Freelance Services Agreement

Freelance Services Agreement: Create a Verified Freelance Contract

A verified freelance services agreement is the contract between a client and an independent freelancer. It records the services and deliverables, the timetable, the fees and payment terms, who owns the work, and the freelancer's status as self-employed. Robot Lawyer drafts the agreement from your answers, for the law of the country or state you choose. On the Verified plan, a legal professional checks it before you sign.

CONTENTS

What Is a Freelance Services Agreement?

It is a contract for services, not a contract of employment. The freelancer runs their own business, decides how to do the work and is responsible for their own tax. The agreement makes this clear and sets out exactly what is being delivered and paid for, so there are no surprises about scope, deadlines or ownership.

When Do You Need One?

• Hiring a freelancer
  Designers, writers, developers, marketers, photographers and other independent professionals.
• Working as a freelancer
  You want clear terms for every client, including when and how you get paid.
• One-off projects and ongoing work
  A single deliverable or a regular monthly arrangement.

What's Included in Your Agreement?

• Services and deliverables
  What the freelancer will do and deliver, set out in a schedule.
• Dates
  When the work starts, any deadlines and when the agreement ends.
• Fees and payment
  The fee structure, invoicing and payment terms, including any expenses.
• Intellectual property
  Whether the client or the freelancer owns the work, with a licence for the other where needed.
• IP indemnity
  The freelancer covers the client if a third party claims the work infringes its rights, and the client does the same for materials it supplies.
• Status
  The freelancer is an independent contractor, responsible for their own tax and insurance.
• Liability, termination and disputes
  Sensible limits on liability, how either side can end the agreement, and mediation before court. UK only: mediation through CEDR, the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution.
• Optional terms
  Confidentiality and a detailed project brief, where you choose them.

Employment Status (UK Only)

In the UK, calling someone a freelancer doesn't settle their status. HMRC and the employment tribunals look at how the relationship works in practice, including control, personal service and mutuality of obligation. Your agreement reflects genuine self-employment, but the way you work together matters too. In the US, the same applies under federal and state tests for independent contractors.

How It Works on Robot Lawyer

1. Answer the questions
   Tell us about the client, the freelancer, the services, the dates and the fees.
2. Generate your agreement
   We draft a complete freelance contract with a schedule of services and fees.
3. Get it verified
   On the Verified plan, a qualified legal professional checks the agreement within 24 hours and makes amendments where needed. See how our documents are verified.
4. Sign and start work
   Both parties sign before the work begins.

Freelance Services Agreement FAQs

Who owns the work a freelancer creates?

Unless the contract says otherwise, the freelancer usually owns the copyright in work they create, even if the client paid for it. Your agreement says clearly who owns it, based on your answers.

Is a freelance agreement the same as a consulting agreement?

They are similar. A freelance agreement usually focuses on specific deliverables, while a Consulting Agreement focuses on advice and expertise.

How do I make sure I get paid on time?

Set clear payment terms in the agreement, such as payment within a set number of days of invoice. Your agreement includes the rules on late payment for the governing law.

Can either party end the agreement early?

Yes. Your agreement includes a notice period for ending it, and the right to end it immediately for a serious breach.

Create a Verified Freelance Services Agreement

Put your freelance work on a clear footing. Related documents: Independent Contractor Agreement, Consulting Agreement, Service Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement.