Real-world examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers

Examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers in 2024–2025

Most writers don’t need a 20-page legal document. They need clear, specific language that protects their time, their income, and their rights. The best examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers do three things:

• Define the scope in concrete terms (word count, number of pieces, revisions)
• Lock in payment terms (how much, when, and how)
• Clarify ownership and rights (who can use the work, where, and for how long)

Below are several real-world style examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers, each adapted to a different type of writing work.

Example of a blog writer service agreement (per-article project)

Imagine you’re a content writer hired to produce four SEO blog posts per month for a small U.S. tech startup.

Scope of work clause (example):
“Writer will produce four (4) blog posts per calendar month, each between 1,200 and 1,500 words, on topics agreed in writing via email. Client will provide topic outlines and target keywords at least five (5) business days before each agreed deadline.”

Revisions clause (example):
“Fee includes up to two (2) rounds of reasonable revisions per article requested within ten (10) business days of delivery. Requests made after ten (10) business days or exceeding two (2) rounds will be billed at $80/hour.”

Payment clause (example):
“Client will pay $350 per article, invoiced monthly. Invoices are due within fifteen (15) days of receipt. Late payments incur a 1.5% monthly late fee. Work on future articles may be paused if payment is more than fifteen (15) days overdue.”

This is one of the cleaner examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers who work on recurring content. It sets expectations on volume, timelines, and revisions without sounding like a corporate policy manual.

Example of a copywriting agreement with performance bonuses

Copywriters often tie their work to conversions or revenue. That changes the agreement.

Scope and deliverables (example):
“Writer will create copy for one (1) landing page (~1,000 words), three (3) email sequences (five emails each), and five (5) paid ad variations. Deliverables include copy only; design and implementation are excluded.”

Fee and performance bonus (example):
“Client will pay a flat project fee of \(3,000, payable 50% upfront and 50% within seven (7) days of final delivery. In addition, if the campaign achieves a conversion rate of 5% or higher within sixty (60) days of launch, Client will pay Writer a performance bonus of \)1,000 within fifteen (15) days of receiving campaign analytics.”

Testing and data access (example):
“Client agrees to share anonymized performance data relevant to the campaign (conversion rate, click-through rate, and revenue per lead) so Writer can verify eligibility for performance bonuses.”

This is a good example of a freelance service agreement example for writers whose pay is partly tied to results, without promising specific outcomes or violating advertising regulations.

Example of a ghostwriting agreement with strict confidentiality

Ghostwriting is where things get sensitive. You’re writing, someone else’s name goes on the cover.

Credit and authorship (example):
“Writer acknowledges that Client will be credited as the sole author of the work. Writer waives any right to be credited publicly and agrees not to identify as the author of the work in any medium, except where required by law or with Client’s prior written consent.”

Confidentiality and NDA (example):
“Writer agrees to keep confidential all non-public information disclosed by Client, including but not limited to personal stories, financial information, and proprietary business processes. This obligation survives termination of this Agreement. Writer may not share drafts, notes, or research materials with third parties without Client’s written permission.”

Rights and usage (example):
“Upon receipt of full payment, Writer assigns to Client all rights, title, and interest in the final manuscript, including worldwide copyright. Writer retains no rights to reuse or republish the work, in whole or in part, except with Client’s written permission.”

Among the best examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers, ghostwriting contracts stand out for how clearly they handle rights and confidentiality. If your ghostwriting agreement doesn’t talk about ownership and NDAs, it’s incomplete.

Example of a per-word content agreement for large-volume work

High-volume content (think content agencies or large publishers) is often billed per word.

Rate and word count (example):
“Writer will be paid $0.25 per published word. Word count is based on the final approved version of each article as published on Client’s website or platform.”

Kill fee (example):
“If Client chooses not to publish a submitted article for reasons unrelated to quality (as defined in this Agreement), Client will pay a kill fee equal to 50% of the projected article fee, based on the submitted word count.”

Minimum monthly commitment (example):
“Client agrees to commission a minimum of 8,000 words per month for the first three (3) months of this Agreement. If Client commissions fewer than 8,000 words, Client will pay the difference as a retainer against future work.”

This is one of the more practical examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers working at scale. It prevents the “we’ll send you tons of work” promise from turning into a slow trickle.

Example of a rights-limited article agreement (retaining portfolio rights)

Some clients want full copyright. Others are fine with limited rights. In 2024–2025, more writers are pushing to retain at least some rights.

License instead of full assignment (example):
“Upon full payment, Writer grants Client an exclusive license to publish, reproduce, and distribute the work worldwide in digital and print formats for a period of three (3) years. After this period, the license becomes non-exclusive, and Writer may reuse or republish the work, provided Client’s original publication is credited.”

Portfolio rights (example):
“Notwithstanding the above, Writer may display excerpts of the work (up to 25% of the total content) in portfolios, on personal websites, and in marketing materials, provided Writer credits Client and links to the original publication where reasonably possible.”

These are strong examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers who want to keep long-term control over their work while still giving the client what they need.

Example of an agreement addressing AI tools and originality

In 2024–2025, AI use is a hot-button issue. Smart clients now expect clarity on whether you use AI and who is liable if there’s a copyright dispute.

AI usage disclosure (example):
“Writer may use AI tools for brainstorming, outlining, and editing, but all final text delivered to Client will be reviewed, edited, and approved by Writer. Writer remains responsible for the originality, accuracy, and compliance of the final work with this Agreement.”

