Clients Keep Ghosting You? Start Drafting a Service Agreement Today — With a Template

PublishedFebruary 1, 2017

Reading Time3 min read

This post is meant to share the short-form service agreement I've been using, born from painful experience getting stiffed by clients. After sitting down over beers with a lawyer friend, they recommended I start using contracts — so I'd have evidence if I ever ran into shady clients again.

The template below has been refined over the years, from my freelancing days through starting my own company. I send it to clients for signing before any work begins. You can attach it to your quotation — that way you've got documentation and won't have headaches later.

Service Agreement

This agreement is made at (insert address) on (insert date and time of agreement).

Between (your full name and address), hereinafter referred to as the "Contractor," and (client's full name, company name, and address), hereinafter referred to as the "Client."

Terms and Conditions

The net price in the quotation does not include additional necessary expenses not specified in the project details, such as copywriting fees, font licensing, printing or prototyping, shipping, or travel. If any expenses arise beyond those specified above, the Client will be notified by the Contractor for approval before any costs are incurred.

Other terms and conditions shall reference the attached project details document, including the project scope and timeline. (Prepare a separate attachment with full project details.)

Payment

Upon the Client's decision to proceed with the project as described above, the Client must pay a deposit of (insert percentage) percent of the project's net value. A second payment of (insert percentage) percent is due when approximately three-fifths of the project has been completed. The remaining (insert percentage) percent is due upon project completion as specified in the project details. All payments at each stage must be made within (insert number) days of receiving the invoice.

If payment is delayed at any stage, the Contractor reserves the right to suspend or cancel the project as deemed appropriate. No refund or transfer of deposit payments already made for completed portions of the project will be issued to the Client under any circumstances.

Issues and Project Cancellation

If delays or issues arise that prevent the project from continuing, or if the project needs to be paused, the Contractor reserves the right to suspend or cancel the project as deemed appropriate. No refund or transfer of deposit payments already made for completed portions of the project will be issued to the Client under any circumstances.

In the event of project cancellation at any stage, the Client must pay a cancellation fee to the Contractor for lost time and opportunity, amounting to (insert percentage) percent of the project's net value.

Warranty and Revisions Beyond the Scope of Agreement

After delivery of the completed work, revisions are permitted up to (insert number) times within (insert number) days of final delivery.

From revision number (insert number) onward, additional revision fees apply at (insert percentage) percent of the total project value, equaling (insert amount) baht per revision, per deliverable.

I accept the terms and conditions above, along with the attached quotation, as confirmation of the project engagement, as evidenced by the signatures below.

Last updated: August 2018

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