How to Legally Protect Your Graphic Design or Freelance Business

*Note: in this post, I’m recommending an attorney who personally know, work with, and trust: Paige Hulse and The Creative Law Shop. I am an affiliate of The Creative Law Shop, but only because I have used it myself since I started my business! When I reached out to Paige about any discount opportunities for my clients, she generously offered 10% off if you choose to shop with code SARAHANNDESIGN10.

I have immense trust in these contracts, and truly believe in the value they provide for you and your business!

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Why it’s important to have a Graphic Design Contract

If you’re a graphic designer or a freelancer (or any creative professional), a good contract is essential to your work. Even if you are just starting out, you should be using a contract—no matter how small the project, no matter who the client is.

It’s not something we want to think about, but things can go wrong in our businesses. If they do, it’s important to be protected! I’d hate to see you lose your hard-earned income or reputation over a messy legal situation.

That being said, I want to encourage you to think of your contract as a positive, not a negative. It’s not just about the worst-case scenario or unexpected catastrophe… in fact, I believe a good graphic design contract always sets you up for the best outcome.

A contract makes expectations clear for both you and your client, so everyone is on the same page. It sets clear boundaries, designates appropriate responsibilities, and establishes transparency between both parties. A contract preemptively answers all the tricky questions, and it gives you both a handy reference (in writing) if those questions do arise.

This is one area of your business where you really don’t want to skimp. A copy-and-paste template that you find online may not be properly reviewed by a certified legal team, and could ultimately cost you (possibly even thousands of dollars). A good graphic design contract is worth the investment.

If you’re a designer, I recommend the Graphic Design Agreement + Web Design Provision (if applicable). I know that $375 would have seemed like a lot to me when I started my business, but I promise that it’s is worth every penny. (And don’t forget, you’ll receive 10% off if you use code SARAHANNDESIGN10)

I’ve learned some lessons the hard way… and I wish I’d had some clauses in my contract from the very beginning! As you review your contract, you might want to think about:

– Pricing terms and defining project scope
– Intellectual property and redistribution rights
– Client responsibilities for providing content
– Late fees and hourly rate for additional work

Luckily, The Creative Law Shop has covered everything for you in the Graphic Design Agreement… not to mention, it outlines the terms for situations in which I’d want to be prepared: what if a client wishes to cease work on a project? Do you get to keep their money? What if you were to become injured and unable to complete the work?

A good contract covers all of those tricky circumstances that could arise, allowing you to handle those situations with confidence and professionalism.

Even if you’re new to business, I hope you’ll build a strong foundation by starting with a strong contract in place. If you have any questions about my experience with The Creative Law Shop, please don’t hesitate to ask!

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Additional contracts you might wish to consider:

– The Web Designer Agreement
– The Independent Contractor Agreement
– The Intern Agreement
– The Consulting Agreement