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Copywriter - Client contract

by eQuus
13 replies
Do you ask the client to sign a contract stipulating what the writer must deliver and how much is he to be paid and when. If yes, can anyone here provide a sample please. TIA for your help.
#client #contract #copywriter
  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    I don't. I've only had one contract in more than 15 years of writing professionally. I write some stuff for a couple of offline publications and simply accepted their terms (agreed to over the phone) years ago when we made first contact. Each party has come through ever since. I've never had a check even be late.

    As for online stuff, I'm very selective about what I'll take. I don't get excited about writing 'info product' IM stuff. I've been stiffed for half my fee on this forum twice. I've never had a problem with payment outside this niche though. Maybe that's just a coincidence.

    If you make an agreement with someone for what you'll do and what they do you can write it all up in an email and make the last line say something like: Your payment of half the writing fee in advance constitutes your agreement of all terms and conditions in this email, or in this chain of email if there are several. Stuff like this holds up just fine in court. Just make sure everything you've discussed is clearly defined in the email.

    I'm sure there will be people who see this as a careless approach to making a deal but it's worked well for me for a long time. Another thing, I never sign non-disclosure agreements either. If the client insists, I just walk.
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    • Profile picture of the author k0zm0zs0ul
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      I don't. I've only had one contract in more than 15 years of writing professionally. I write some stuff for a couple of offline publications and simply accepted their terms (agreed to over the phone) years ago when we made first contact. Each party has come through ever since. I've never had a check even be late.

      As for online stuff, I'm very selective about what I'll take. I don't get excited about writing 'info product' IM stuff. I've been stiffed for half my fee on this forum twice. I've never had a problem with payment outside this niche though. Maybe that's just a coincidence.

      If you make an agreement with someone for what you'll do and what they do you can write it all up in an email and make the last line say something like: Your payment of half the writing fee in advance constitutes your agreement of all terms and conditions in this email, or in this chain of email if there are several. Stuff like this holds up just fine in court. Just make sure everything you've discussed is clearly defined in the email.

      I'm sure there will be people who see this as a careless approach to making a deal but it's worked well for me for a long time. Another thing, I never sign non-disclosure agreements either. If the client insists, I just walk.
      Agreed..I use emails to outline the terms of a deal, and then I reiterate within the invoice itself, when I send for the deposit. Careless perhaps to some, but it works well for me and saves me the headache of trying to send clients contracts and getting them to send them back when frankly... we're both busy and just want to get the ball rolling already.

      I've only ever had one problem with one client, and he paid me in the end as agreed. Just took a little longer than expected! lol

      Warm regards,
      C
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Originally Posted by eQuus View Post

    Do you ask the client to sign a contract stipulating what the writer must deliver and how much is he to be paid and when. If yes, can anyone here provide a sample please. TIA for your help.
    Bob Bly has a sample of his standard client agreement posted here ...

    Copywriting for Various Marketing Pieces

    Alex
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Contracts are what you make people sign when you are either afraid they will screw you, or planning to screw them yourself.
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    "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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  • Profile picture of the author AlanCarr
    I use a standard contract for the obvious reasons - plus at the end of the day it shows you're a professional.

    I've never had a problem, why would I? Both parties know exactly what is required or expected.

    As such I call it an 'agreement' rather than a contract, because that's what it is. It also acts as a legal contract should that be required. It rarely is because you've already agreed!


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  • Profile picture of the author eQuus
    Thank you Gentlemen for your replies. Thank you Alex for the Bob Bly Samply. And CDarklock, if I wanted to screw a client, why would I want to put that in a contract
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    • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
      Originally Posted by eQuus View Post

      Thank you Gentlemen for your replies. Thank you Alex for the Bob Bly Samply. And CDarklock, if I wanted to screw a client, why would I want to put that in a contract
      You're welcome.

      Another good reason to have a written contract is to make sure there are no misunderstandings. It's easy to make incorrect assumptions verbally.

      Alex
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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by eQuus View Post

      And CDarklock, if I wanted to screw a client, why would I want to put that in a contract
      Because once they sign it, they can't complain when you do it.

      And if you write it properly, they don't know that's what you said you'd do.

      And when they try to dispute it, they take your contract to a lawyer who tells them "that's what it says, all right."

      And then it's a waste of time to take it to a judge, because that's what it says, and the judge will just say "that's what it says."

      I worked in the defense industry. This happens all the time. There are people who make their fortune doing this. You just need one client to be less than vigilant and agree to a fee per annum that they think is for the full five years.
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      "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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      • Profile picture of the author eQuus
        Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

        Because once they sign it, they can't complain when you do it.
        .
        This method won't generate satisfied, repeat clients for sure.
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  • Profile picture of the author AlanCarr
    if I wanted to screw a client, why would I want to put that in a contract




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  • Profile picture of the author AlanCarr
    Getting a client to sign something that is not clear and understandable could be a whole different matter.

    eQuus, email me my site's contact form and I'll send you my standard agreement.



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    • Profile picture of the author dorothydot
      Hi,

      I have always used emails as legally-binding agreements. Informal yet you can spell out the details and deadlines.

      Lately I've had requests for a pricing proposal. This is another good way to spell out precisely what you can offer and also you can add in little tidbits such as kill fees and %-off for full payment up front.

      But formal signed contract? Not yet. Maybe in the future, but so far, emails and work proposals have worked well.

      Dot
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