Freelance contract clause builder
Pick your deposit, payment terms, late interest and IP terms and watch South African contract clauses write themselves.
1.
Commitment deposit
The Client shall pay a non-refundable commitment deposit of 50% of the total project fee before any work commences. The Contractor's start date is secured only on receipt of cleared funds.
2.
Payment terms
All invoices are payable by EFT within 14 days of the invoice date, using the invoice number as the payment reference.
3.
Late payment
Overdue amounts attract interest at 2% per month, calculated daily and capped at the maximum permitted under the National Credit Act 34 of 2005. The Contractor may suspend work while any invoice is overdue.
4.
Revisions
The fee includes 2 rounds of revisions. Further changes are billed at the Contractor's standard hourly rate, quoted in advance.
5.
Intellectual property
Ownership of the final deliverables transfers to the Client only upon payment in full. The Contractor retains all pre-existing tools, code, templates and methods ("Background IP").
6.
Portfolio
The Contractor may display the work in their portfolio and marketing after public release, unless agreed otherwise in writing.
7.
Jurisdiction
This agreement is governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. The parties consent to the jurisdiction of the Magistrate's Court for the district of Johannesburg.
How to use it
- 1.Choose your deposit and payment terms.
- 2.Pick late-payment interest and who owns the work (IP).
- 3.Copy the clauses into your agreement.
- 4.Use the kit's full agreement for termination, POPIA and disputes.
Questions
- Are these clauses legal advice?
- No. They are practical starting wording. Get an attorney for high-value or unusual work.
- When should IP transfer to the client?
- A common, fair approach is on full payment — so you keep leverage until you are paid.
In the Starter Kit
The full contractor agreement: 15+ clauses incl. POPIA, termination and jurisdiction