Copywriting contracts that get you paid for the words, not just the final draft

Copy is easy to reject and easy to reuse. A client can sit on a draft for weeks, ask for "a completely different direction" three times, or quietly publish the piece they said they wouldn't use. A short contract with a deposit, revision limits and a rights clause handles all of it.

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No card needed. Your client signs from their phone, without an account.

The contract and payment problems you actually run into

"Different direction" rewrites

Edits and rewrites are not the same thing. Your contract should include a set number of revision rounds on the agreed brief, and treat a new brief as new work.

Killed pieces that get published anyway

A kill fee pays you when a piece is dropped for reasons that aren't yours — and the rights stay with you until the full fee is paid, so a "killed" article can't go live for free.

Who owns the copy, and the byline

Ghostwritten content, bylined articles and ad copy call for different rights. Say whether rights transfer on payment, whether you're credited, and whether you can show the work in your portfolio.

Questions about AI

More clients now ask whether copy was written with AI, or ban it outright. An AI-use clause states what you use and what you don't, before it becomes a trust issue.

How it works with Clinch

1
Describe the job in a sentence or two: the AI drafts the contract from a template made for your trade.
2
Send one link: your client reads and signs on their phone in about 30 seconds, no account needed.
3
Collect the deposit at signature, then invoice the balance from the same place.

Contract templates to start from

Copywriting Contract TemplateA contract for freelance copywriters covering website, marketing, or content copy projects, revisions, and usage rights.Content Writing Retainer Agreement TemplateA monthly content writing retainer covering articles per month, word counts, briefs, revisions, bylines, and use of AI tools.Ghostwriting Agreement TemplateA ghostwriting contract covering the manuscript, interviews, attribution and credit, rights transfer, confidentiality, and milestone payments.Technical Writing Contract TemplateA technical writing agreement covering documentation scope, access to subject-matter experts, review cycles, tools, and style guides.

Clauses worth adding

Revisions clauseA revisions clause that caps revision rounds, defines what counts as a revision, and prices extra rounds.Kill fee clauseA kill fee clause for writers, designers and creatives: what the client pays if they cancel a project midway. Copyable wording and variants.Intellectual property transfer clauseAn IP transfer clause that assigns rights to the client only after full payment, while the freelancer keeps their tools and know-how.Attribution (credit) clauseAn attribution clause: how and where you're credited for the work, such as a footer link, a photo credit or a byline.AI use clauseAn AI use clause: whether AI tools may be used in the work, disclosure to the client, and what that means for ownership.Deposit clauseA non-refundable deposit clause for freelancers: how much, when it's due, and what it secures. Copy the wording and variants by trade.

Free tools

Kill fee calculatorWork out what a client owes when they cancel mid-project.Scope creep replyA polite, firm email for when the client asks for 'one small thing'.Retainer calculatorMonthly fee, effective rate, overage and a ready retainer clause.Payment reminder emailPolite, firm or final: the right reminder for how late the invoice is.

Comparing tools?

Clinch vs Bonsai for freelancers Clinch: an AND.CO alternative after the shutdown Clinch vs Fiverr for freelancers

Questions

What's a normal kill fee for copywriting?

Often 25–50% of the fee depending on how far the work has progressed, and 100% once a final draft is delivered. The kill fee calculator above gives you a stage-by-stage figure.

Should rights transfer when I deliver or when I'm paid?

When you're paid in full. Until then the client has a licence to review the copy, not to publish it.

Send your next contract in minutes

Start from the template for your trade, edit anything, and get paid the moment it's signed.

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Other trades

Photographers Wedding planners Designers Developers Videographers Consultants Coaches Architects Translators Social media managers DJs Event planners Fitness trainers Interior designers Marketers Illustrators Wedding photographers Web agencies Tutors

General information, not legal advice. For high-stakes deals, have a lawyer review your contract.

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