Review client contracts before you sign. Understand IP ownership, payment terms, scope of work, and kill fees. Protect yourself from unfavorable terms.
A client sends a contract that signs away all your IP — even to unrelated future work you create outside this project
Payment terms are Net-60 with no late fees for the client — you might wait 90+ days to get paid
The scope is vague enough to justify endless revisions — "must meet client satisfaction"
There's no kill fee if they cancel the project midway — all your work for nothing
You can't afford a lawyer for a $5,000 project — but signing blind could cost you more
Client contracts are written to protect clients, not freelancers. Understanding what you're signing protects your income and your IP.
Work-for-hire: Client owns everything you create. Licensed use: You own it, they can use it. Full transfer: You assign all rights after payment. Understand which model applies and whether it covers ONLY this project or unrelated work too.
Net-30 is standard; Net-60 means you're financing their business. For larger projects, milestone payments (25% upfront, 25% at draft, 50% at completion) protect you from non-payment risk.
Kill fee provisions protect you if the client cancels mid-project. Typically 25-50% of the total fee, depending on how much work you've completed. Without this, you could lose weeks of work unpaid.
Clear scope: "2 rounds of revisions included, additional rounds at $X/hour." Vague scope: "Revisions until client is satisfied" — recipe for endless unpaid work. Get specifics.
Should list specific deliverables, not vague outcomes. "Design 5 social media graphics" (good) vs. "Create social media presence" (bad). Specific deliverables prevent scope creep.
Can you work with their competitors? How long and how broad? Reasonable: 6 months, direct competitors only. Unreasonable: 2 years, entire industry. Non-competes limit your future income.
Portfolio rights matter for building your business. Can you display the work? Credit yourself? Share case studies? Some clients require NDA-level secrecy; negotiate upfront.
If they pay late, what happens? Interest on overdue invoices (1.5% per month is common) incentivizes on-time payment. Without penalties, clients have no reason to pay promptly.
"Work-for-hire" language that claims ownership of work created before, during, or after the project — even unrelated work.
Payment due only "upon client satisfaction" with no objective criteria. Never agree to this — it's a license to not pay.
"Unlimited revisions" or vague scope like "must meet professional standards." You'll do free work forever.
Non-compete that's too broad (entire industry) or too long (2+ years). Severely limits future income.
No consequences for the client if they pay late. You're essentially giving them an interest-free loan.
Client can terminate at any time without cause and without payment for work completed. No kill fee, no protection.
Client can transfer your contract to someone else without your consent. You might end up working for a company you'd never choose.
Drag and drop any PDF or Word document. Works with independent contractor agreements, consulting contracts, SOWs, and master service agreements.
Get answers to questions that protect your business:
Every answer includes the exact page and paragraph. Click to verify the source clause. If something's missing (like a kill fee), you'll know what to negotiate.
Know what you're agreeing to before you sign. Negotiate better terms. Protect your IP and payment rights. Avoid unfavorable contracts that cost you later.
A client sends a $8,000 branding project contract. It looks standard. You upload it to Denser and ask:
Question 1:
"Who owns the intellectual property?"
Answer: "All work product created during the term of this agreement, including concepts, drafts, and deliverables, shall be considered work-for-hire owned by Client." (Section 4.2, Page 3)
⚠️ Red flag: "During the term" is vague. Does this include unrelated work?
Question 2:
"What are the payment terms?"
Answer: "Payment due Net-60 from invoice date." (Section 5.1, Page 4)
⚠️ Red flag: Net-60 is long. You're financing their project for 2 months.
Question 3:
"Is there a kill fee if the client cancels?"
Answer: No kill fee provision found in the contract.
⚠️ Red flag: If they cancel after you've done 80% of the work, you get $0.
Decision: Negotiate before signing.
You now know to ask for: (1) IP ownership limited to deliverables only, (2) Net-30 payment instead of Net-60, (3) 50% kill fee if they cancel after draft approval. Contract review saved you from signing blind.
Upload any freelancer contract and get instant analysis. No credit card required.
