{"id":30830,"date":"2019-09-23T07:07:36","date_gmt":"2019-09-23T07:07:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/?p=30830"},"modified":"2025-12-04T21:02:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T19:02:53","slug":"web-design-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/web-design-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Website Development Contract: What to Include in Your Web Design Contract + Free Template"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"30830\" class=\"elementor elementor-30830\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7cb7d3e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7cb7d3e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1f9436\" data-id=\"c1f9436\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1662c11 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"1662c11\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-gac=\"CTA_Elements\" data-gaa=\"Button\" data-gal=\"Position_Download_Template\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/06\/Web-Design-Contract-Template.pdf\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download Free PDF Template<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5c683fc\" data-id=\"5c683fc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4625341 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"4625341\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-gac=\"CTA_Elements\" data-gaa=\"Button\" data-gal=\"Position_Use_Template\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1WMTzKkH0TLv9Gq88eoykPfi2FsmriK70md4B3FbxZiM\/copy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get Free Google Docs Template<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c601ff1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c601ff1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ba957d1\" data-id=\"ba957d1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba4b2c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba4b2c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>By Frank Olivo and Laura J. Neville, Esq.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93806bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"93806bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The first day back to work after New Year\u2019s, we got a certified letter from a client. His project was pretty much finished, and we were waiting for final approval to launch it, but we hadn\u2019t heard from him in a few months.<\/p><p>We opened up the letter to discover that he was accusing us of being in <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Breach_of_contract\">breach of contract<\/a> and demanding a full refund for the project. Our office attempted to get him on the phone, but he refused to speak with us.<\/p><p>Three weeks later, we ended up finishing the project, getting paid in full, and receiving an apology from him. He even paid extra for items that were additions to the scope of the project.<\/p><p><strong>This would not have been possible had it not been for our web design agreement.<\/strong><\/p><p>I own a web development and SEO agency outside of Philadelphia. My co-author is an attorney that handles all of the content for our law firm clients, and between the two of us, we\u2019ve seen it all.<\/p><p>This post is going to walk you through a number of essential elements and clauses that your agreement must have to help you handle common scenarios that derail web design projects \u2014 no matter if you are a freelancer or a small business working with WordPress or any other platform. .<\/p><p>We\u2019re going to talk about the most common pitfalls that we\u2019ve encountered and how having certain clauses in your web development contract can both protect you and save you time and money.<\/p><p><strong>Important<\/strong> \u2013 we are not providing you legal advice. The purpose of this post is to get you to consider the common scenarios that arise with web development projects.\u00a0<\/p><p>You should discuss these scenarios (and more) with an experienced contract lawyer who can draft a binding agreement that will help you to prevent your business from losing time and money.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1825a356 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1825a356\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-77938225\" data-id=\"77938225\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e1a8167 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"3e1a8167\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-gac=\"CTA_Elements\" data-gaa=\"Link\" data-gal=\"Position_Text_CTA\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/website-design-questionnaire\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Learn What Questions to Ask  When Designing a Website <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e22041e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e22041e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is a Web Design Contract?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25c6f23 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"25c6f23\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A web design contract is a social document that details the legally enforceable agreement between a designer and their client. It defines the business relationship between the two parties and details the project scope, pricing, deliverables, timelines, and other pre-agreed items relevant to the project.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In addition, the contract should outline what happens in case of problems or disagreements that may arise between the designer and their client.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fe9672 blog-toc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7fe9672\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What to Include in Your Web Design Contract<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8592db9 blog-toc elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"8592db9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#define-statement-of-work\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">1. Have a Clearly Defined Statement of Work<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#streamline-review-approval-process\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">2. Streamline the Review and Approval Process<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#protect-youself-project-termination\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">3. Protect Yourself in the Case of Project Termination<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#protect-youself-copyright-infringement\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">4. Protect Yourself Against Copyright Infringement<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#designate-legal-jurisdiction\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">5. Make Sure the Agreement Designates a Legal Jurisdiction Near You<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#format-agreement-not-to-scare-clients\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">6. Format Your Agreement So It Doesn\u2019t Scare Your Prospective Clients<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#web-design-contract-template\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">\u2192 Web Design Contract Template<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cd1817b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cd1817b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f9cf7be\" data-id=\"f9cf7be\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f66ece elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"7f66ece\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"define-statement-of-work\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-022dfe0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"022dfe0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Have a Clearly Defined Statement of Work<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a3c95ab elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a3c95ab\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-33262d2\" data-id=\"33262d2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0991283 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0991283\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Define What Is in Scope and Stick to It\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9691793 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9691793\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The scope of work is your starting point. You need to list absolutely everything that you&#8217;re going to do for the client.