[LOGO]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE]
[CONTACT EMAIL]
[DATE]
###Summary:
We will always do our best to fulfill your needs and meet your goals, but sometimes it is best to have a few simple things written down so that we both know what is what, who should do what and what happens if stuff goes wrong. In this contract you won't find complicated legal terms or large passages of unreadable text. We have no desire to trick you into signing something that you might later regret. We do want what's best for the safety of both parties, now and in the future.
####In short:
You ([CLIENT COMPANY]) are hiring us ([MY COMPANY]) to [PROJECT NAME OR DESCRIPTION] at the hourly rate of [HOURLY RATE] per hour. Of course it's a little more complicated, but we'll get to that.
###What do both parties agree to do?
As our customer, you have the power and ability to enter into this contract on behalf of your company or organization. You agree to provide us with everything that we need to complete the project including text, images and other information as and when we need it, and in the format that we ask for. You agree to review our work, provide feedback and sign-off approval in a timely manner. Deadlines work two ways and you will also be bound by any dates that we set together. You also agree to stick to the payment schedule set out at the end of this contract.
We have the experience and ability to perform the services you need from us and we will carry them out in a professional and timely manner. Along the way we will endeavor to meet all the deadlines set but we can't be responsible for a missed launch date or a deadline if you have been late in supplying materials or have not approved or signed off our work on-time at any stage. On top of this we will also maintain the confidentiality of any information that you give us.
###Getting down to the nitty gritty
####What we need from you
####Timeline This project is scheduled to begin [START DATE] and will last a [PROJECT DURATION]. Below is the milestone schedule:
- [MILESTONE NAME, # DAYS REQUIRED]
This contract will be declared complete when all work completed has been paid in full.
####Additional development Any additional development needed above and beyond what we have agreed to here must be accompanied by an additional contract which we will be happy to provide upon request. We retain the right to refuse additional work that is not specifically outlined in this document.
####Contact All communications will be made during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm CST, excluding holidays) and we will return any contact requests within one business day unless we notify you ahead of time that we will be out of the office. Of course we understand that emergencies do arise, so in the case of one know that our hours will be billed at time and a half. We appreciate communication in a text-based medium, but understand that not all discussions are easily done this way. We’re happy to speak to you on the phone, over Skype/Google Hangout, or in person if you are in the [MY CITY] area, keeping in mind that any decisions that are made will be written down and require your written approval.
As we value your time as well as our own, we ask that all meetings be scheduled a minimum of two business days in advance and be accompanied by an agenda so that we can be fully prepared. If we are unable to attend a meeting at your suggested time, we will be happy to provide two times that will work for us. Meetings must start and end on or before the time allotted and will be charged for whether you attend or not.
###Legal stuff
We can't guarantee that the functions contained in any application will always be error-free and so we can't be liable to you or any third party for damages, including lost profits, lost savings or other incidental, consequential or special damages arising out of the operation of or inability to operate this application, even if you have advised us of the possibilities of such damages.
If any provision of this agreement shall be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from this agreement and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.
####Copyrights
Both parties guarantee that any elements of text, graphics, photos, designs, trademarks, or other artwork provided for inclusion in the application have the necessary permission to use them.
When we receive your final payment, copyright is automatically assigned as follows:
The Customer will own all graphics and other visual elements created for the Project. The Developer will provided a copy of the source code and any additional files required by the project. The Developer will grant full rights for the source code to the Customer.
###Payments
We are sure you understand how important it is as a small business that you pay the invoices that we send you promptly. As we're also sure you'll want to stay friends, you agree to stick tightly to the following payment schedule.
####Payment Schedule
We bill every other week on Friday and all invoices are payable upon receipt.
A deposit of [DEPOSIT AMOUNT] is due up front and will be subtracted from the last invoice.
Any payments not received within 7 days will halt work until the payment is received. If payment is late twice during the project, we retain the right to ask for prepayment of hours or to end the project, whichever is deemed more fitting for the situation.
If either party chooses to end the project, it must be done in writing. Please keep in mind that the deposit will be forfeited and any work that has been paid for up to that point will be turned over to you.
###But where is all the horrible small print?
Just like a parking ticket, you cannot transfer this contract to anyone else without our permission. This contract stays in place and need not be renewed. If for some reason one part of this contract becomes invalid or unenforceable, the remaining parts of it remain in place.
Although the language is simple, the intentions are serious and this contract is a legal document under exclusive jurisdiction of [MY STATE] courts.
###The dotted line
Signed by [MY NAME] and on behalf of [MY COMPANY]
Signed by [DECISION MAKER] and on behalf of [CLIENT COMPANY]
####Dated [DATE]