Now that you know what a website design contract is and why you must have one, let’s talk about what needs to go in your contract. That being said, the sole existence of a contract will hopefully make the client more likely to pay their bill on time. Depending on your state, you can sue for anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 in small claims. Luckily, in most states, you’ll pay less than $100 to take someone to small claims court for a breach of contract. It’s also worth noting that a contract only means anything if you’re willing to enforce it. The good news is that you can just create a single web design contract template that you have an attorney look over, and then you can use the same design contract template for every client. If you want to ensure your contract is legally-binding, your best bet is to have an attorney look it over and provide you with some legal advice. Having a contract that both parties have signed helps make sure everyone is aware of the scope, timeline, and cost for the work. There are times where it’s not that someone is intentionally stepping outside the bounds of an agreement, but there’s simply been a miscommunication. Having a proper contract in place also helps to ensure everyone is on the same page. Or worse - They didn’t pay it at all.Īnd without a contract, you won’t have much of a case in court to get the money that’s rightfully yours. Most freelance website professionals, such as web designers, graphic designers, and web developers, have probably experienced a time where a client didn’t pay their bill on time. Next, and probably more importantly from your perspective, the contract helps to protect you as the web designer and developer. Having a contract gives the client a leg to stand on in court in case things go awry. Unfortunately, there are dishonest contractors out there. In some cases, your client might be handing over a substantial amount of money (anywhere from $1,000 to six-figures for the design and development of a site) and trusting you to follow through on the job. It stipulates what the responsibility of each party is.įirst, having a contract in place helps to protect your client. In the case of a website design project, contracts are legal documents that serve as agreements between the website designer and the client. What is a web design contract, and why do I need one?Ī contract is a legal agreement between two parties.
What should you include in the contract?.What is a web design contract, and why do I need one?.