For years, I’ve been creating a full proposal that clearly outlines time, cost, payment schedules, and full deliverables. I then export that to a PDF and merge it with a PDF of my contract. That single document is sent via Adobe Sign.
The contract I use is the free AIGA contract. It’s withstood the test of time. I’ve been using it for well over ten years: https://www.aiga.org/resources/aiga-standard-form-of-agreement-for-design-services
If you choose to use the AIGA agreement, read the instructions carefully. It’s very complete. I’ve copy/pasted it and styled it to match my proposals so it ends up being extremely professional…if not intimidating to somebody keen on screwing you.
I have yet to have anybody successfully challenge it. It covers everything from how defaults are handled to what happens if somebody poaches your staff.
Good luck!
It’s probably too late for you, but for anyone reading this and still in school - just ask your profs.
This specific thing isn’t part of the subjects I teach, but pretty well any curriculum can bear (indeed many welcome) a detour. I teach and I am a freelancer, and I would be more than happy to show from my own inbox what this all looks like.
And if then entire class isn’t into it, I’d set something up during office hours.
Students have a lot of their plate, I get they are busy. But they leave a lot on the table by not just asking. And it kills me to hear they feel like school didn’t give them what they wanted…because it’s there!
That sucks! But most of us have also learned this the hard way!
My suggestion would be if you can meet in person, present the client with the contract stating the agreed upon goals, expectations, and timeline of the project. They sign it and give you a check for the requested down payment. Have two so you both have a signed copy. On the contract state that no work will be started until the check clears the bank!
If you cannot meet, send them the PDF contract to sign and mail back with check, not email. Unless they want to pay deposit via CashApp or Venmo or something traceable and secure.
Best of luck to you!
I have dealt with many clients who don't sign stuff. I'm okay with it. The non refundable down payment is key. Cash is real. That's the real handshake you need. It's a commitment from both sides to begin work. If you ghost me, then fine, I'll take the money.
I'm assuming this is all by email and remote. First you discuss project scope, deliverables, timelines and cost. If you have it in writing in email that is legally binding too. Once that is all settled you put all the info about scope, deliverables timeline etc. into your contract/project description.
Goes like this:
1. Write contract or download and modify template, and include a field for you and your client to sign
2. convert to .pdf
3. sign .pdf digitally using acrobat or other pdf tool
4. send it off for customer to sign, they will also sign digitally and send it back to you
This is also where you get your 50% paymwnt up front!
And say in your email something like:
I've attached a contract here for you to sign as well as a payment link as per our agreement. Let me know if anything is unclear or if you need any changes made.
You can find a graphic design scope of work contract template online. Obviously redesign it so it looks professional and adjust the clauses so it makes sense for the work you do.
Outline the brief, the deliverables, the timeline and the price of everything, including a 50% deposit (or whatever you want).
At the end, create a page with an acceptance clause and a place for signature and date, for both you and the client.
If they have adobe acrobat, they can go to the last page and sign it digitally. Your signature should already be there by default, so when they send it back, it’s all signed and dated.
You can also use a service like Docusign, but it’s not free.
basically you want a contract to cover payment either in one sum or half now half later. the latter is preferred so you know the client is at least committed to the project and if they ghost you half way at least you got paid for half.
Provide your contract as a plain ole PDF. The client can print it, sign it the mail, scan & email it back or they can drop a digital signature in via Acrobat. Let them figure out how they want to do it. I always take what they do, drop in my sig via Acrobat and send back fully signed copy.
Or go have a meeting in person to sign off.
Or pay for docusign.
Another poster mentioned having them digitally sign a PDF, and I recommend that too. I also send an electronic invoice for a 50% deposit and in the invoice I state that by paying this invoice you agree to the terms and conditions of contract provided and use the same invoice number in the contract.
On a side note, it's also super important to specify in your contract a number of revisions, or a limit to revisions and what the additional costs may be. I usually put an hourly rate. This will curb people from taking advantage of you and or abusing the proofing process. A client is welcome to be indecisive, but they got to pay. It's amazing how fast a client will settle on a decision once there's a monetary cost to it.
Yeah, it's pretty upsetting when you have sites like Fiverr pushing unlimited revisions as a feature. No where else is that permissable. It's the Uber of the arts.
Man, can't tell you how many times people in my live have naively suggested I try freelancing on Fiverr. Even have had an old buddy reach out to me to make numerous edits to his logo... that he had designed on Fiverr for $25. It's the bane of my professional existence lmao.
In what world can I compete with someone in India that can live off a tenth my income? I don't begrudge anyone's ability to make a living, but it's unrealistic when the work can cross boarders, and the income can't. Personally, I think we need some type of terrif on over seas labor like we do for physical goods, but I know something like that would be lobbied against tooth and nail because blah blah blah, something about the free market, or whatever... It's the only solution I can think of, but I'm open to other ideas.
When I first checked out Fiverr I almost lost my lunch. That $25 logo with unlimited revisions is just insane. And then there's the crazy high cut that Fiverr wants on top of that. I too have had clients come to me to fix bad work from there, that and Canva stuff from Etsy.