Originality and plagiarism (example):
“Writer warrants that the work will be original, not generated solely by automated tools, and will not knowingly infringe any third-party copyrights. Writer agrees to revise or replace any portion of the work reasonably alleged to infringe upon another’s rights.”

Client’s responsibility (example):
“Client is responsible for any legal claims arising from factual instructions or materials provided by Client (e.g., unsubstantiated health claims, unlicensed images, or proprietary data), and will indemnify Writer against such claims.”

If you write in regulated niches (health, finance, legal), you should be especially careful here. For example, if you’re writing health content, you may want to reference reputable sources like the National Institutes of Health or Mayo Clinic and clarify that the client is responsible for final medical review.

Example of an international freelance writing agreement (U.S. client, non-U.S. writer)

Cross-border work adds tax and currency wrinkles.

Currency and payment method (example):
“Client will pay all fees in U.S. dollars (USD) via PayPal or international bank transfer. Any transfer fees or currency conversion fees charged by the payment provider will be borne by Writer.”

Tax responsibilities (example):
“Each party is responsible for its own taxes arising from payments under this Agreement. Writer is solely responsible for reporting and paying any taxes in their country of residence. Client may request a completed IRS Form W-8BEN or similar documentation as required by U.S. law.”

For U.S.-based clients, it’s worth linking them to IRS guidance on independent contractors and international payments, such as the IRS self-employed and independent contractor page so everyone understands the tax boundaries.

This is a straightforward example of a freelance service agreement example for writers working across borders, where clarity on tax and currency avoids nasty surprises later.

Key clauses that show up in the best examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers

Looking across these real examples, certain clauses keep showing up. When you review or draft your own agreement, check whether you’ve addressed:

1. Scope and deliverables
Spell out word counts, number of pieces, research expectations, interviews, and whether you’re responsible for uploading to a CMS.

2. Deadlines and turnaround
Set realistic delivery dates and client response times. If the client goes silent, you shouldn’t be punished.

3. Revisions
Cap the number of revision rounds and define what counts as a “revision” versus a new assignment.

4. Payment terms
Include rate, deposit, due dates, late fees, and whether you’ll pause work if invoices aren’t paid.

5. Rights and usage
Clarify whether this is a work-for-hire, a full assignment of copyright, or a limited license.

6. Confidentiality and NDAs
Especially for ghostwriting, corporate clients, or sensitive topics.

7. Termination and kill fees
Explain what happens if either side walks away mid-project.

8. Legal compliance and fact-checking
In regulated industries (health, finance, law), agree on who is responsible for final compliance review. For health content, for instance, you might require the client to have a licensed professional review anything referencing sources like CDC or WebMD.

These recurring patterns are what make the best examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers feel both professional and fair.

How to adapt these examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers to your situation

Copying a contract template word-for-word is better than having nothing, but not by much. You’ll get more mileage by:

Tailoring to your niche
A B2B SaaS blog writer needs different clauses than a romance ghostwriter or a health copywriter. If you’re in a high-risk niche (like medical or financial advice), you’ll want stronger disclaimers and shared responsibility for compliance.

Matching your pricing model
Per-word, per-project, retainers, and performance-based pay all need slightly different structures. For instance, retainers benefit from “use it or lose it” language so clients don’t stack months of unused hours.

Adjusting for your risk tolerance
If you’re early in your career, you might accept broader rights buyouts for higher pay. As you grow, you may push for more limited licenses and portfolio rights.

Checking local law
Contract law varies by country and state. If you’re doing high-value work, it’s smart to have a lawyer review your standard agreement. Many law schools and small business clinics (often found via .edu sites) offer low-cost or free contract review services.

Think of all these real examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers as building blocks. You can mix and match clauses until they reflect how you actually work.

FAQ: examples of freelance service agreements for writers

Q: Can you give an example of a simple one-page freelance service agreement for writers?
Yes. A lean one-page agreement might include: your name and the client’s name; a brief description of the project (e.g., “three blog posts of 1,000–1,200 words each”); project fee and payment terms; delivery dates; number of revision rounds; a short copyright/usage clause; and a line about independent contractor status. You can borrow language from the examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers above and compress it into a shorter format.

Q: What are some common examples of red flags in freelance writing agreements?
Red flags include: no clear payment timeline, unlimited revisions, vague scope like “as needed content,” full rights assignment without fair compensation, and non-compete clauses that would stop you from writing for entire industries. If your agreement doesn’t look at least somewhat like the best examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers in this guide, it’s worth pushing back.

Q: Do I always need a lawyer to review my freelance writing contract?
Not always. For smaller projects, adapting real examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers is often enough. For long-term retainers, high-value ghostwriting, or anything involving sensitive data, getting a lawyer’s eyes on it is smart. Some local bar associations and law school clinics provide low-cost contract reviews.

Q: Are email agreements valid, or do I need a formal PDF contract?
In many jurisdictions, an email chain that clearly lays out scope, price, and terms can be enforceable. That said, a structured agreement—whether it’s a PDF, e-signed document, or even a well-formatted email that borrows from the examples of freelance service agreement examples for writers here—makes misunderstandings less likely.

Q: How often should I update my freelance service agreement template?
At least once a year, or whenever something bites you—late payments, scope creep, AI disputes, rights confusion. The real examples in this article reflect 2024–2025 trends like AI usage, remote international work, and heightened focus on copyright. As the landscape shifts, your contract should evolve with it.

Treat these examples not as rigid scripts but as a menu. The more you write, the more you’ll notice patterns in what goes wrong—and you’ll tweak your freelance service agreement accordingly. That’s how you move from just “having a contract” to having one that actually protects your writing business.