Copywriting Contract
For writers. Covers word count deliverables, tone-of-voice briefs, SEO requirements, and content rights transfer.
When to use this contract
For writers. Covers word count deliverables, tone-of-voice briefs, SEO requirements, and content rights transfer. This template is essential for Writing professionals who want clear, enforceable terms before starting any client work.
Without a written agreement, you are relying on verbal promises that will not hold up in a dispute. This contract covers the most common friction points: payment delays, scope creep, intellectual property ownership, and what happens if either party wants to end the project early. It gives you a written reference you can point to when disagreements arise, which resolves most issues before they escalate.
Use this contract before you write a single line of code, design a single asset, or deliver any work product. The few minutes it takes to customise and send this template can save you weeks of unpaid invoices and legal headaches later. Over 71% of freelancers report being paid late at least once per year; a signed contract with clear payment terms is the single most effective prevention tool.
This agreement works for both one-off projects and ongoing retainer relationships. For multi-project clients, pair it with a Statement of Work for each individual engagement so the master agreement covers the relationship while each SOW covers the specific deliverables.
What's included
Parties & Scope
Writer and client details, project summary
Content Deliverables
Word count, format, topics, and tone requirements
SEO Requirements
Keywords, meta descriptions, and optimization specs
Revision Rounds
Number of revision rounds included
Content Rights
Ownership and usage rights after payment
Payment Terms
Per-word or per-project rate and schedule
Timeline
Draft, revision, and final delivery dates
Research & Sources
Client-provided materials and required citations
Confidentiality
NDA for client's business information
Kill Fee
Payment if project is cancelled
Termination
Early termination conditions
Governing Law
Legal jurisdiction
Key clauses explained
Every clause in this contract exists because a real freelancer lost money or legal leverage when it was missing. Here is what each section does and why it matters.
Parties & Scope
Writer and client details, project summary
This clause protects your interests and establishes clear expectations for both parties. Review it carefully before signing any agreement.
Content Deliverables
Word count, format, topics, and tone requirements
Specifying word counts, formats, and topics prevents disputes about whether a 'blog post' means 500 words or 2,000 words.
SEO Requirements
Keywords, meta descriptions, and optimization specs
Clarifying that you are not responsible for ranking outcomes protects you from clients blaming you when Google algorithm changes affect their traffic.
Revision Rounds
Number of revision rounds included
Two rounds is the design industry standard. Requiring consolidated feedback from a single contact prevents 'death by a thousand cuts' from multiple stakeholders.
Content Rights
Ownership and usage rights after payment
Portfolio rights are essential for writers. Without them, you cannot show your best work to future clients, which directly limits your ability to win new business.
Payment Terms
Per-word or per-project rate and schedule
Freelancers lose billions to late payments annually. Specifying exact amounts, due dates, and late penalties in writing gives you legal leverage and often prevents delays before they happen.
Timeline
Draft, revision, and final delivery dates
This clause protects your interests and establishes clear expectations for both parties. Review it carefully before signing any agreement.
Research & Sources
Client-provided materials and required citations
This clause protects your interests and establishes clear expectations for both parties. Review it carefully before signing any agreement.
Confidentiality
NDA for client's business information
Defining what counts as confidential protects both you and the client. It also clarifies that the obligation survives contract termination, usually for 2–5 years.
Kill Fee
Payment if project is cancelled
This clause protects your interests and establishes clear expectations for both parties. Review it carefully before signing any agreement.
Termination
Early termination conditions
A clean exit strategy protects your income if the project ends early. Kill fees compensate you for lost time and opportunity cost when the client cancels mid-project.
Governing Law
Legal jurisdiction
Using your home jurisdiction means any disputes are resolved under laws you understand, in courts you can physically attend, giving you a significant home-court advantage.
Plain-English Summary
For writers. Covers word count deliverables, tone-of-voice briefs, SEO requirements, and content rights transfer.
This template requires a Pro subscription. Unlock all templates, the contract builder, and Pro-only clauses with a 7-day free trial.
Sample scenario
The situation: You deliver 10 blog posts at £200 each. The client edits them heavily, claims they are 'completely different work,' and refuses to pay for 6 of the 10 posts.
The risk without a contract: The client controls the narrative. Without a revision cap and approval definition, they can claim endless rewrites are 'part of the process' and withhold payment indefinitely.
How this contract helps: The revision cap limits rewrites to two rounds. Content rights transfer upon payment, so unpaid work remains yours. The research clause makes the client responsible for source material accuracy.