Best examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers in 2025

Real-world examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers

Freelancers are being asked to sign non-competes more often, especially in tech, marketing, and consulting. Instead of starting with theory, it’s more useful to look at concrete examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers that mirror what actually lands in inboxes.

The patterns you’ll see over and over:

• Time limits (often 3–12 months)
• Geographic limits (local, national, or online restrictions)
• Industry or client-type limits (e.g., “healthcare SaaS competitors”)
• Activity limits (what type of work you’re barred from doing)

Below are detailed, realistic examples that show how these moving parts fit together—and how small wording changes can dramatically change your freedom to work.

Example of a narrow, freelancer-friendly non-compete clause

This is the kind of clause most employment lawyers would call relatively reasonable for an independent contractor.

Sample clause – marketing copywriter
“For a period of 3 months following the completion of this project, Contractor agrees not to provide copywriting services to any direct competitor of Client whose primary business is selling email marketing software to small businesses in the United States. This restriction applies only to clients with whom Contractor had direct contact or for whom Contractor created work product under this Agreement.”

Why this lands among the best examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers:

• Short duration (3 months, not years)
• Clear industry focus (email marketing software for small businesses)
• Limited geography (United States)
• Tied to clients you actually worked with

If you see something like this, it’s usually a sign the company has at least tried to tailor the restriction instead of copy-pasting a broad employee non-compete.

Example of an overbroad non-compete freelancers should push back on

Now contrast that with language that is a red flag for independent contractors.

Sample clause – web developer
“Contractor agrees that for a period of 2 years following termination of this Agreement, Contractor will not provide any services, whether as an employee, contractor, or owner, to any business that offers online products or services in any market where Client operates, whether now or in the future.”

Why this is a problem:

• Two years is a long time in freelance life
• “Any services” is far too broad
• “Any business that offers online products or services” could cover almost every modern company
• “Any market where Client operates, now or in the future” is effectively unlimited geography

This is the kind of example of non-compete agreement language that courts often reject as unreasonable, especially for freelancers. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission has proposed a nationwide ban on most non-competes for workers, including many independent contractors, reflecting a broader skepticism about clauses like this (FTC non-compete rulemaking overview).

If you see language like this, it’s a strong signal to negotiate or get legal advice before signing.

Industry-specific examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers

Different freelance industries tend to see different flavors of non-compete clauses. Below are several real-style examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers across fields, showing how the same concept is customized in practice.

Example: Social media strategist for direct-to-consumer brands

“For 6 months after the end of this Agreement, Contractor will not provide social media strategy or paid social campaign management to any direct competitor of Client whose primary business is selling direct-to-consumer skincare products in North America. This restriction applies only to brands that spend more than $25,000 per month on paid social advertising.”

Why this is more balanced:

• Clear time limit (6 months)
• Limited to specific services (strategy and paid social, not all marketing)
• Clear competitor description (DTC skincare brands in North America)
• Revenue threshold narrows the field

This sits comfortably among the best examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers in digital marketing: targeted, time-bound, and specific.

Example: UX designer contracting for a fintech startup

“During the term of this Agreement and for 4 months thereafter, Designer will not provide UX or product design services to any consumer-facing financial technology app that offers peer-to-peer payments and operates primarily in the United States or Canada, where such services would involve designing core payment flows substantially similar to those designed for Client.”

Key points:

• Only covers similar apps (consumer P2P fintech)
• Limits the scope to core payment flows, not all UX work
• Short post-project restriction

A UX freelancer could still work for a B2B accounting tool, a budgeting app with no P2P payments, or a European-only product without violating this clause.

Example: SEO consultant for a regional law firm

“Consultant agrees that for 12 months following the completion of services, Consultant will not provide SEO strategy or link-building services to any personal injury law firm located within 50 miles of Client’s primary office address. This restriction does not apply to national or informational legal websites that do not compete for local personal injury clients.”

Notable details:

• Classic local radius approach (50 miles)
• Limited to a specific practice area (personal injury)
• Carves out non-local, informational work

For location-based services like legal or medical marketing, geographic limits are common and often enforceable, especially when they’re this specific.

Example: Software engineer freelancing for a SaaS platform

“For 6 months after the end of this Agreement, Developer will not work as an employee, contractor, or advisor on the development of a directly competing software-as-a-service product whose primary functionality is to provide time-tracking and invoicing tools for small creative agencies, where such work would involve building features that are substantially similar to the core features Developer worked on for Client.”

Why this is more realistic than many tech non-competes:

• Targets direct competitors, not the entire SaaS universe
• Focuses on primary functionality, not incidental overlap
• Limits to similar features, not all development work

In 2024–2025, as more developers work cross-border, companies are getting more careful about tailoring non-competes to avoid conflict with local laws and to improve enforceability.

Example: Healthcare copywriter with HIPAA exposure

“Because Contractor may have access to protected health information and proprietary marketing strategies, Contractor agrees that for 9 months after the final deliverable is accepted, Contractor will not provide email marketing or patient outreach copywriting services to any direct competitor of Client operating urgent care centers within the state where Client’s primary clinic is located. This restriction does not prohibit Contractor from working with other healthcare providers in different specialties or states.”

This illustrates how regulated industries sometimes justify tighter non-competes by pointing to confidential information, but still should be narrowed by geography, specialty, and service type.

For more background on how health information is regulated, see the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services overview of HIPAA rules: HHS HIPAA for professionals.

