Master Services Agreement for Web Design Studios: What to Include (Customizable Template)

Introduction

A clear Master Services Agreement (MSA) can be a game changer for web design studios. It helps in managing multi-phase work, approvals, and handoffs effectively. You can ensure your rights and responsibilities are clear, protecting your creative work from the outset. Customize your Master Services Agreement now to lay a strong foundation for your projects.

Legal Terms: What Matters Most for Web Design Studios

IP Ownership

• Ownership: Clearly establish that all intellectual property rights remain yours until the client pays in full. This protects your work while ensuring the client understands their obligations.
• AI Use Restrictions: Prevent your work from being fed into AI models by clients. This clause safeguards your creative output.
• Attribution: Define when and how you should be credited for your work, especially when it’s used in portfolios or promotional materials.

Revision Limits, Acceptance, and Payment Milestones

• Round Caps: Set limits on how many rounds of revisions are included in the project fee. This helps manage your time and resources effectively.
• Acceptance Criteria: Clearly outline what constitutes project acceptance to avoid misunderstandings.
• Milestone Payments: Include a simple schedule that ties payments to project milestones, ensuring you get paid as you progress.

Scope Creep and Change Orders

• Change Order Triggers: Define what constitutes a change in scope and how it will be addressed in terms of pricing and timelines.
• Pricing Guidance: Provide clear pricing for additional work to help clients manage their budget.
• Schedule Impact: State how changes will affect existing timelines to keep the project on track.

Other Helpful Clauses for Web Design Studios

• Portfolio Rights: Retain rights to showcase your work in your portfolio, which is essential for building your reputation and attracting new clients.
• Confidentiality: Include a clause to protect sensitive information shared during the project, reassuring clients about their data safety.

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 are the best practices for IP ownership in my agreements?
• How can I set effective revision limits with clients?
• What should I include in my change order process?

Closing CTA

Creating a Master Services Agreement tailored for your web design studio is essential. Pair it with your Statements of Work for comprehensive coverage. Customize your Master Services Agreement now to start protecting your creative endeavors.