Freelance Agreement for Software Developer: What to Include (Customizable Template)

Introduction

As a Software Developer, having a clear Freelance Agreement is crucial. It helps outline the terms for multi-phase work, approvals, and handoffs. A solid agreement protects your project and ensures everyone is on the same page. To make this process easier, customize your Freelance Agreement now.

Legal Terms: What Matters Most for Software Developers

IP Ownership

• Your work should remain your intellectual property (IP) until the client has paid all fees. This ensures you're compensated fairly for your hard work.
• Consider including a clause that prevents the client from using your work product in AI models without permission.
• Think about retaining source files vs. transferring ownership. License scope and portfolio rights can also be defined, specifying when attribution makes sense.

Revision Limits, Acceptance, and Payment Milestones

• Set caps on the number of revisions included in your initial fee. This avoids endless changes and helps you manage your timeline.
• Clearly define acceptance criteria so both you and the client know when a deliverable meets the project standards.
• A simple milestone schedule can make payments smoother. Break down the project into phases with associated payment timelines.

Scope Creep and Change Orders

• Clearly identify what triggers a change order. Define the process for requesting changes and how they affect the timeline.
• Provide pricing guidance for additional work outside the original scope. This keeps the project on track and helps you manage your workflow.

Other Helpful Clauses for Software Developers

• Consider including a confidentiality clause to safeguard any sensitive project information you may handle.
• A limitation of liability clause can protect you from excessive claims. This defines the extent of your responsibility in case something goes wrong.

How Counsel Club Helps

Counsel Club re-imagines legal for startups, freelancers, and creative entrepreneurs. Our platform allows you to search for lawyer-drafted forms for startups, freelancers, content creators, and other creative entrepreneurs. Our platform guides you through modifications, both to the contract and the scope of work. Counsel Club has the most sophisticated drafting tool on the market, and it was designed and developed by lawyers. If you want more help, reach out to a Counsel Club lawyer through our Concierge program. Our legal agent, Amicus, was trained on proprietary legal data to be your best legal assistant. Finally, legal for today, that is fast, protective, and cost-effective.

Questions to Ask Amicus

• What IP rights do I retain if the project changes midway?
• How can I best set limits on revisions to ensure timely delivery?
• What should I include in the scope to avoid unexpected changes?

Closing CTA

Now that you know what to include in your Freelance Agreement, it’s time to create yours. Pair it with Statements of Work (SOWs) to cover all bases. Customize your Freelance Agreement now.