{"id":139,"date":"2013-10-28T12:18:00","date_gmt":"2013-10-28T16:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/?p=139"},"modified":"2021-10-25T17:33:37","modified_gmt":"2021-10-25T21:33:37","slug":"dont-get-screwed-freelance-contracts-legal-stuff-you-cant-ignore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freelancetofreedomproject.com\/dont-get-screwed-freelance-contracts-legal-stuff-you-cant-ignore\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Get Screwed: Freelance Contracts & Legal Stuff You Can\u2019t Ignore"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

So you\u2019re freelancing now, or you want to start. You put an offer out to the world (or to your hairdresser or mom\u2019s best friend) and you are super excited when a client comes in the door. Now what? Well besides the process you should already have in place (that we talked about\u00a0last week<\/a>), there is ONE BIG GLARING THING you have to have to realize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are now in business.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN EXACTLY?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Well, not just that you are making money on your own terms (which is awesome) or that you are one step closer to freelancing freedom (even better).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It means you are business owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, even just taking on a little almost-free gig on the side means you are a business owner. Legally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there are some things you just don\u2019t have the luxury of ignoring anymore. Like contracts, and taxes, and privacy policies and bank accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to talk about today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to not get screwed. Starting first and foremost with contracts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why you need a contract<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I remember my first \u201cbig\u201d real freelancing gig. I was so excited to have landed it and nervous about whether or not I was ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always advocate starting before you are ready. But one of the first questions I got from the client was, \u201cOk, you can send us the contract along with the invoice\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eeek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I need to send a contract?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So next step, scrambling around the internet downloading all kinds of different \u201cexamples\u201d and trying to piece together something that seemed right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve been there right? (or you just opened another tab to start at first site of the word \u201cscrewed\u201d above)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I sent it off, but stressed during the whole project if the information in it was what I needed, accurate or even legal<\/em>. I mean, what\u2019s the point of a contract if it\u2019s not legal?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turns out it was a bit of a disaster. Luckily, it was a family friend.  So I am pretty confident I won\u2019t actually have legal problems with the lack of real legality in the contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why was it a disaster?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This contract also covered a monthly retainer for on-going maintenance work. And, being inexperienced (and honestly stupid) I didn\u2019t include in it as much as I should have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many months, I was asked to do so much work that was outside what I imagined our contract to cover- but I failed to actually include in the contract. It was a constant awkward struggle each time I was asked to do something, not being able to easily say no by pointing to the contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So here is the short list of why you need a contract:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n