As an independent worker, the benefits are many.such as the freedom to set the value of your services, the balance between your professional and personal life, the ability to grow without limits, set your own schedules, delivery dates, and choose which projects to accept or reject. However, there are also certain safeguards that you have to consider when contracting with a company or individual.
What to include in your contract?
dIt will depend on the type of work you do. But among the most important clauses are:
1. Get paid in advance.
Most clients are not willing to pay for your work until it is completed.. However, you have to keep in mind that Your knowledge has value and your time is not infinite.. Through partial or full payment in advance, Clients reserve a space in your schedule, otherwise, there is no way you can guarantee that you will be able to work on their project, because you will have already assigned your availability for another.
2. Late payment is one of the big problems that independent workers face.
To protect your liquidity and encourage customers to pay on time, you can charge interest for late payments. Before applying them, it is important that you notify your clients and incorporate it in the contract. Also, make sure the interest rate is reasonable.
3. Additional work, changes and revisions.
Sometimes when delivering a job, it comes back with many requests for changes and corrections. If you do not have a clause that regulates them, it is very easy for you to fall into the “trap of a thousand corrections.” Be specific about the number of changes that your service rate includes and how much it will cost to make changes once this limit has been passed.
4. Copyright and intellectual property.
You are the one who owns the copyright about your work until the moment you transfer the intellectual property to your client. You have to decide and clarify if and when this transfer will happen.
5. Using the work in your portfolio
Some professionals include a clause where they reserve the rights to use fragments of the projects they have worked on in order to promote themselves. In any case, and as a act of kindnessit is important that you consult your clients beforehand.
6. Cancellation policy and fee.
What happens if a client cancels unexpectedly before or during the project? dYou should clearly state if you allow cancellations and, if so, within what period, and whether customers will lose payments made.
Suggestion:
- The contract must be written in simple language.
- Get advice from professionals.
- Update it regularly, since the clauses should change as your needs or services change.
Contact information:
WhatsApp: 221 5896555
Instagram: @andrea.perunetti
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