Master Services Agreement for Graphic Designers: What to Include (Customizable Template)

Introduction

A well-crafted Master Services Agreement (MSA) is essential for graphic designers as it lays a solid foundation for your projects, especially when dealing with multi-phase work. This document helps ensure smooth approvals and handoffs. If you're ready to protect your creative work and establish clear terms with clients, Customize your Master Services Agreement now.

Legal Terms: What Matters Most for Graphic Designers

IP Ownership

• Make it clear that you retain ownership of your intellectual property (IP) until the client pays in full.
• Include clauses that prevent the client from using your work in AI models.
• Specify your portfolio rights and when attribution is necessary, such as in promotional materials.

Revision Limits, Acceptance, and Payment Milestones

• Set specific limits on the number of revisions included in your agreement, keeping it manageable and clear.
• Detail acceptance criteria to ensure that both you and the client are on the same page regarding what constitutes a completed project.
• Introduce simple payment milestones that correlate with project phases to ensure you are compensated as work progresses.

Scope Creep and Change Orders

• Clearly define the initial scope of work to minimize misunderstandings later.
• Outline the triggers for change orders, making it easier to manage additional requests.
• Provide pricing guidance for changes and take into account how alterations will impact your project timeline.

Other Helpful Clauses for Graphic Designers

• Portfolio Rights: Allow yourself to showcase the completed work in your portfolio unless the client requests otherwise.
• Confidentiality: Consider including a confidentiality clause to protect sensitive information about your projects.

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 rights do I have if the client wants to use my work in different formats?
• How can I handle revisions that fall outside the agreed scope?
• What should I consider when setting payment milestones for my projects?

Closing CTA

Ready to create a Master Services Agreement to protect your work? Pair it with Statements of Work (SOWs) for comprehensive coverage. Don’t wait any longer, Customize your Master Services Agreement now.