Many freelancers have done fine for years without a contract for their business transactions. Many business owners have done fine without contracts while hiring freelance business resources. Then again, many people – freelancers and business owners alike – also have horror stories; for each horror story a business owner has about a freelancer, the same is true the other way around. Here is a short list of Frequently Asked Questions, from both sides of the line, about contracts:
Freelancer: Do I really need to include the specifics for the job?
Not at all. For instance, if the project is something simple like “optimized articles”, and you and the owner know what it means, why bother writing it down? Of course, they could always argue that they needed six when you turned in four, or they were all supposed to be 600 words instead of 400, but who’s counting when you really get down to it?
Business Owner: Why should I make sure I have full rights for the deliverables?
You don’t have to. You can always assume that you’re buying full rights to any deliverables.
Freelancer: Do I really need to bother with a contract?
Nope. You and the business owner talked about the specifics of the job and have a verbal agreement on what you’re doing and what you’re getting paid for it. There’s no reason to write it down, because you know for sure the business owner will follow through.
Business Owner: Do I really need to sign this contract?
No. You can assume the freelancer fully understands everything about the contract, and that they will adhere to the things you agreed on in PM, email, IM or on the phone. Of course, if they don’t, you’ll have no recourse to get your money back if you’ve paid them ahead of time, but that won’t happen.
It’s been said that a little sarcasm goes a long way, and it’s true. The reality of the situation is that contracts protect the business owner and the freelancer both. As much as you might hate the thought of signing a legal document – no matter which side you’re on – a good motivation is remembering the money involved, whether it’s money you’re making (as the freelancer) or money you’re spending (as the business owner).
Before starting any project, make sure you read over the contract carefully and then, if you agree with the terms, sign on that dotted line!
Posted by yesfreelance 
