Marketing contracts that sell the work, not a guaranteed result

Freelance marketers get paid for work and judged on results they don't fully control. Budgets get cut mid-campaign, ad accounts belong to someone else, and "we expected more leads" arrives with the invoice. A clear retainer defines the deliverables, the access and the exit.

Draft my contract free

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

The contract and payment problems you actually run into

Guaranteed results

Rankings, leads and ROAS depend on budgets, markets and platforms. Commit to activities and reporting, not outcomes you can't control.

Ad spend and tool costs

Ad budgets and software subscriptions should be paid by the client directly or reimbursed in advance, never floated on your card.

Retainers cancelled overnight

A 30-day notice period and a minimum term give you time to wind down campaigns and replace the income.

Data and account access

You'll handle customer lists and analytics. Say who owns the accounts and data, how you'll protect it, and when access is handed back.

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

Marketing Agency Retainer TemplateA retainer agreement for marketing agencies — channels covered, reporting cadence, ad spend handling, and renewal terms.SEO Services Agreement TemplateAn SEO contract covering audits, on-page and content work, reporting, website access, and no guarantee of rankings or traffic.PPC Management Agreement TemplateA paid ads management contract covering ad spend paid directly by the client, management fees, ad account ownership, reporting, and results.Email Marketing Agreement TemplateAn email marketing contract covering campaigns and automations, list ownership, consent and anti-spam compliance, approvals, and reporting.Fractional CMO Agreement TemplateA fractional executive agreement covering days or hours per month, responsibilities, authority over budget and team, and notice period.

Clauses worth adding

Retainer clauseA monthly retainer clause: fee in advance, included hours, rollover of unused hours, overage rate and notice period.Warranty and disclaimer clauseA warranty clause: what the freelancer promises (professional work, originality) and what they disclaim (results).Expenses reimbursement clauseAn expenses clause for freelancers: which costs the client reimburses, approval thresholds and how they're invoiced.Data protection (GDPR) clauseA data protection clause for freelancers who handle client customer data: GDPR processor duties, security and deletion.Termination clauseA termination clause for freelance contracts: ending for convenience or breach, notice periods and payment for work done.Rate increase clauseA rate increase clause for ongoing clients: how and when you can raise your rates, with notice and an exit for the client.

Free tools

Retainer calculatorMonthly fee, effective rate, overage and a ready retainer clause.Proposal generatorTurn scope, timeline and price into a proposal the client can say yes to.Rate increase letterTell clients about your new rate, clearly and without apologising.Client offboardingA clean end-of-project handoff email and checklist.

Comparing tools?

Clinch vs PandaDoc for freelancers Clinch vs Proposify for freelancers Clinch vs Qwilr for freelancers

Questions

Should a marketing retainer have a minimum term?

Often three months, since most channels need time before results show, followed by a rolling monthly term with 30 days' notice.

Can I offer performance-based pricing?

Yes, but define the metric, the tracking source and the base fee precisely. A pure performance deal shifts all the risk to you.

Send your next contract in minutes

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

Draft my contract free

Other trades

Photographers Wedding planners Designers Developers Copywriters Videographers Consultants Coaches Architects Translators Social media managers DJs Event planners Fitness trainers Interior designers 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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