Practical examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers

Real-world examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers

Before you worry about formatting or fonts, focus on structure. The best examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers all do the same basic things:

• Describe who is involved
• Spell out what is being delivered
• Set when it will be done
• Lock in how much and how you get paid
• Clarify who owns what when the project is over

From there, you adapt. A designer doing brand systems for tech startups needs different terms than someone designing wedding invitations on Etsy. The examples below show how different service agreement examples for graphic designers shift with the project type.

Example of a flat-fee logo design service agreement

A classic starter project: a client wants a logo, a few variations, and files they can use everywhere. This is where many designers get burned because “a logo” sounds simple, but revisions and file requests can spiral.

In one of the strongest examples of a flat-fee logo service agreement I’ve seen, the designer used language like this (simplified for clarity):

Scope of Services. Designer will create up to three (3) initial logo concepts and provide up to two (2) rounds of revisions on one selected concept. Final deliverables include vector files (.AI, .EPS), high-resolution PNGs, and a basic usage guide (up to three pages).

Timeline. Initial concepts will be delivered within ten (10) business days after receipt of the signed agreement and initial deposit. Each revision round will be delivered within five (5) business days after receipt of consolidated client feedback.

Fees and Payment. Total project fee is \(1,200. Client will pay a non-refundable deposit of 50% (\)600) upon signing this agreement. Remaining 50% is due prior to delivery of final files.

Ownership. Upon full payment, Designer grants Client exclusive rights to use the final approved logo for branding and marketing purposes. Designer retains the right to display the work in portfolios and marketing materials.

This is a clean example of a service agreement that:

• Caps concepts and revisions
• Ties the timeline to client feedback
• Makes the deposit non-refundable
• Splits ownership between use rights for the client and portfolio rights for the designer

As you review other examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers online, look for similarly specific language around number of concepts, rounds of revisions, and file formats.

Example of a social media graphics package agreement

Now imagine you’re designing monthly content: Instagram posts, story templates, LinkedIn banners. The work is ongoing, and clients often change their minds about volume mid-month.

One realistic example of a social media design service agreement for 2024 includes:

Services. Designer will create up to fifteen (15) static social media graphics per calendar month for use on Instagram and Facebook, based on content and copy provided by Client. Animated content, video editing, and photography are not included unless agreed in a separate written addendum.

Monthly Fee and Term. Client will pay Designer $900 per month, billed on the first day of each month. This agreement has a minimum term of three (3) months and renews month-to-month unless either party provides thirty (30) days’ written notice of non-renewal.

Rush and Out-of-Scope Work. Requests for more than fifteen (15) graphics per month, or delivery within 48 hours, will be billed at an additional $75 per graphic, subject to Designer’s availability.

This is one of the better examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers working in content-heavy niches because it:

• Defines a monthly cap
• Clarifies what platforms and formats are included
• Sets a minimum term so you’re not onboarding and offboarding every few weeks
• Builds in a premium for rush work

In 2024–2025, with short-form content dominating, designers who specialize in social media should adapt this example to cover Reels covers, TikTok thumbnails, and platform-specific specs.

Example of a long-term retainer agreement for a brand designer

Retainers are where many designers finally get predictable income. But only if the agreement is written carefully. A vague retainer is just a recipe for unlimited on-call design.

Here’s how a strong example of a retainer-style service agreement might read:

Scope. Designer agrees to provide up to twenty (20) hours per calendar month of graphic design services, including but not limited to marketing collateral, presentation design, and digital ad creative. Services do not include web development, copywriting, or video production.

Availability. Designer will respond to email requests within one (1) business day and will schedule work within five (5) business days, subject to the monthly hour cap.

Unused Hours. Unused hours do not roll over to the following month. Additional hours, if available, are billed at $120 per hour.

Fee. Client will pay a flat monthly retainer of $2,000, due in advance on the first of each month.

This is one of the best examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers who want steady work but still need boundaries. It:

• Defines work in hours, not vague “support”
• Excludes non-design tasks
• Sets response time expectations
• Makes unused hours non-transferable to avoid stockpiling

If you’re searching for real examples, look for retainers that tie hours to a clear hourly rate and spell out what happens if the client repeatedly exceeds the cap.

