Frequently asked questions

Open by restating the client's problem in your own words — it proves you read the brief. Follow with a short numbered approach, why you're a fit (a specific past project, not a generic claim), a clear price with what's included, and end with one specific clarifying question about their brief to prompt a reply.

Yes, even for small projects. A short, plain-language agreement covering scope, payment terms, revisions, and ownership protects both sides if something goes wrong — a scope disagreement, late payment, or a client wanting unlimited revisions. It doesn't need to be long to be effective.

A common structure is 50% advance before work begins and 50% on delivery — this protects you from non-payment after completing the work. For longer projects, milestone-based payments (e.g. 30/30/40 split across project phases) reduce risk further for both sides.

This should be spelled out in your contract, but the common default is that full ownership transfers to the client only upon receipt of full payment. Until then, the freelancer retains rights. Many freelancers also retain the right to display completed work in their portfolio unless the contract says otherwise (common for NDA-covered projects).

An NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) is a legal agreement where both parties agree to keep shared confidential information private. Freelancers often sign one before a client shares sensitive business details during early discussions, prior to a full contract being signed.

A non-compete clause restricts a freelancer from working with the client's direct competitors for a period of time, sometimes even after the engagement ends. Freelancers should read these carefully — an overly broad or long non-compete can meaningfully limit future income, and it's reasonable to negotiate the scope and duration before signing.

For project-based work, invoice according to the payment schedule in your contract — commonly an advance invoice at the start and a final invoice on delivery, or per milestone for longer projects. For retainer or ongoing work, monthly invoicing is standard.

At minimum: your name/business name and address, the client's name and address, a unique invoice number, the invoice date, an itemized description of work with amounts, and the total due. If GST-registered, also include your GSTIN, the client's GSTIN (if applicable), the SAC code, and a tax breakdown (CGST+SGST or IGST as applicable).

A Statement of Work is a document that details the specific deliverables, timeline, and terms for a project — often used alongside or as part of a broader contract, especially for larger or multi-phase engagements. It typically gets more granular than a general contract about exactly what will be delivered and by when.

A 50% advance is common for new client relationships or medium-sized projects — enough to demonstrate commitment on both sides. For very large projects, structuring in more milestones (e.g. 30/30/40) reduces risk further. For small or quick projects, some freelancers skip the advance and simply invoice on completion.

Clients often share sensitive business information — unreleased products, financial data, proprietary processes — before a contract is signed, simply to brief a freelancer accurately on a project. An NDA protects that information legally during this pre-contract stage.

A termination clause specifies how either party can end the agreement early — typically requiring a set notice period (e.g. 7 or 14 days) in writing. It protects freelancers from being left unpaid for work already completed if a project is cancelled midway, and protects clients from being locked into an unsatisfactory engagement indefinitely.