That "Standard"
Client Contract?
It might own your entire portfolio, delay payment for 6 months, or make you liable for unlimited damages. TenderScan DE reads every clause before you sign.
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MSA, SOW, Retainer, or any freelance agreement
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5 Contracts Every Freelancer Signs
And the traps hiding in each one
Client Service Agreement
SIGN / NEGOTIATE / REJECTThe contract when a client hires you for a project. Often called 'standard' but rarely is.
Who owns the work? Portfolio rights? Unused concepts?
Net 30/60/90 — but when does the clock start?
What if they cancel mid-project? What do you get paid?
'Additional work as reasonably requested' = free work
Unlimited revisions = unlimited unpaid labor
Master Service Agreement (MSA)
SIGN / NEGOTIATE / REJECTUmbrella contract for ongoing work. Sets terms for all future projects with this client.
All work ever = theirs. Even your tools and templates.
You could owe more than you'll ever earn from them
Can't work for their competitors — who are they?
Stuck for another year if you forget to cancel
No price increases even as your value grows
Statement of Work (SOW)
ACCEPT / NEGOTIATE / REJECTSpecific project scope under an MSA. Defines what you're actually doing.
'Website' vs '10-page website with CMS'
2 weeks for what takes 6
When is it 'done'? Who decides?
How are scope changes handled and priced?
Retainer Agreement
SIGN / NEGOTIATE / REJECTMonthly fee for ongoing availability and work. Predictable income, but watch the terms.
Do unused hours carry over or vanish?
What's 'included' vs extra? Meetings? Calls?
How long are you locked in?
Can you raise rates? When? How much?
Subcontractor Agreement
SIGN / NEGOTIATE / REJECTWhen you're hired by another freelancer or agency, not the end client.
You get paid when they get paid — what if they don't?
Their client's nasty clauses become yours
Can't work with that client ever?
Your work becomes theirs, then theirs becomes the client's
Real Stories
Freelancers Who Wish They'd Read the Contract
The Portfolio Killer
"A designer signed a 'standard' client contract. Buried on page 8: 'All work product, including unused concepts and derivative works, becomes client property in perpetuity.' She lost rights to her entire project portfolio — couldn't even show it to new clients."
The 6-Month Wait
"A consultant agreed to Net 60 payment terms. What he missed: 'Payment commences upon written client acceptance of all deliverables.' The client took 4 months to 'accept' — he waited 6 months total for his $15K invoice."
The Unlimited Disaster
"A developer's MSA stated: 'Contractor shall be liable for all damages arising from or related to the services.' Client's server crashed (unrelated to his code). They sued for $200K in 'business losses.' No liability cap."
What You Get
Clear Verdict
SIGN, NEGOTIATE, or REJECT
Risk Breakdown
Every trap identified
Page Citations
Exact location of each issue
Negotiation List
What to push back on
Less Than One Billable Hour
Reading a 20-page contract yourself takes 2–4 hours — and you'll still miss things. TenderScan DE: AED 99, 30 seconds, nothing missed.
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