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Clinch · Designers

Design contracts that end the revision loop

Design projects rarely fail on the design. They fail on round seven of "small tweaks", on a client who disappears for a month and then wants it by Friday, and on the question of who owns the Illustrator files. Settle those three in writing and most projects run themselves.

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The contract and payment problems you actually run into

01

Unlimited revisions by default

If the contract doesn't say how many rounds are included, every round is included. Two or three rounds, what counts as a round, and a rate for extra ones turn "one more change" into a decision the client pays for.

02

Source files and ownership

Clients often assume they get the working files and full rights; many designers license the final artwork and sell the source files separately. Either is fine — as long as it's agreed before the final invoice, not after.

03

Projects killed halfway

A new marketing director arrives and the rebrand is shelved after concepts. A kill fee tied to the stage reached means you're paid for the work done instead of starting a dispute.

04

Feedback that never comes

You deliver concepts on time, the client replies three weeks later and keeps the original launch date. A client-delays clause moves your deadline with theirs and lets you invoice when work is waiting on them.

How it works with Clinch

  1. 1

    Describe the job in a sentence or two: the AI drafts the contract from a template made for your trade.

  2. 2

    Send one link: your client reads and signs on their phone in about 30 seconds, no account needed.

  3. 3

    Collect the deposit at signature, then invoice the balance from the same place.

Contract templates to start from

Graphic Design Contract TemplateA contract for logo, branding, and print/digital graphic design projects, with clear revisions and file handoff terms.Logo Design Contract TemplateA logo design agreement covering concepts, revision rounds, final file formats, copyright transfer on payment, and trademark checks.Brand Strategy Agreement TemplateA brand strategy contract covering discovery, stakeholder workshops, research, positioning and messaging deliverables, and rights on payment.Web Design Contract TemplateA contract for freelance web designers covering wireframes, visual design, revisions, and handoff of final files.

Clauses worth adding

Revisions clauseA revisions clause that caps revision rounds, defines what counts as a revision, and prices extra rounds.Source files clauseA source files clause: whether editable files are included, the fee if not, and how they're delivered.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.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.Client delays clauseA client delays clause: what happens to deadlines and payments when the client is late with feedback, content or access.Portfolio rights clauseA portfolio clause that lets freelancers show client work in their portfolio and case studies, with a confidentiality carve-out.

Free tools

Scope creep replyA polite, firm email for when the client asks for 'one small thing'.Kill fee calculatorWork out what a client owes when they cancel mid-project.Proposal generatorTurn scope, timeline and price into a proposal the client can say yes to.Hourly to project priceTurn your hourly rate into a fixed price that covers revisions and risk.

Comparing tools?

Clinch vs Bonsai for freelancersClinch: an AND.CO alternative after the shutdownClinch vs Moxie for freelancers

Questions

How many revisions should a design contract include?

Two or three rounds per deliverable is common. Define a round as one consolidated list of feedback, and put a price on additional rounds so the client can choose.

Should I transfer copyright or grant a licence?

For logos and brand identities clients usually expect ownership, transferred once paid in full. For illustrations, templates or campaign assets a licence is common. Either way, make the transfer conditional on final payment.

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

PhotographersWedding plannersDevelopersCopywritersVideographersConsultantsCoachesArchitectsTranslatorsSocial media managersDJsEvent plannersFitness trainersInterior designersMarketersIllustratorsWedding photographersWeb agenciesTutors

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

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