serves three main purposes:

  1. It ensures both the parties are in agreement over the development and design services
  2. It ensures everyone understands the business relationship and their associated responsibilities
  3. It protects both parties in the case of a disagreement

What should be included in a WordPress web design contract


Here, we've detailed the essential elements of a WordPress website contract to ensure you're always covered when embarking on web design projects. We've outlined what's necessary and provided some top tips to apply to your web design contracts moving forward.

Personal information

In this section, you need to outline who's entering into the legally binding agreement. It's not a long section—normally a couple of lines that include both parties:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Contact information
  • Identification details
  • Start date

Scope of work

This is where you'll detail the specific requirements of the project at hand. It's important that you outline exactly what work you'll be completing, and any deliverables the client can expect along the way.

Be as detailed as possible when filling out this section to avoid scope creep—a problem in many web design projects. Scope creep refers to work that's requested outside of what’s agreed on for the project’s scope of work—and is often expected free of charge.

To avoid this, try and preempt any extra work the client may request and include it in a section that clearly states what is out of scope. This way, you’ll avoid finding yourself doing extra work for no extra payment.

Amendments and changes

Here is where you include information on how you will handle any amendments or changes to the project. You may decide to include a certain amount of support free of charge. However, the line must be drawn somewhere or you risk working for free.

It's a good idea to specify that any major changes will be considered a new project that requires a new web design quote.

It's your responsibility to clarify the revisions process and it's essential you do so in the web design contract—only then is it legally binding.

Schedules and dates

This section provides a timeline for the project, including a start date and projected end date. It's also where you'll detail when the client can expect deliverables, and when the project is expected to hit the specific milestones outlined in the project scope.

If you’re offering your client check-in calls, make sure to include them in the schedule and scope of work too. It’s a good idea to include when you’ll be updating the client and what can be expected of the meetings.

Payment

In this section, you'll provide information on the payment schedule and payment terms. Again, detail is key for getting what you want and need from the service agreement.

Include all the information regarding payment, such as when it's expected following an invoice, and what the consequences are if the client pays late or if the client fails to pay at all.

Make sure to be as clear as possible—it's very easy to assume the client is on the same page as you when they're not. It's also good practice for ensuring your payment terms are indisputable.

Copyright

Web design contracts require detailed information regarding intellectual property—more importantly, who the intellectual property belongs to. You need to discuss this with the client beforehand to ensure there's no confusion further down the line. When working with software, programs or web design tools, it’s a good idea to list all the different one’s you’ll be using and their third party license terms.

Regardless of who it belongs to, both parties must agree and include all the details in the contract.

Termination

This section provides details on the consequences—for both you and the client—if either party decides to end the project. You may decide to do this if:

  • The client is refusing to pay
  • The client is refusing to cooperate and complicating the project

It's another step to ensure all parties are on the same page, at all times—even in the unfortunate case of project termination.

What's the benefit of using Bonsai, instead of editing a template yourself?


Web design and development demands a lot of attention and concentration—one line of overlooked code can disrupt the entire project. There's no need to further complicate the process by adding contract creation to your mix.

Bonsai saves you time and effort by giving you a legally approved template you can work from, deliver, and sign in just a few minutes.

How to create a WordPress design contract with Bonsai

Creating and editing your WordPress design contract with Bonsai is super simple and quick:

  1. Sign up for free to the platform
  2. Choose your desired contract template
  3. Fill the blanks to fit your needs

Once you're satisfied with the contract, you can send it over to your client for their approval and signature. You can then commence the project knowing that you've covered all bases if any issues should arise.

Sample WordPress web design contract template

Legal documents can often be confusing and entering into a binding agreement shouldn't include guesswork. We've created this WordPress web design contract template to ensure you're covered when working with your next web design project and client.

Your free template is just a click away. Get started below.

Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about this template.

How can I get free wordpress contract template?

Downloading from a software or creating from scratch are your two options in getting a free Wordpress contract template. But if you're looking to automate things without missing out on the legal nitty-gritty, head on to Bonsai now.

What's the best Wordpress design contract template?

The contract templates provided by Bonsai are looked over by a lawyer to make sure you are protected. The template is easy to customize and personalize according to your business.

Bonsai has the best templates for Wordpress agreements. Our contracts are legally reviewed by attorneys and cover freelancers from A to Z. Edit our contract templates for free today.

Bonsai has the best templates for Wordpress agreements. Our contracts are legally reviewed by attorneys and cover freelancers from A to Z. Edit our contract templates for free today.

How much does a freelance WordPress designer make?

Although there’s no conclusive rate for freelancers specifically, a WordPress designer can make between $35,000-$65,000 a year in the U.S. This wide gap is dependent on experience, location, and the client you’re working with.

What's the difference between Wix and WordPress?

WordPress is an open-source platform that requires you to find your own host, whereas Wix is a cloud-based website builder that includes hosting and tech support in its packages.

Template preview

Free Wordpress Website Design Contract Template

WordPress Website Design Contract

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


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

1. WORK AND PAYMENT.

1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Designer to do the following: [PROJECT SCOPE]

1.2 Schedule. The Designer will begin work on [START DATE] 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 an ongoing rate of [PROJECT RATE] per [week/month]. Of this, the Client will pay the Designer a non-refundable deposit of [DEPOSIT AMOUNT] before work begins, to be deducted from the first invoice payment. This deposit is non-refundable due to the Designer reserving their schedule on behalf of the Client.

1.4 Expenses. The Designer may request additional payment for any agreed-upon, non-cancellable expenses, which must approved by the Client in advance.

1.5 Invoices.  The Designer will invoice the Client every [week/month]. The Client agrees to pay the amount owed within [DAYS TO PAY] days of receiving an 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 ongoing 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, emails, email content and anything else that the Designer creates as part of this project. 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 marketing strategies, code, type fonts, properly-licensed stock photos, proprietary marketing practices 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 given by the Client in written form.

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.

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 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 ended by the Client or the Designer. 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 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 may sign this document using online e-signature software such as Bonsai. These electronic signatures count as originals for all intents and purposes.

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

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.