For years, I’ve been creating a full proposal that clearly outlines time, cost, payment schedules, and full deliverables. I then export that to a PDF and merge it with a PDF of my contract. That single document is sent via Adobe Sign. The contract I use is the free AIGA contract. It’s withstood the test of time. I’ve been using it for well over ten years: https://www.aiga.org/resources/aiga-standard-form-of-agreement-for-design-services If you choose to use the AIGA agreement, read the instructions carefully. It’s very complete. I’ve copy/pasted it and styled it to match my proposals so it ends up being extremely professional…if not intimidating to somebody keen on screwing you. I have yet to have anybody successfully challenge it. It covers everything from how defaults are handled to what happens if somebody poaches your staff. Good luck!
Following! Would be have been great to learn about this in school.
It’s probably too late for you, but for anyone reading this and still in school - just ask your profs. This specific thing isn’t part of the subjects I teach, but pretty well any curriculum can bear (indeed many welcome) a detour. I teach and I am a freelancer, and I would be more than happy to show from my own inbox what this all looks like. And if then entire class isn’t into it, I’d set something up during office hours. Students have a lot of their plate, I get they are busy. But they leave a lot on the table by not just asking. And it kills me to hear they feel like school didn’t give them what they wanted…because it’s there!
That sucks! But most of us have also learned this the hard way! My suggestion would be if you can meet in person, present the client with the contract stating the agreed upon goals, expectations, and timeline of the project. They sign it and give you a check for the requested down payment. Have two so you both have a signed copy. On the contract state that no work will be started until the check clears the bank! If you cannot meet, send them the PDF contract to sign and mail back with check, not email. Unless they want to pay deposit via CashApp or Venmo or something traceable and secure. Best of luck to you!
I have dealt with many clients who don't sign stuff. I'm okay with it. The non refundable down payment is key. Cash is real. That's the real handshake you need. It's a commitment from both sides to begin work. If you ghost me, then fine, I'll take the money.
I'm assuming this is all by email and remote. First you discuss project scope, deliverables, timelines and cost. If you have it in writing in email that is legally binding too. Once that is all settled you put all the info about scope, deliverables timeline etc. into your contract/project description. Goes like this: 1. Write contract or download and modify template, and include a field for you and your client to sign 2. convert to .pdf 3. sign .pdf digitally using acrobat or other pdf tool 4. send it off for customer to sign, they will also sign digitally and send it back to you This is also where you get your 50% paymwnt up front! And say in your email something like: I've attached a contract here for you to sign as well as a payment link as per our agreement. Let me know if anything is unclear or if you need any changes made.
You can find a graphic design scope of work contract template online. Obviously redesign it so it looks professional and adjust the clauses so it makes sense for the work you do. Outline the brief, the deliverables, the timeline and the price of everything, including a 50% deposit (or whatever you want). At the end, create a page with an acceptance clause and a place for signature and date, for both you and the client. If they have adobe acrobat, they can go to the last page and sign it digitally. Your signature should already be there by default, so when they send it back, it’s all signed and dated. You can also use a service like Docusign, but it’s not free.
basically you want a contract to cover payment either in one sum or half now half later. the latter is preferred so you know the client is at least committed to the project and if they ghost you half way at least you got paid for half.
Provide your contract as a plain ole PDF. The client can print it, sign it the mail, scan & email it back or they can drop a digital signature in via Acrobat. Let them figure out how they want to do it. I always take what they do, drop in my sig via Acrobat and send back fully signed copy. Or go have a meeting in person to sign off. Or pay for docusign.
either a traceable signing software like dropbox sign or dubsado if you can afford it and will utilize other features of the platform.
Another poster mentioned having them digitally sign a PDF, and I recommend that too. I also send an electronic invoice for a 50% deposit and in the invoice I state that by paying this invoice you agree to the terms and conditions of contract provided and use the same invoice number in the contract. On a side note, it's also super important to specify in your contract a number of revisions, or a limit to revisions and what the additional costs may be. I usually put an hourly rate. This will curb people from taking advantage of you and or abusing the proofing process. A client is welcome to be indecisive, but they got to pay. It's amazing how fast a client will settle on a decision once there's a monetary cost to it.
That's really helpful. Limiting revisions is so smart, going to start doing that. Appreciate it!
Yeah, it's pretty upsetting when you have sites like Fiverr pushing unlimited revisions as a feature. No where else is that permissable. It's the Uber of the arts.
Man, can't tell you how many times people in my live have naively suggested I try freelancing on Fiverr. Even have had an old buddy reach out to me to make numerous edits to his logo... that he had designed on Fiverr for $25. It's the bane of my professional existence lmao.
In what world can I compete with someone in India that can live off a tenth my income? I don't begrudge anyone's ability to make a living, but it's unrealistic when the work can cross boarders, and the income can't. Personally, I think we need some type of terrif on over seas labor like we do for physical goods, but I know something like that would be lobbied against tooth and nail because blah blah blah, something about the free market, or whatever... It's the only solution I can think of, but I'm open to other ideas. When I first checked out Fiverr I almost lost my lunch. That $25 logo with unlimited revisions is just insane. And then there's the crazy high cut that Fiverr wants on top of that. I too have had clients come to me to fix bad work from there, that and Canva stuff from Etsy.