\u00a0<\/p><p>If you start performing services or adding features that are not in the statement of work, you&#8217;re going to set expectations that will result in either scope creep or a dissatisfied client.<\/p><p>By laying out absolutely everything that you&#8217;re going to do very clearly, there won&#8217;t be any surprises when you get a request, and you politely tell them that you can do it, but it&#8217;s going to extend the scope and cost more.\u00a0<\/p><p>If your statement of work omits some things that you wind up doing anyway, you&#8217;re opening the door for <a href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/scope-creep\/\">scope creep<\/a>.<\/p><p>Be sure to include the deliverable you are going to provide. If there&#8217;s going to be browser testing or other services that are not usually mentioned be sure to mention it.\u00a0<\/p><p>Also, include the <a href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/web-design-pricing-guide\/\">payment terms<\/a>, and the payment schedule (including any deposits you are going to ask to be paid upfront) for your website development services. Make sure that you understand all the costs that you may be required to incur over design services, hiring a <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/what-does-a-web-developer-do\/\"   title=\"web developer\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"4193\">web developer<\/a>, etc.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c151265 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c151265\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-07d77c0\" data-id=\"07d77c0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b070a0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b070a0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Try to Anticipate Areas of Potential Scope Creep and Explicitly List Them as \u201cOut of Scope\u201d<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-850ff66 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"850ff66\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>While most developers are pretty good about including what is in scope, very few explicitly state what is out of scope.<\/p><p>This is a tremendous mistake.<\/p><p>Unfortunately, experience is the only way to learn what needs to be explicitly marked as out of scope, but here are a few items we mark as out of scope pretty regularly:<\/p><ul><li>Listing of over x-number of products for <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/features\/ecommerce\/\"   title=\"ecommerce\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"3425\">ecommerce<\/a> stores<\/li><li>Keyword research and writing of title tags and meta descriptions (unless the client pays for it)<\/li><li>Proofreading of copy the client provides (especially when it&#8217;s a<a href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/website-redesign-guide\/\"> redesign of an existing website<\/a> that reuses copy)<\/li><li>Design changes once mockups have been approved and we have started building<\/li><li>Organization of content such as photos and copy. If you are dealing with a website that is going to have hundreds of pages \u2014 which is extremely common when dealing with ecommerce sites \u2014 it is the client&#8217;s responsibility to make sure that it is all well organized.<\/li><\/ul><p>This is far from exhaustive, but it should get the gears turning and save you a lot of headaches down the road.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c07098a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c07098a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-efe1ac1\" data-id=\"efe1ac1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6762f1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a6762f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Include a Provision That Outlines How You Will Handle Out-Of-Scope Requests<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a76320 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4a76320\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It\u2019s crucial to have a clause that outlines how you were going to handle scope extensions.<\/p><p>Your client is not a developer. He doesn\u2019t necessarily understand how involved it can be to go back and redo something that you\u2019ve already started, which is often the case when there are changes to the scope of the project.<\/p><p>By starting a project with a clear understanding that there will be additional costs if any new features are requested, your client is highly unlikely to get upset if you tell him there\u2019s going to be a small additional charge for his newest and greatest idea.<\/p><p>This clear understanding needs to be reinforced with a clause that explains how you intend to handle scope extensions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6cdd371 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6cdd371\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a4bcbe3\" data-id=\"a4bcbe3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5272b5e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5272b5e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/gifs\/season-3-the-simpsons-3x8-3orif7xiJDYpBDT0nm\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/giphy-contract.gif\" title=\"giphy contract\" alt=\"Homer Signing a Contract\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Via Giphy<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b3f6a81 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b3f6a81\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b27c017\" data-id=\"b27c017\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d85eeb elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"2d85eeb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"streamline-review-approval-process\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04da127 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"04da127\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. Streamline the Review and Approval Process<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f6be7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7f6be7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We all deal with this.<\/p><p>We send over a mockup and don\u2019t hear from the client for six months.<\/p><p>This is usually not the client\u2019s fault. They likely have a ton of other responsibilities to tend to, and the website is often overlooked in favor of more important things \u2014 like actually running a business and <a href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/monetize-wordpress\/\">making money<\/a>.<\/p><p>This doesn\u2019t mean that approvals need to take six months.