Freelance Contract Red Flag Checker
15 questions that reveal the clauses that get freelancers burned. Kill fee, non-compete, IP, liability cap — with plain-English explanations and negotiation scripts.
Contract Checklist
Does the contract include a kill fee (payment if client cancels)?
Is IP/ownership clearly defined — specifying who owns the final work?
Are revision rounds/scope explicitly specified?
Does the contract include a non-compete clause?
Is a payment schedule clearly defined (dates, milestones, or net terms)?
Does the contract use "work for hire" language assigning all rights to the client?
Is there a late payment penalty or interest clause if the client pays late?
Is there a mandatory arbitration clause (disputes resolved outside court)?
Is an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) required?
Is there a liability cap limiting your financial exposure?
Is there a change order / scope change process defined?
Is the governing law/jurisdiction defined?
Does the contract auto-renew without explicit notice?
Does the contract allow the client to withhold payment for "dissatisfaction" without objective criteria?
Does the contract define termination rights for both parties (not just the client)?
Related Tools
Freelance Pricing Strategy Calculator
Choose the right pricing model for your next project. Compare fixed price, hourly, retainer, value-based, and milestone billing — with risk-adjusted quotes, revision buffers, and a model recommendation based on your project details.
Open
Client NPS Calculator
Calculate your Net Promoter Score from client survey results. See your NPS vs the B2B services benchmark (41), simulate converting a detractor, get action recommendations, and learn how to run an NPS survey as a solo contractor.
Open
Scope Creep Cost Calculator
Quantify the hidden cost of scope creep on your freelance projects. See your original vs actual effective rate, revenue lost to unscoped hours, revision cost, and what to quote next time.
Open
Subcontractor vs Employee Cost Calculator
Compare the real cost of hiring a W2 employee vs a 1099 subcontractor. Includes employer FICA, unemployment insurance, workers comp, benefits, PTO, and payroll admin — with misclassification risk guidance.
Open
You might also like
Freelance Pricing Strategy Calculator
Choose the right pricing model for your next project. Compare fixed price, hourly, retainer, value-based, and milestone billing — with risk-adjusted quotes, revision buffers, and a model recommendation based on your project details.
Try it
Client NPS Calculator
Calculate your Net Promoter Score from client survey results. See your NPS vs the B2B services benchmark (41), simulate converting a detractor, get action recommendations, and learn how to run an NPS survey as a solo contractor.
Try it
Scope Creep Cost Calculator
Quantify the hidden cost of scope creep on your freelance projects. See your original vs actual effective rate, revenue lost to unscoped hours, revision cost, and what to quote next time.
Try it