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Service contract for freelancers: free template
Everything freelancers need in a service contract. Covers essential clauses, payment terms, intellectual property and a free template for creative.
A service contract is the single most effective tool for protecting your freelance business. It prevents scope creep, establishes payment terms before work begins and gives you legal standing if a client does not pay. Below is a full template you can adapt for your projects today.
Why freelancers skip contracts, and why that is a mistake
Most freelancers skip contracts because they feel awkward or slow down the relationship. In reality, a good contract builds trust by making expectations explicit for both sides. Clients who push back on signing a contract are giving you important information early.
Essential clauses and what each one protects
| Clause | What it protects you from |
|---|---|
| Scope of work | Requests for work not originally agreed |
| Payment terms and schedule | Late payment and payment disputes |
| Revision policy | Unlimited revision requests |
| Intellectual property transfer | Disputes over ownership of the final work |
| Cancellation policy | Losing unpaid work if the client cancels |
| Confidentiality | Client sharing your process or files without permission |
Free service contract template
Parties
Service provider: [Your full name], tax ID [your tax ID number], residing at [address].
Client: [Client full name or company], [tax ID or company registration number], located at [address].
1. Scope of work
The service provider agrees to deliver: [exact description of deliverables, format and deadline]. Any work outside this scope will be quoted separately before execution.
2. Payment
Total value: R$[amount]. Payment schedule: [e.g. 50% upfront on signing, 50% on final delivery]. Accepted methods: [PIX, bank transfer]. Late payment penalty: [e.g. 2% per month after due date].
3. Revisions
This contract includes [number] rounds of revisions. Additional revisions will be quoted and approved before execution.
4. Intellectual property
All rights to the delivered materials transfer to the client upon receipt of full payment. Until then, the service provider retains all rights.
5. Cancellation
If the client cancels after work has begun, the service provider retains [e.g. 50%] of the total contract value for work already completed. The upfront payment is non-refundable.
6. Confidentiality
Both parties agree to keep all shared business information confidential during and after the contract period.
[City], [date].
_____________________________ _____________________________
[Your name] [Client name]
Legal validity in Brazil
Contracts do not need to be notarized to be legally valid in Brazil. A signed PDF sent by email, a WhatsApp message confirming the terms or an email exchange can all serve as evidence. The more formal and detailed the document, the stronger your position if a dispute arises.
How Eluvie helps
Once a contract is signed, Eluvie helps you link it to the client, track the project payments and keep your cash flow organized, so the financial side of every client relationship stays clear from start to finish.
Join Eluvie