Example: Management consultant for a niche manufacturing segment

“During the term of this Agreement and for 6 months thereafter, Consultant will not provide operations or pricing strategy consulting to any company that manufactures industrial water filtration systems for municipal water authorities within the United States, where such work would reasonably be expected to compete directly with Client’s offerings.”

This example of a non-compete agreement shows how B2B consultants can be restricted without blocking them from the entire consulting market.

Trends shaping non-compete agreement examples for freelancers in 2024–2025

If you compare older templates to current examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers, a few clear trends stand out.

Shift toward non-solicitation and confidentiality instead of pure non-compete

Because many jurisdictions are skeptical of non-competes—especially for independent contractors—companies are leaning harder on:

• Non-solicitation clauses (you agree not to poach the client’s customers or staff)
• Confidentiality and trade secret clauses (you agree not to use or disclose sensitive information)

These often protect what clients really care about without blocking you from your entire industry. The U.S. Small Business Administration has general guidance on independent contractor agreements that often emphasizes clear scopes and confidentiality over broad restrictions: SBA – Hire and manage employees.

Greater scrutiny from regulators and courts

Regulators in the U.S., U.K., and EU have been questioning whether non-competes unfairly limit worker mobility. In the U.S., the FTC’s proposed rule would significantly restrict the use of non-competes for a wide range of workers, including many freelancers, arguing that they suppress wages and innovation.

Courts also routinely strike down or narrow non-competes that:

• Last too long
• Cover too broad a geographic area
• Sweep in work that doesn’t truly compete

This is why the best examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers now tend to be shorter, more specific, and more obviously tied to protecting legitimate business interests like trade secrets or client lists.

Remote work and global clients complicate geography

With remote work the default, many freelancers work for clients in different states or countries. As a result, modern examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers often:

• Define geography by target market (e.g., “North American customers”) instead of physical office locations
• Limit restrictions to online services in specific languages or regions
• Use platform-based limits (e.g., “no competing Shopify apps in the U.S. app store”)

If a clause says something like “worldwide” without a good reason, that’s often a sign it’s overreaching.

How freelancers can negotiate better non-compete language

Seeing concrete examples is helpful, but you also need to know how to respond when a clause feels too aggressive.

Narrow the who, what, where, and how long

Most overreaching non-competes can be made more reasonable by tightening four levers:

• Who: Limit to direct competitors, or even a named list of competitors
• What: Limit to specific services you’re providing, not “any services”
• Where: Limit to realistic markets where the client actually competes
• How long: Push for months, not years—often 3–6 months for freelancers

You can often propose replacement language using parts from the better examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers above. Clients who are mainly worried about you poaching their customers are often open to replacing a broad non-compete with a more targeted non-solicitation clause.

Ask what the client is really trying to protect

A practical way to negotiate:

• Ask, plainly, “What specific risk are you trying to prevent?”
• If they say: “We don’t want you using our strategy for our direct competitors,” suggest a confidentiality clause plus a narrow non-compete limited to a few named competitors for a short time.
• If they say: “We don’t want you taking our clients,” suggest a non-solicitation clause instead of a broad industry ban.

When you can show you understand their concern and offer a targeted fix, you’re more likely to get edits approved.

Consider local law and get real legal advice

Non-compete enforceability is heavily jurisdiction-specific. Some U.S. states (like California) largely ban non-competes for most workers, while others enforce them if they’re reasonable. Many countries outside the U.S. are similarly restrictive.

Authoritative legal information is often available from:

• State bar associations
• Government labor or employment departments
• Law school clinics

For example, Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute offers accessible explanations of contract law concepts: Cornell LII – Contracts overview.

Nothing in this article is legal advice, and before signing a contract with a serious non-compete, it’s worth talking to a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction—especially if the clause could affect a big portion of your income.

FAQ: examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers

What is a realistic example of a non-compete for a freelancer?
A realistic example of a non-compete for a freelancer might say that for 6 months after the project ends, you won’t provide the same type of service (for example, SEO strategy) to direct competitors of the client within a defined region (say, within 50 miles or within the U.S. market). It should not ban you from your entire industry or from doing unrelated work.

Are there examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers that are clearly unfair?
Yes. Common unfair examples include clauses that last 2–3 years, apply worldwide, cover any kind of work, or restrict you from working with any business in a broad industry (like “any tech company”). These examples of overbroad non-compete clauses are often unenforceable, but they can still create risk and hassle, so they’re worth negotiating.

Do all freelance contracts need a non-compete clause?
No. Many clients rely on confidentiality and non-solicitation clauses instead. In many cases, especially for short projects or low-risk work, a non-compete is more aggressive than necessary. Some of the best examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers are actually contracts that skip non-competes entirely and focus on protecting confidential information instead.

Can I ask to remove or change a non-compete as a freelancer?
Absolutely. Freelancers routinely negotiate these terms. You can suggest edits inspired by the more balanced examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers in this article: shorten the time period, narrow the competitor definition, limit geography, or replace the clause with non-solicitation plus strong confidentiality language.

What should I do if I already signed a broad non-compete?
If you’ve already signed a restrictive clause, read it carefully and map out:

• The exact time period
• The specific activities restricted
• The geographic or market scope

Then talk with a lawyer about enforceability in your jurisdiction and about safe ways to continue working. In some cases, the clause might be so broad that a court would narrow or reject it, but you should not assume that without legal advice.

Well-drafted non-compete clauses for freelancers are precise, narrow, and clearly connected to real business risks. When you compare your contract to the best examples of non-compete agreement examples for freelancers above, you’ll quickly see whether you’re looking at a reasonable request—or a clause that needs serious editing before you sign.