Payment before delivery clause for freelancers
A payment before delivery clause: final files, source and ownership are released only once the last invoice is paid in full.
Payment before delivery clause: copy and adapt
Final deliverables, including production files, source files and credentials, will be released to the Client once all invoices under this agreement have been paid in full. Until then, the Provider may deliver previews, watermarked or low-resolution versions for review. Ownership and usage rights transfer only on receipt of full payment.
When to use it
In any project where the valuable part is the final handover: design files, code, video masters. It is the strongest lever a freelancer has, and it costs nothing to include.
Variants by trade
Web developers
The site will be moved to the Client's hosting and admin credentials handed over within [2] business days of final payment. Until then it remains on the Provider's staging server.
Photographers
Proofs are delivered as watermarked low-resolution images. Full-resolution edited images are delivered within [3] days of the final payment.
Frequently asked questions
Is it fair to withhold files until payment?
Yes, when it's agreed up front. The client sees and approves the work first; the handover simply happens when the invoice is settled, like collecting any other purchase.
What if the client needs the files urgently?
Offer to release them the moment payment lands. With card payment at signature or on the final invoice, that can be minutes, not weeks.
Put this clause in a contract they sign today.
Clinch drafts the full contract with AI from a template, your client signs from their phone without an account, and the deposit is requested the moment they sign.
Start the contract with ClinchRelated clauses
These clauses are general templates, not legal advice. Laws vary by country and state; for high-value or unusual deals, have a lawyer review your contract.
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