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f58160c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f58160c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-89039dd\" data-id=\"89039dd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d641975 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d641975\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Set Review and Approval Windows in Your Agreement<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d22a2d1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d22a2d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Include a clause that gives a specific number of days for a client to review designs and get back to you.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p>Ours states that the design is considered \u201capproved\u201d after x number of days. You might think that you\u2019ll get resistance on this, but it simply isn\u2019t the case.<\/p><p>Your clients want their projects done in a timely fashion just as you do. By including this provision in your agreement, you\u2019re likely to send the message that you\u2019re intent on getting everything done efficiently.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-83ae36e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"83ae36e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1507996\" data-id=\"1507996\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da1c7c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"da1c7c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Approval Windows Will Get Your Clients Moving<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f507ca7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f507ca7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>By establishing approval windows in your agreement, you will give the client a good reason to get back to you. Our agreement usually gives the client a 7 to 14 business day window to approve design mockups \u2014 once that window has expired, the design is considered approved.<\/p><p>We don\u2019t use this clause to hammer our clients over the head. As a matter of fact, we\u2019ve never had to enforce it! Since there\u2019s a clear understanding from the outset that they need to get back to us in two weeks or possibly pay more for their project than anticipated, they get back to us in a timely fashion.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-368f4dc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"368f4dc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d62ace2\" data-id=\"d62ace2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-578f5f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"578f5f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Handling Clients Who Take Forever to Deliver Content\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05031f0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"05031f0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Our current standard agreement does not address this, but it probably should.<\/p><p>It is not unheard of for web development contracts to include a fee for \u201cre-starting\u201d a project that has gone dormant. Again, the goal isn\u2019t to squeeze money out of your client; the purpose is to get him to prioritize getting you what you need to do your job.<\/p><p>If your client knows that it\u2019s going to cost extra if he takes four months to send you copy, he\u2019s going to have more of a reason to get it to you in a timely fashion.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1fb1970 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1fb1970\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-30b99df\" data-id=\"30b99df\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91a5bc8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"91a5bc8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How Many Rounds of Revisions is a Client Entitled To?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-397ceca elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"397ceca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>First, if you are unable to deliver satisfactory designs in 5 to 7 rounds, you\u2019re either doing something wrong, or you should have seen the red flags before you even started the project.<\/p><p>The real reason to establish a limit on revisions is not to get clients to approve mockups they are unhappy with, but <strong>to keep the client organized<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Without a limit on rounds of revisions, you are practically guaranteeing yourself a death by 1000 emails. Once a client knows he is \u201cusing up\u201d a round of revisions, he\u2019s more likely to go through the design thoroughly and send you a complete list of requests that can be handled in one sitting. You might also include a sentence providing that all revisions shall be set forth in one email, all at once, and not piecemeal over several emails.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-96a5dbd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"96a5dbd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-170827b\" data-id=\"170827b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6853a27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"6853a27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"protect-youself-project-termination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-695f21d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"695f21d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. Protect Yourself in the Case of Project Termination<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22e416b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"22e416b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Your client may want to end a project prematurely for any number of reasons. Here\u2019s a list of a few reasons we\u2019ve had projects terminated in the last year:<\/p><ul><li>The owner of the business died<\/li><li>The website was for a pet project of an executive that was fired<\/li><li>The business simply went out of business<\/li><li>I kicked the client out of our office because he was being disrespectful to our employees<\/li><li>The client was under the impression that we still owed him revisions when everything had been completed (this was the case of the client mentioned at the beginning of this article)<\/li><\/ul><p>In each one of these cases, we were paid what we were owed. This is only because of the clauses in our project contracts that address the termination of the contract.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6829131 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6829131\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b0b2f86\" data-id=\"b0b2f86\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c5f3ac3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c5f3ac3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Be Compensated for Hours Worked\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a408fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9a408fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When clients wish to terminate our contract, they agree to compensate us for the hours we have spent on it. You should have a similar clause in your contract, and you should be tracking hours spent, even if only for the purpose of operations management and your accounting.<\/p><p>Such a clause can prevent you from losing money and wasting time if the client decides to cancel the project. This does happen often enough, yet these clauses are strangely absent from many web development agreements.<\/p><p>We use Google Sheets for time tracking. The good thing about this is that it can be used by your entire team, you can set it to be viewable by the client, and it is time-stamped, so it is a bit more trustworthy than you claiming you worked X amount of hours.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71aa122 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"71aa122\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"402\" src=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/f=auto,w=800,h=402\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Screenshot-of-Hours-Tracked-1024x514.