Freelance Contract Template

This generic Freelance Contract Template has been designed for use by an individual independent freelancer contracting personally to provide their services to a business client. 

This document does not specify any particular subject, skill set, description of particular services or type of work but, instead, is a generic template that is designed to be adapted for use for any type of work or services. Please click on the links on the right for a choice of other contracts for freelance work specific to publishing, digital marketing, graphic design and web/software/app development.

An alternative version of this Freelance Contract Template for freelancers operating through a personal service (or other intermediary) company rather than directly is available at Freelance Agreement Template, with other activity specific agreements here.

This contract aims to reduce the risk that the freelancer might be deemed to be a de-facto employee of their client rather than a sole trader who is a self-employed contractor. However, whether they are treated by HMRC, a tribunal or any other body, as self-employed will depend not only on what is contained in this contract but also on all other circumstances. Those circumstances will include the way in which the contract is implemented and the conduct of the client, the freelancer and anyone the freelancer engages to do any of the work for the freelancer and all related arrangements between them.

The application of the Freelance Contract Template alone cannot guarantee the status of the freelancer as self-employed, so professional advice should be sought in this respect. The advice will need to consider the content of the document together with all the circumstances and arrangements relating to the work, the freelancer and the client.

A downloadable Note is available at Guidance Note on Employment, Self-Employment and IR35 and additional information at IR35, Employment and Self-Employment.

Nevertheless, a carefully worded contract documenting the independence of the freelancer is a key starting point. 

What is contained in this Freelance Contract Template?

Payment under this contract may take the form of a flat fee or hourly rate. The fee also serves as consideration for intellectual property rights (IPRs) granted to the client under the terms of this document. There are two alternative sets of IPR provisions. If the freelancer wishes to retain all IPRs, but grant a licence to the client to use the IPRs, the first set of clauses should be selected. If the freelancer wishes to assign all IPRs to the client (without the freelancer having a licence or any other rights under the IPRs), the second set of clauses should be selected.  

Each party provides warranties and indemnities to the other with regard to the non-infringement of third-party intellectual property rights.

This document includes a simplified data protection clause which refers to a separate data protection policy (or similar). Full details of personal data use should be provided in that document.

Optional phrases / clauses are enclosed in square brackets. These should be read carefully and selected to be compatible with one another. Unused options should be removed from the document.

This Freelance Contract Template contains the following sections:

1. Definitions and Interpretation

2. Engagement of the Freelancer

3. Nature of Engagement

4. Self-Employment Status of the Freelancer

5. Fees

6. Intellectual Property

7. Warranties and Indemnities

8. Liability

9. Insurance

10. Confidentiality

11. Termination

12. Personal Information (Data Protection)

13. Force Majeure

14. Nature of the Agreement

15. Third Party Liability

16. Severance

17. Notices

18. Alternative Dispute Resolution

19. Law and Jurisdiction

and the following schedules:

1. The Work, Assistant, Payments, Purpose for which IPRs may be used

2. Privacy Notice

This document is in open format. Either enter the requisite details in the highlighted fields or adjust the wording to suit your purposes.

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Freelance Contract Template is part of Business Documents. Just £35.00 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Business Documents for 1 year.