Check a freelance contract online — AI review
Freelance contracts are written by clients, not for freelancers. Green Flagged scans every clause against a checklist built from the patterns that actually trip up independent workers — payment timing, ownership, revisions, and termination.
8 red flags we look for in freelance contracts
Net 60/90 payment terms
Anything past Net 30 transfers your bank into the client's working capital. Push back to Net 14 or 50% upfront.
Total IP assignment with no payment milestone
If you assign all IP on signature instead of on final payment, an unpaid invoice can mean you've given the work away for free.
Unlimited revisions
Without a revision cap, scope creep is built in. Two rounds is standard; more should be billable.
Kill fee under 25%
If the client can terminate without notice, your kill fee should cover the work done plus an opportunity-cost premium.
Broad non-solicit / non-compete
Clients sometimes insert clauses that prevent you from working in adjacent industries. Narrow scope, narrow geography, ≤12 months.
Uncapped indemnification
You shouldn't indemnify against losses larger than the fee. Cap indemnity at the project value.
Auto-renew with short cancellation window
30-day cancel windows on annual auto-renew are designed to be missed.
Vague 'satisfaction' clauses
If payment is conditional on the client being "satisfied" without objective criteria, you can be stiffed for any reason.
What to read in this freelance contract
Payment terms and schedule
Net 14 with milestones is freelancer-friendly. Net 60+ is a financing burden you're not getting paid for.
Scope and deliverables
Specific outputs, specific revision rounds, specific acceptance criteria. "As needed" is a red flag.
IP ownership and transfer
Transfer should be effective on final payment, not on signature. Keep moral rights and portfolio rights where local law allows.
Termination and kill fee
Mutual termination with notice, kill fee covering work done plus reasonable margin.
Indemnification
Mutual, capped at fees paid. Carve out gross negligence and IP infringement as separate (lower) caps.
Governing law and jurisdiction
Your home jurisdiction beats theirs. Arbitration in a third-country city is fine; theirs is not.
Frequently asked about freelance contract
What payment terms should I push for as a freelancer?
Net 14 with a 30-50% upfront deposit for projects under $10K. Milestones for larger projects. Anything beyond Net 30 is a financing favor you're not getting paid for.
Should I sign over all IP rights?
If the deliverables are bespoke client work, yes — but tie the transfer to final payment, not signature. Reserve portfolio rights and any underlying tools you brought into the project.
How much should a kill fee be?
Minimum: 100% of work completed to date plus 20-30% of the remaining contract value. Higher for short-notice termination.
Can a client force me to sign a non-compete?
They can ask. Most non-competes against freelancers are unenforceable in the EU, increasingly so in the US. Narrow them or strike them.
What's the right indemnity cap for a $5K project?
Cap total indemnity at fees paid ($5K). Carve out IP infringement at a higher cap (e.g., $25K) if the client insists. Refuse uncapped indemnity.
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