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-30857\" alt=\"Screenshot of Hours Tracked\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/f=auto,w=1024\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Screenshot-of-Hours-Tracked-1024x514.png 1024w, https:\/\/elementor.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/f=auto,w=300\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Screenshot-of-Hours-Tracked-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/elementor.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/f=auto,w=768\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Screenshot-of-Hours-Tracked-768x385.png 768w, https:\/\/elementor.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/f=auto,w=1600\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Screenshot-of-Hours-Tracked.png 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7fc5872 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7fc5872\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8a40917\" data-id=\"8a40917\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96f32cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"96f32cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Establish How Breaches of Contract are Handled\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0faf322 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0faf322\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If either party accuses the other of being in breach of contract, there should be a clause that allows for the accused party to address the breach within 30 days.<\/p><p><em>This was what saved the project I mentioned at the beginning of this article<\/em><\/p><p>I promptly responded to our clients\u2019 letter with a certified letter pointing out this clause and presented two options: end the project and pay for our hours worked (as stipulated in the contract), or allow us to complete whatever revisions he still wanted and had not provided.<\/p><p>He chose the latter (and later realized how unreasonable he had acted).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3f65ae9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3f65ae9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5efef1f\" data-id=\"5efef1f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-27dfeec elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"27dfeec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"protect-youself-copyright-infringement\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e145a5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4e145a5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4. Protect Yourself Against Copyright Infringement<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a36c45 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3a36c45\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A couple of years ago, we had a client insist that we use copyrighted images from major-league baseball on his tour website.<\/p><p>He did not have permission to use any of them, which would constitute <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Copyright_infringement\">copyright infringement<\/a>.<\/p><p>We were very clear that using these pictures could potentially get him sued, but he insisted, and we used them.<\/p><p>Luckily, he was never sued, but even if he had been, we were protected by our agreement.<\/p><p>In most cases, you don\u2019t have to worry about such blatant copyright infringement. The kind of infringement that you\u2019re more likely to encounter is in the form of photos that your client pulled off of a Google image search and included in the assets to go on his new website. You may also encounter infringement in terms of text content.\u00a0<\/p><p>If you are not indemnified against such copyright infringement, you could be found liable in some jurisdictions. You should have some sort of clause that protects you in case your client provides you with copyright-infringing assets.<\/p><p>Additionally, it\u2019s a good idea to include an intellectual property rights clause that protects your personal work and anything that you won\u2019t be giving to the client.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f285c4c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f285c4c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-390fdec\" data-id=\"390fdec\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1eee80a elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"1eee80a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"designate-legal-jurisdiction\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a3f898 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0a3f898\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5. Make Sure the Agreement Designates a Legal Jurisdiction Near You <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-598fa2d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"598fa2d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>To a lawyer or anyone that\u2019s ever taken a business law class, this is a no brainer. However, it is not uncommon for web designers to write up their own web design contracts and leave this out. If you do, it can result in a world of headaches and fees if your client sues you.<\/p><p>Let\u2019s say, for instance, you\u2019re located in New Jersey, and you\u2019re building a website for a company in Utah. If you do not set forth the applicable law and forum in your agreement, you might end up having to go to Utah if your client decides to sue you over something \u2014 even if the suit is entirely without merit.<\/p><p>In the applicable law section of your agreement, state what country or state\u2019s laws govern the agreement and where the forum is (your home state, presumably). <strong>Be aware that as of the date of this post, under U.S. law, you and your client can sue in federal court in the jurisdiction where either resides if the amount in controversy is more than $75,000<\/strong>. Specifying that litigation is governed by the laws of your home state and shall take place in your home state court can keep your case out of federal court.<\/p><p><strong>You can also set forth how a conflict will be handled.<\/strong> For example, you might specify an alternative to litigation, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nolo.com\/legal-encyclopedia\/arbitration-clauses-contracts-32644.html\">such as having a third party arbitrator render a binding decision<\/a> and that the cost of binding arbitration will be shared by the parties. Binding arbitration is much less expensive and time-consuming than litigation and is more likely to preserve your relationship with your client and keep the project viable.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-edcb26a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"edcb26a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6daf8f7\" data-id=\"6daf8f7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7f0259 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"d7f0259\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"format-agreement-not-to-scare-clients\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8159600 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8159600\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">6. Format Your Agreement So It Doesn\u2019t Scare Your Prospective Clients<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d8f8306 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d8f8306\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When we first had our web design agreement drawn up, it was nine pages long.<\/p><p>At the moment of sitting down at the table to sign it and get started, they would look at it as if I just handed them an agreement to sell their home.