by Leo Wiles
25 January 2017
No one I ever work for has asked me to sign a contract (but admittedly I work for small SMBs rather than big print companies). However recently I was talking to a freelance friend and she said I was insane not to get terms and conditions and pay etc, in writing. Is she right? CB
She is, and it’s critical as a freelancer to get even just the basics in writing (or via a formal contract you sent your client) before you take on a commission. Sure, the mere thought of policies and procedures make us all want to take a nap, but if you needed any convincing as to why you have them, here’s a little story for you.
Last week I forwent my normal practice of charging a retainer before commencing work, and even more foolishly, delivered high-resolution, unwatermarked images to a client before she had paid. I knew her beforehand, which is why I was a bit lax on my usual practices.
The result though was that I was completely stitched up, took a confidence hit and have lost a ‘friend’ who, according to Facebook, is now enjoying a family holiday in New Zealand, probably losing zero sleep over it all. I’m out of pocket financially and have wasted two work days that I will never recoup.
So when you find yourself dealing with people who think ethics is a county in England it’s crucial to have a written agreement in place.
Not just the initial ‘contract’ confirming what the work is in detail, but also the delivery time and method and the terms under which you shall be paid.
These safeguards are essential to protect your workflow and time and, rather than put clients off, should mark you out as someone who treats their vocation as a professional should. Which is why multi-million dollar companies like Bauer insist even freelancers sign a whole swathe of documents concerning Workplace Health and Safety, public liability, copyright etc. before you set foot in their office.
Do you think you need a contract? What safeguards do you have in place with your clients?
