Free download
Format: MD · File: contract-checklist.md
Download UK Freelance Contract Checklist — Download
No signup required. Free to use, share, and adapt for your own freelance business.
What's inside
Sections: Essential clauses, Cautionary clauses, Red flags, UK-specific considerations. References Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, Consumer Rights Act 2015, UK GDPR.
How to use it
Download the file, then open it in your preferred tool (any text editor, or preview as Markdown). All fields are editable. Extend rows or add columns as your business grows.
This template is one of 10 free resources in the FreelanceToolkit UK library. All designed for UK freelancers and small businesses in the 2025/26 tax year.
Related on FreelanceToolkit UK
IP ownership. Get it wrong and you can hand over work you thought you owned — or find yourself unable to reuse portfolio elements. Standard: IP transfers to client on full payment.
1-2× the contract value is typical for UK freelance work. Unlimited liability is a red flag.
Yes for B2B contracts under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 — 8% + Bank of England base rate. Doesn't require a specific contract clause, but referencing it strengthens position.
Only for high-value or high-risk contracts (over ~£20k, complex IP, regulated industries). Standard freelance work is usually fine with a well-drafted template.
Understand why. Negotiable clauses: payment terms, notice periods, revisions cap. Non-negotiable: IP ownership on payment, statutory rights, unlimited liability.
See also: NDA vs confidentiality clause: what's the difference? — related guide from FreelanceToolkit UK.
Related: Freelance Proposal Template UK — Download — from FreelanceToolkit UK.
Related: Verbal agreements vs a written freelance contract — from FreelanceToolkit UK.
Related: MSA vs SOW: how they fit together — from FreelanceToolkit UK.