<\/p><p>We would almost always spend a ton of time going through it. In many cases, especially when sending it via email, they would send it back with notes and questions. Overall, the length and format of the contract created a lot of friction right at the closing of the deal.<\/p><p>At the recommendation of a fellow agency owner, we implemented a one-page rule.\u00a0<\/p><p>Today, <a href=\"https:\/\/sagapixel.com\/web-design\/agreement\/\">our agreement<\/a> is no longer than one page, and we rarely get any pushback when it comes to closing a deal and getting started with a new project.<\/p><p>When you take a look at the difference between the two, you\u2019ll understand why this is the case.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-25411be elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"25411be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"web-design-contract-template\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3521f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b3521f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"481\" src=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/f=auto,w=800,h=481\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Saga-Pixel-Contract-1024x616.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-30858\" alt=\"Saga Pixel Contract\" srcset=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/f=auto,w=1024\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Saga-Pixel-Contract-1024x616.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/elementor.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/f=auto,w=300\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Saga-Pixel-Contract-300x180.jpg 300w, https:\/\/elementor.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/f=auto,w=768\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Saga-Pixel-Contract-768x462.jpg 768w, https:\/\/elementor.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/f=auto,w=1600\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Saga-Pixel-Contract.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2e21549 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2e21549\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6c23baa\" data-id=\"6c23baa\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f3f163 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f3f163\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center\">Ready to sign that client? <strong>Download our Web Design Contract Template.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ac7b2f5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ac7b2f5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-02330fa\" data-id=\"02330fa\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07af515 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"07af515\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-gac=\"CTA_Elements\" data-gaa=\"Button\" data-gal=\"Position_Download_Template\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/06\/Web-Design-Contract-Template.pdf\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Download Free PDF Template<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-408f508\" data-id=\"408f508\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4598340 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"4598340\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-gac=\"CTA_Elements\" data-gaa=\"Button\" data-gal=\"Position_Use_Template\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1WMTzKkH0TLv9Gq88eoykPfi2FsmriK70md4B3FbxZiM\/copy\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Get Free Google Docs Template<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fa56c98 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fa56c98\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e5ddafe\" data-id=\"e5ddafe\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c78ec5b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c78ec5b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Have an Attorney Draft Your Contract \u2014 You\u2019ll Thank Yourself Later<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4ef0b0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a4ef0b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We highly recommend that you find an attorney you can trust.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A good contract lawyer will be able to draft a web development agreement and any other legal documents that will protect you. Lawsuits are almost inevitable when running a business \u2014 a small investment now can potentially save you a fortune later on.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Laws can vary greatly from state to state and country to country, so it is essential for you to find a good attorney in your jurisdiction to draft your web development agreement.<\/p>\n<p>We suggest you discuss these six topics and legal terms with this attorney. By preparing for these extremely common scenarios in web design projects, you&#8217;ll save yourself time, money, and headaches, while preserving client goodwill and satisfaction with your work.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the contract, you will also need to a web design project proposal to get things going. Check out Elementor&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/blog\/website-proposal\/\">great guide<\/a> on how to create a project proposal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Disclaimer<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The information presented in this article, as well as in the free <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/elementor.com\/library\/all-categories\/\"   title=\"Alle categorie\u00ebn\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\"  data-wpil-monitor-id=\"26303\">template<\/a> of the sample contract is for educational purposes only. We suggest that you consult with a professional lawyer to draft a legal, binding contract for your legal needs. Elementor does not take any responsibility for any problems or issues that may arise, should you decide to rely solely on the information provided in the article or the sample contract\/template.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fae1068 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fae1068\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Frank is the founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/sagapixel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sagapixel<\/a>, an SEO and web design firm with offices in New Jersey and Philadelphia. Frank is an alumnus of Rutgers University and holds an MBA from the Fox School of Business at Temple University.<\/p><p>Laura oversees content for law firm SEO clients at Sagapixel. Ms. Neville has practiced law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey since 2006. She graduated from Temple University, Trenton State College, and Rutgers School of Law &#8211; Camden.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How should you draft your web design contracts, and what must they include? Frank Olivo, owner of a large Web design agency in the United States, and attorney Laura Neville dive into the subject and give us the essential rules that ensure a healthy relationship with your clients.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":235791,"featured_media":30965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,39],"tags":[79],"marketing_persona":[47],"marketing_intent":[48],"class_list":["post-30830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-business","tag-build"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Website Development Contract: 6 Essentials + Template<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How should you draft your web design contract, and what must they include? 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