Freelance Contract Review Checklist

Create a detailed checklist for freelancers in [YOUR INDUSTRY, e.g., freelance writing / web development / design] to use when reviewing project contracts before signing.

Organize by section:

1. Payment Terms: What to look for regarding rates, payment schedule, late payment penalties, kill fees, and acceptable payment methods. Include questions like: Is there a deposit required? What happens if the client disappears mid-project?

2. Scope of Work: How to verify deliverables are clearly defined, revision limits are stated, and what constitutes "completion." Include: Are milestones defined? Is there a sign-off process?

3. Intellectual Property and Ownership: When rights transfer, licensing terms, whether you can use work in your portfolio. Include: Do I retain rights until final payment? Can I showcase this in my portfolio?

4. Confidentiality and NDAs: What is reasonable vs. overly restrictive. Include: Does the NDA have an expiration date? Does it prevent me from working with competitors?

5. Termination Conditions: Notice periods, what happens to partial work, final payment upon termination. Include: What is the kill fee? Who owns work completed before termination?

6. Liability and Indemnification: Red flags to watch for. Include: Am I being asked to take on unreasonable liability? Is there a cap on damages?

7. Timeline and Deadlines: Penalties for late delivery, force majeure clauses, what happens if the client causes delays.

For each section, include:
- 3-5 specific questions to ask yourself when reading the contract
- Green flags (good contract language)
- Red flags (terms to push back on or negotiate)
- A suggested revision for each red flag