Sample Web Design Contract Template PDF

Web Design Contract Considerations

The thing most agency and freelance web designers despise is the administrative work involved and the time away from actual development. But a contract readily prepared for your client protects you and your business in order to maintain a clear and defined set of expectations of your service and what will be delivered upon completion. In addition, when a client sees that you have a polished contract, they’ll have more confidence in your abilities. Paired with a examples of previous work, your web design contract lets people know that you’re both competent and professional. There are a few key things that every freelance web design contract template should include:

Detailed descriptions of the work you’ll be doing. The scope of your work for your client should be well detailed, defined and as specific as possible. Your work product and content production for your client is your intellectual property and your manner of producing income. You are providing a service and scope of work that should be protected and outlined in your contract. Every service and element used in the coding and development of a website, inclusive of any future technical support should clearly defined.

Timeline for deliverables (including dates to aim for so you can create a work-back schedule). Communication and understanding of what you are doing and when you are doing it is essential to any work relationship. The timeline upon which you complete the work for your client provides you with a schedule and your client with an understanding of when they will receive drafts and the final work.

Payment details & invoicing (overall cost, down payment, method of payment, due dates for payments, including late fees). It’s up to you to determine what to charge a client for your work. Some designers choose to quote by project scope, while others charge hourly. The latter is better when doing something basic, a one page website. Charging by project is better if it’s something that’ll take you more than a day or two to complete. It might be a bit disheartening to think that your client’s only incentive to pay you is to get their website live but—it works. In this section, you’ll also deal with scope creep, which is one of the most daunting aspects of website design work. If you haven’t come across it yet, this is when the client comes back with a bazillion changes and “minor tweaks” and time-consuming technical support that you did not account for in your invoice. In some cases, regarding payment, you can implement a payment schedule with weekly, monthly, or half-up-front type payment options. For an in-depth view on this, you can read a guide to invoicing management from Delegated.

Revisions & edits. Be sure to provide your client options and drafts of the website. It’s fairly standard to have 1-2 rounds of revision, agreed upon upfront, to avoid scope-creep, constant back and forth, and never ending projects.
Copyright ownership. Copyright (Intellectual Property Rights) Ownership is really important. After all, if you create a logo for someone for a few hundred dollars, and then they use it on products that earn them millions, you’ll shoot yourself in the foot by not retaining some IP ownership. One option is to transfer some copyright to your clients, but not all. As an example, you can grant the client full ownership of your design as-is, but that they don’t have permission to modify it in any way. Your contract should specify where and how the client can use your work, that you receive credit for the work and limit the full use of the work.

More on ownership of intellectual property rights:

According to Pinsent Masons, a global lawfirm, “[i]f your employees are creating your website then, in the absence of any agreement to the contrary, copyright automatically vests in you as the employer. This is not the case if you are commissioning contractors (e.g. external web developers) to create your website. This is a common misunderstanding. In the absence of agreement, the contractor will own the copyright in whatever he creates.” Essentially, unless you sign it over to the client in your legal terms and conditions, you would own the copyright for what you had created.
To read even more on the subject if this is a concern to you, 99designs.com has an in-depth piece on copyright, infringement, and intellectual property specifically geared towards designers.

Great web design project add-on options to consider (if you can deliver): Designing and building a web site is one thing. But it comes with a finite cost. A great way to add on top of that and generate recurring revenue is to provide one, or several of the following complementary services in addition. However, to ensure your reputation stays in tact and you don’t get in over your head — you should research and learn about them beforehand or bring someone with more expertise into the equation.

SEO
Paid Search & Display Advertising
Social Media Advertising
Maintenance Contracts & Agreements
Referral Bonuses

Resources that may be valuable for those working on web design contracts:

Here’s a video on how to create a business letterhead in Google docs as well:

