Looking for Freelance contracts for download (preferably free)...

I do quite a bit of freelance development and consulting work, and was curious to know if anyone had suggestions for a site where I could download sample/editable contracts.

I'd prefer downloads which are free, but would be willing to pay a small fee (< $20) if the verbiage was right.

I have (of course) gone through the rigmarole of googling et al, but before I dive in blind with some of the websites google brings up, I thought to sequester the opinions of my peers here on Devshed.

Any advice or experience along these lines is greatly appreciated, thanks.

- DrGroove

The best stuff I have found has been from NOLO press with regaurds to contracts. I have seen "Be your own Attourny" books/Cd's with hundreds of contracts you can modify via a wizzard and print off for between USD 20 - 50. Check out your local office supply retailer or Best Buy.

I use a simple contractors agreement I found in Office 2000 Small Business Edition and then modify the terms in plain english.

I deal with a lot of small businesses that want honest straight forward agreements, like "My Company agrees to set up a website that includes:

1) shopping cart
2) secure server
3) SSL
4) Merchant account
5) Site Layout
6) Custom Graphics work
7) etc.

by the [due date. For the amount of EUR or USD XXXXX.XX

I reserve the right to work for others during this time.

I will provide all tools and software needed.

Payment is to be made 5/10 n30. Meaning if they cut the check within 10days of completetion, I take 5% off and the full amount is due within 30 days or whatever is agreed to.

The simpler the contract, the better for all, however include in writing everything you are going to do exactly the way they want it done, even if its against you better judgement.

Then if they come back and say, "X doesn't work" you can say, yes, but I said it would work, but you insistied and its in writing here. So it will cost $XXX to fix it.

I am spoiled where I am. Its the back woods Ozarks, but most businesses I have worked with have been small hard working folk that just don't have the time to find out about everything and want to know, "what computer and software should I use, what is available". and I can help them develop an overall plan or just say, "Quickbooks on a $500 Dell will work fine for your wedding cake business". or whatever.

Sweet. Thanks much for the knowledge,
kfickert.

try looking in the download area of
http://techrepublic.com.com/

No problem. I did the "look for a job thing" after graduating from college and I did web pages on the side for beer money. I used to be the go 2 person on campus for computer needs and finally one day a friend said, "You should charge for this". So I did.

Of couse my education is in International Business and German and I spent a semester in Germany basically studing Technology Law and Business Law. I am going back to college this spring to finish my third major in International Affairs/Relations and then in a few years I want to go and get my Law degree and become an expert in international technology law issues.

As I said, the people I am working for down here are generally good people and most business is still done with a hand shake over a cup of coffee at the local cafe. Still, at the end of the day, I make sure that I have all my bases covered just in case...

My other word of business advice is this: if you do good work at a fair price, it won't take too long for business to come to you, no advertising needed...

I've gotten a non-disclosure agreement from http://www.findlegalforms.com/xcart/customer/home.php, but they may have something for contracts, also... I was satisfied with my purchase from them.

---John Holmes...

Wow, these guys have a ton of useful downloads. Nice link, thanks Taqwus!

You're welcome to checkout my website for the free downloadable docs, and let me know if I can help further. My firm is an offshore management [umbrella] service, see downloads at http://www.snowdonconsultants.com also the newsletter.

I don't see anything on your site for contracts. Thanks for the spam, though, it goes rather well with the beer and cigar (C.A.O) that I'm having...

Dopes

That wasn't meant as spam. Kindly re-visit, there is a standard contract for Consultancy Agreements between a Client company and a Consultant. You can edit the role details by using the appendix schedule last page. I was expecting you to email a specific query from the website since the contracts can vary greatly, number of parties involved, language / country of the contract... You can reach the docs from downloads or the sitemap.

Thank you for putting up those examples that were not there yesterday.

Dopes

Okay, I have a potential conflict-of-interest here, and maybe even a vested interest (since I co-authored a book on the topic!), but seriously, one should be VERY VERY careful about using any legal forms blindly.

The forms are purposely generic and thus arent really designed for use without modifications and amendments. More importantly, unless you actually know what the legal meanings and implications are of such an agreement, you will become a victim of: 1) penny wise, pound foolish (British pound--as in currency!); and 2) "you can see now, or see me later, but you WILL see me!"

Should an error take place, or a misword written, that can cost you $1000s MORE than if you went to a lawyer in the first instance!

Food for thought.

Steve Schiffman
Attorney-at-Law
New York, NY

WTOLawyer@aol.com
Trademarklicensing@bonbon.net
schiffman@lawadvisor.org

Anyone looking for a great product that contains web designer/developer specific contracts, agreements, proposals etc,
try visiting http://www.abuckandadreamsafelist.com/l.php?wfp.

It's not free but it's a great product!

I got some interesting forms from the website- http://www.creativebusiness.com/forms.lasso.
These pdfs give some interesting guidelines to consider while making your own contracts / forms