Story: Remote work
Under COVID-19, everyone has faced some challenges at work, a freelance graphic/web designer as well. One of them is remote work. I have to work with clients who are out of the city/country. I have to care about an estimate and contract.
I have to charge a fee to the client correctly(currency adjustment) and safely(how to transfer). Before that, I have to make a contract. According to The Futur, I need to think about a contract for over $5K project. However, under the COVID-19, I need to consider making a contract for each project.
No one wants to take a regal action. It takes so much time(and cost). Once make a contract, at least both a client and I have to work-appropriate way. I have to provide a design service completely and a client has to pay for it. If something problem happens during the process, both sides can take a regal action. Basically, we cannot ignore it. If you neglect it, your position would be worse and you may be charged more than you had to pay.
In the north US, regal action is quite common compare to Asia. For example, Starbucks was sue from consumers because the coffee was too hot and the paper cup(sleave) is not enough insulation, or less amount etc. I need to adapt to the culture.
Anyway, this blog is for learning and making a process of the contract.
Contract contents for graphic/web design project
Before making a contract, I searched for a general table of contents. This is not official, a lawyer did not involve. It picks up information that I thought I need on the internet.
1. Project overview
– Mention the name
– What you provide
– Project Data
– Agreement by email works
2. What, how, and when you get paid
– Project fee(50% upfront, 50% before delivery)
– Payment method, Wave APP(outside of Canada) or check
– Payment deadline
– Condition of late or non-payment
3. Deliverables
– Vector assets
– Target delivery dates for each asset
– Milestones
– File types
4. Project scope
– Scope of work, what’s included, and what’s not
5. Revisions and additional work
– Make limits, you may have to revise a work more, but it’s okay. You can always remind this to a client
– Mention a condition, hourly rate for beyond rounds
6. Copyright and IP protections
– Confirms the client gives you permission to use the project in your portfolio or social media
7. Legal protections
– TBA
8. Termination
– Process and fee percentage
Contract Basics for Freelance Artists
©Bailey Kalesti
– Scope of work
prevent the freelance from doing work without pay
– Milestone
Feedback span and revisions time
– Payment terms
Fee, additional cost, invoice terms and late payment
– Ownership
Freelance has to use the work for self-promotion
– Rejection
I don’t agree that the client pays for the time. I have to consider about preference, but if they don’t like my work, they wouldn’t offer a job to me. I cannot imagine this situation now.
Do You Need A Design Contract?
©Satori Graphics
– Overview, what you do, until when, what you provide
– Upfront 50% payment
– Revision time
– Due data
– Feedback term
– Copyright
Creating A Basic Freelance Contract
©Open Door Creative
I don’t want to insist on only a designer’s rights. If you do, you have to take a responsibility for your work as a professional without excuse.
You NEED a design contract for freelancing!
©CharliMarieTV
Due data is often extended because of client feedback term and revision time. I have to mention that.
Contracts & Proposals for Creatives
©Jesse Showalter
Proposal
– Introduction
– Portfolio
– Quote
– Timeline
– Solution
Contract
– Scope of work
– Quote
– Ownership
– Disagreement or accident
4 Simple Steps to Getting Paid as a Freelancer with Wave Apps
©Ben G Kaiser
– 50% upfront
– Commitment
– Leverage
– Security
I am a Wave APP user.
I don’t use Quickbooks in my life.
Photography Contracts – Everything You Need To Know
©Taylor Jackson
– Who, what, where, when, why and how much
If a photographer requires a lot of rights & usage regulation at local clients, they may lose a new opportunity. You must probide good work beyond a client expectation. It’s a first.
Contract form for automation
Contract
1. Project overview
– Client: XYZ Corporation(*Use the name as an official at the invoice)
– Address: 1234 Abc Street, Vancouver, BC, A1B2C3
– PIC: Name
– phone: 604.123.4567
– Email: name@company.com
– Project: Web design project
– Data: September 30th, 2020
– Deadline: In 3-4 weeks(*It depends)
*The client requires feedback in 2 days(48 hours) for meeting a deadline.
*Milestones setting is available. It depends on the project.
*All materials will be in the Media folder at the WordPress hosting server, jpg, png, svg files are provided if necessary.
2. Payment term
– Project fee: 50% upfront, 50% before delivery (*GST 0.05% will be applied)
– Payment method: Credit card through Wave Accounting, E-transfer or check
– Payment deadline: 1 week for the upfront fee, 2 weeks for the remaining fee
*The programmer, illustrator, photographer, digital marketer, and any other costs are not included.
*When the payment delayed without prior notice, the fee will be increased by 0.05% per week.
3. Deliverables
– Website, Hosting server information, Images, Vector file
4. Project scope
Frontend development
– Project alignment
– Market research
– Move board
– Wireframing
– Prototype
– Development
– Running Test
– Deployment
Backend development
– Server setup
– CMS template setup
– Basic plugin/SEO setting
*The programmer, illustrator, photographer, digital marketer, and any other costs are not included.
5. Revisions and additional work
– The revision is available for 3 times.
– If the client requires revision over 4 times, the client will be charged $35 per hour.
6. Copyright and IP protections
– Copyright of the website belongs to the client.
– I possess the right of the project for display as a portfolio on the website and posting on social media.
7. Legal protections
– For leave piece of evidence, the client and I mainly communicate by Email. Occasionally, a phone/zoom call is available.
8. Termination
– The client can cancel before website development if the prototype design did not meet a client’s expectation.
– Upfront payment will cover the cost for the prototype.
– Upfront payment is not refundable except I faced an inevitable problem(sick, accident etc) or neglect a duty for the project.
When To Send A Proposal?
©The Futur
If you want to shortcut, you can buy a template for a proposal & contract. You can learn a lot from it It’s used at a mulch million design agency. If you are a freelance graphic/web designer who charges $500-$1K, a client may feel overwhelmed. In addition, you have to deserve as a freelance graphic/web designer who can submit this contract. Not easy.
Contents of the contract:
– Detailed company info
– Offer term
– Change policy
– Client responsibilities
– Right to reproduce
– Legal relationship
– Warrantees
– Liability
– Dispute resolution
– Termination clause
– Intellectual property
– Scope of work
– Fees and experiences
– Payment terms
Conclusion: Professionalism or overwhelming
I shamingly did not contract with a client. My project is not often beyond $10,000. I could relatively make a good relationship with the client so far.
Just one time, I met a red flag client. He stopped a project under the COVID-19 and rejected payment for 2 months work. In the end, I had to sue him to CRT(Civil Resolution Tribunal).
The trial consumes not only time, but you also won’t be positive even you won. Since then, I have started to think about a contract. At the next project, I would like to send a contract when I estimate the project over $5,000.