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WEBSITE DESIGN AGREEMENT

This Website Design Agreement (“Agreement”), is made effective as of ___________________, 2019 by and between [CLIENT NAME] (“Client”), having an address at [CLIENT ADDRESS] and [WEBSITE DESIGN COMPANY NAME] (“Designer”) having an address at [WEBSITE DESIGN COMPANY ADDRESS], (collectively “Parties”). 1. Scope. This Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions whereby Designer agrees to produce a certain Website (as described below) for Client. Designer will be engaged solely and exclusively for the limited purpose of providing this Website for the Client. Neither party is, by virtue of this Agreement, authorized as an agent, employee, or legal representative of the other. Except as specifically set forth herein, neither party shall have the power to control the activities and operations of the other and its status at all times will continue to be that of an independent contractor relationship. 2. Description of Services and Warranties. The Client hereby engages the Designer, and the Designer accepts such engagement to provide the following Website services for the Client (hereinafter, the “Website”): [DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF WORK TO BE COMPLETED IN SDESIGING AND DEVELOPING THE WEBSITE]. Designer represents and warrants that Designer has the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to produce the Website. Designer agrees that the Website will be original. Designer also guarantees that the final Website will be free from any plagiarism or likeness to a Website not belonging to or created by Designer. The Website will become the intellectual property of Client, free and clear, as a work made-for-hire. The deadline for the completed Website to be delivered to the Client is as follows: [DEADLINE FOR DELIVERY OF WEBSITE]. Designer may be engaged or employed in any other business, trade, profession, or other activity which does not place Designer in a conflict of interest with the Client, provided, that, during the term, Designer shall not be engaged in any business activities that compete with the business of the Client without the Client’s prior written consent. In addition to the standard development and creation of a website, the Client has requested the following specific requirements: ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 3. Schedule. The Parties agree to the following schedule: a. Initial Draft Date: ___________. b. Client Comment/Approval Date:______________ not to exceed 14 days from delivery of initial draft. c. Final Design Date: ____________. d. Client shall be entitled to ____ revisions. Any revisions beyond ____ shall be chargeable at a rate of $_______. 4. Payment. The Parties agree to the following Payment and Payment Terms: a. Total Fee for Services: ________ b. Upfront Fee (Due Before Project Start Date): _______ c. Addition fees, costs and expenses may be invoiced in the event that additional revisions above item 3(d) are requested. 5. Confidentiality. During the course of this Agreement, it may be necessary for Client to share proprietary information, including trade secrets, industry knowledge, and other confidential information, to Designer in order for Designer to complete the Website in its final form. Designer will not share any of this proprietary information at any time, even after the Agreement is fulfilled. Designer also will not use any of this proprietary information for his/her personal benefit at any time, even after the Agreement is fulfilled. 6. Ownership Rights. Client continues to own any and all proprietary information it shares with Designer during the term of this Agreement for the purposes of the Project. Designer has no rights to this proprietary information and may not use it except to complete the Project. Upon completion of the Agreement, Client will own the final website design. While Designer will customize Client’s Website to Client’s specifications, Client recognizes that websites generally have a common structure and basis. Designer continues to own any and all template designs it may have created prior to this Agreement. Designer will further own any template designs, HTML code widgets, CSS, Javascript or other embedded code it may create as a result of this Agreement. 7. Credit. Client shall credit Designer’s names on Works created hereunder in a manner agreed to by the Parties in writing prior to the release of the Works to the public. 8. Indemnification. Designer and Client shall each defend, indemnify, and hold the other harmless (including all affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, successors, and assigns) from and against all losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, actions, judgments, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs, or expenses of whatever kind (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or resulting from bodily injury, death of any person, damage, real or intangible, to personal property resulting from the other’s acts or omissions or the breach of any representation, warranty, or obligation under this Agreement. 9. Representations and Warranties. a. Designer. Designer represents and warrants that he/she has the right to enter into and perform this Agreement. Designer further represents and warrants that he/she has the right to utilize and distribute the designs created for Client and that such designs are not owned by anyone else to Designer’s knowledge. In the event that Designer does not have these rights, Designer will repay any associated damages Client may experience or will take responsibility so that Client does not experience any damages. b. Client. Client represents and warrants that is has the rights to use any proprietary information, including, but not limited to trade secrets, trademarks, logos, copyrights, images, data, figures, content, and the like that it may provide to Designer to be included in this Website. In the event that Client does not have these rights, Client will repay any associated damages Designer may experience or will take responsibility so that Designer does not experience any damages. 10. Disclaimer of Warranties. Designer shall create a Website for Client’s purposes and to Client’s specifications. DESIGNER DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT SAID WEBSITE WILL CREATE ANY ADDITIONAL PROFITS, SALES, EXPOSURE, BRAND RECOGNITION, OR THE LIKE. DESIGNER HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY TO CLIENT IF THE WEBSITE DOES NOT LEAD TO CLIENT’S DESIRED RESULT(S). 11. Limitation of Liability. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABILE TO THE OTHER PARTY OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY PART OF THIS AGREEMENT SUCH AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF REVENUE OR ANTICIPATED PROFIT OR LOST BUSINESS, COSTS OF DELAY OR FAILURE OF DELIVERY. Survival. Any provision of this Agreement which by its terms imposes continuing obligations on either of the Parties shall survive termination of this Agreement. 12. Dispute Resolution. In case of a dispute between the Parties relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Parties shall first attempt to resolve the dispute personally and in good faith. If these personal resolution attempts fail, the Parties shall then submit the dispute to binding arbitration. The arbitration shall be conducted in the county and state noted in the GOVERNING LAW provision of this Agreement. The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator, and such arbitrator shall have no authority to add Parties, vary the provisions of this Agreement, award punitive damages, or certify a class. The arbitrator shall be bound by applicable and governing federal law as well as the law of Ohio. Each Party shall pay their own costs and fees. Claims necessitating arbitration under this section include, but are not limited to: contract claims, tort claims, claims based on federal and state law, and claims based on local laws, ordinances, statutes or regulations. Intellectual property claims by Designer will not be subject to arbitration and may, as an exception to this sub-part, be litigated. The Parties, in agreement with this sub-part of this Agreement, waive any rights they may have to a jury trial in regard to arbitral claims. 13. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of [STATE] without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule. Each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts located in [COUNTY NAME] county in any legal suit, action, or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the Works provided hereunder. 14. Benefit. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of each of the parties hereto, and to their respective heirs, representatives, successors, and assigns. 15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of which shall constitute a single agreement. The Agreement shall be effective as of the date set forth above. 16. Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder (each, a “Notice”) shall be in writing and addressed to the Parties at the addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement. All notices shall be delivered by email or at the address which the parties may designate to each other through personal delivery, nationally recognized overnight courier (with all fees prepaid), or certified or registered mail (in each case, return receipt requested, postage prepaid). Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a Notice is effective only if (a) the receiving party has received the Notice and (b) the party giving the Notice has complied with the requirements of this Section. 17. Force Majeure. Designer is not liable for any failure to perform due to causes beyond its reasonable control including, but not limited to, acts of God, acts of civil authorities, acts of military authorities, riots, embargoes, acts of nature and natural disasters, and other acts which may be due to unforeseen circumstances. 18. Headings. Headings to this Agreement are for convenience only. Headings shall in no way affect the provisions themselves and shall not be construed in any way that would limit or otherwise affect the terms of this Agreement. 19. Entire Agreement; Modification. The agreement embodies the entire agreement between the Client and Designer relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be changed, modified or discharged only if agreed to in writing by both parties. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties execute this Agreement as of the date first above written. CLIENT: _______________________ [CLIENT SIGNATURE] DESIGNER: __________________________ [DESIGNER SIGNATURE]