Web Design Contract Checklist: 14 Clauses Every Freelancer Needs

Most disputes between web designers and clients are not about design. They are about money, time and ownership: a project that dragged on for months, a client who expected unlimited changes, a deposit that was never paid, or a domain nobody can access. A clear written contract prevents almost all of them. Here are the 14 clauses every freelance web design contract should include, with sample wording you can adapt.

Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Contract law varies by state. Have an attorney review your contract before you rely on it.

The 14 clauses at a glance

1. Scope of work

Be specific: number of pages, number of unique templates, features (forms, booking, ecommerce, blog), integrations, platform and launch tasks.

`` Designer will design and build a website on [platform] with [8] pages using [4] unique templates, including a contact form, online booking integration with [tool], blog setup, basic on-page SEO, and analytics setup, as detailed in the attached Scope of Work. ``

2. Exclusions

List what is not included: copywriting, photography, logo design, ongoing SEO, paid ads, content entry beyond a set number of pages, and hosting fees.

3. Client content

`` Client will supply all text, images, and logos by [date] using the content templates provided. Designer is not responsible for delays caused by late or incomplete content. ``

4. Timeline and approvals

Set milestones with dates and a response window: "Client will respond to requests for feedback or approval within five business days; if not, the timeline moves accordingly."

5. Pause and restart

`` If the project is inactive for 30 days due to Client, Designer may pause it. Restarting requires a restart fee of $[X] and a new schedule based on Designer's availability. ``

6. Revisions

State rounds per phase, for example two rounds on the homepage design and one on inner templates, with further changes billed hourly.

7. Fees and payment schedule

`` Total fee: $[X]. Payments: [40]% deposit before work begins; [30]% on design approval; [30]% before launch. The site will be launched and files transferred after final payment. Invoices are due within [7] days. Late payments incur [1.5]% per month or the maximum permitted by law. ``

8. Change requests

`` Requests outside the Scope of Work will be quoted in writing before work begins. Approved changes may affect the timeline and fee. ``

9. Ownership and copyright

This is the clause most freelance contracts get wrong. Under US copyright law, the creator generally owns the copyright unless there is a signed written agreement saying otherwise, and "work made for hire" applies to independent contractors only in limited categories with a written agreement. A clear assignment is cleaner:

`` On receipt of full payment, Designer assigns to Client all rights, title, and interest in the final custom deliverables created for Client. Designer retains ownership of its pre-existing materials, tools, and code libraries, and grants Client a perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use them as part of the website. Designer may display the work in its portfolio unless Client opts out in writing. ``

10. Third-party licenses

Themes, plugins, fonts and stock images come with their own licenses. State who buys them, in whose name, and that the client must keep renewable licenses active.

11. Accounts and domains

`` The domain, hosting, analytics, and platform accounts will be registered in Client's name and owned by Client. Designer will be given user access for the project and any care plan. ``

Never register a client's domain in your own name.

12. Accessibility and compliance

Say what standard you build to and what the client is responsible for:

`` Designer will build the templates and components it creates to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA success criteria, tested as described in the Scope of Work. Content added later by Client and third-party tools may affect accessibility. Client is responsible for the accuracy of its content, prices, and claims, and for its privacy policy and legal notices. ``

13. Warranty and support

Offer a defined bug-fix period, commonly 30 days after launch, then point to a paid care plan.

14. Liability and termination

`` Designer's total liability is limited to the fees paid under this agreement, to the extent permitted by law. Either party may end this agreement with written notice. Client will pay for work completed to the termination date. The deposit is non-refundable once work has begun. ``

A worked example: how the clauses pay off

Sam quotes a landscaping company $6,000 for a ten-page site: $2,400 deposit, $1,800 on design approval and $1,800 before launch. The contract includes two revision rounds, a 30-day pause clause with a $350 restart fee, and a change request clause.

• Week 3: the owner asks for a photo gallery with filtering by project type, which is not in scope. Sam quotes $650 under the change request clause; the owner approves. Revenue: $6,650.
• Week 4: after the second revision round, the owner's business partner wants a different homepage layout. Sam bills four extra hours at $85 under the revisions clause: $340.
• Weeks 5-10: content stalls. On day 30 of inactivity, Sam pauses the project. Two months later the owner sends content and pays the $350 restart fee; Sam schedules the build into a free slot.
• Launch: final payment of $1,800 arrives before DNS is switched. The domain and hosting are already in the client's name.

Without the contract, Sam would likely have absorbed $1,340 of extra work and an unpredictable delay, and might have launched before being paid. With it, every conversation was simple: "Here's what we agreed."

Contract checklist

• ☐ Scope lists pages, templates, features and platform.
• ☐ Exclusions are written down.
• ☐ Content deadlines and responsibilities are clear.
• ☐ Milestones have dates and a feedback window.
• ☐ Pause and restart terms are included.
• ☐ Revision rounds are stated.
• ☐ Payment schedule ties launch to final payment.
• ☐ Change requests require written quotes.
• ☐ Copyright is assigned on full payment; your tools are licensed, not given away.
• ☐ Licences for themes, plugins, fonts and images are covered.
• ☐ Domains and accounts are in the client's name.
• ☐ Accessibility standard and responsibilities are stated.
• ☐ Warranty period is defined.
• ☐ Liability is limited and termination terms are clear.

Your next step

Compare your current contract against the checklist above and mark every missing clause. Add them, then book an attorney review so you can use the contract with confidence on every project.

The full guide, Starting a Freelance Web Design Business, includes a full contract clause set, accessibility and launch checklists, pricing formulas, care plan templates, marketing scripts and a 30/60/90-day plan, for $0.99.