Example of a website and brand package agreement

When you mix branding with website design, the project becomes more complex and riskier. You’re dealing with timelines, developers, sometimes copywriters, and often multiple stakeholders.

A thoughtful example of a combined brand-and-web service agreement might include:

Phases. The project is divided into (a) Discovery and Brand Strategy, (b) Visual Identity Design, and (c) Website Design (up to 5 page templates in Figma). Development is not included and will be handled by Client’s developer.

Deliverables. Final deliverables include logo files, color palette, typography recommendations, brand usage guide (up to 20 pages), and high-fidelity website page designs. Source files will be provided in Figma and Adobe Illustrator formats.

Client Responsibilities. Client will provide all final copy, photography, and access to existing brand assets at least five (5) business days before the start of the Website Design phase.

Payment Schedule. Total fee is $8,500, payable as follows: 30% upon signing, 40% upon approval of Visual Identity Design, 30% upon delivery of final website designs.

This kind of agreement is a good example of service agreement examples for graphic designers doing higher-ticket work because it:

• Breaks the project into phases tied to payment milestones
• Draws a hard line between design and development
• Lists specific file types and tools (Figma, Illustrator)
• Makes client deliverables (copy, photos) a condition for moving forward

Example of a subcontracting agreement with an agency

If you’re a freelancer working under a marketing agency or larger design studio, you’re usually not signing your own client-facing contract. Instead, you get a subcontractor agreement.

One realistic example of a subcontracting service agreement for graphic designers includes:

Relationship of Parties. Designer is an independent contractor and is not an employee of Agency. Nothing in this agreement creates a partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship.

Work Product. All work product created by Designer under this agreement is considered a “work made for hire” for Agency under U.S. copyright law. To the extent any work product is not a work made for hire, Designer hereby assigns all rights, title, and interest in such work product to Agency upon full payment.

Attribution. Designer may not publicly display or claim authorship of work created under this agreement without Agency’s prior written consent.

Non-Solicitation. During the term of this agreement and for twelve (12) months after termination, Designer will not directly solicit Agency’s clients for competing services.

This is a very different flavor of contract, but it’s still one of the important examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers to understand. Compared to your own client contracts, you’ll see:

• Stricter IP transfer terms
• Tighter rules around portfolio use
• Non-solicitation or non-compete language

If you’re in the U.S., you can cross-check employment vs. contractor concepts with guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor to be sure your arrangement really fits an independent contractor model.

Example of a licensing-based illustration agreement

Not all design work is “work for hire.” Many illustrators and brand designers retain copyright and license usage instead of assigning everything outright.

A licensing-focused example of a service agreement might say:

Ownership and License. Designer retains all right, title, and interest in and to the original artwork. Upon full payment, Designer grants Client a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the artwork for print and digital marketing materials in North America for a period of three (3) years. Any use outside this scope requires a separate written license and fee.

Prohibited Uses. Client may not resell, sublicense, or use the artwork in merchandise for sale (including apparel, accessories, or digital products) without Designer’s prior written consent and an additional licensing fee.

This is one of the most important examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers who do illustration, packaging, or pattern design. Instead of a one-time sale, you’re treating your work like intellectual property that can be licensed, renewed, and expanded.

If you want to go deeper on copyright basics, the U.S. Copyright Office has accessible guidance at copyright.gov.

Example of a UX/UI design agreement for product teams

As more designers move into product and app work, UX/UI agreements have become more common. These usually involve more collaboration with developers and product managers.

A modern example of a UX/UI service agreement could look like this:

Services. Designer will provide UX and UI design services for Client’s mobile application, including user flows, low-fidelity wireframes (up to 10 screens), and high-fidelity UI designs (up to 10 screens) in Figma.

Collaboration. Designer will attend up to one (1) weekly remote meeting (up to 60 minutes) with Client’s product team. Additional meetings are billable at Designer’s hourly rate.

Design Systems. Creation of a reusable design system (components, styles, documentation) is not included unless specified in an attached Statement of Work.

Usability Testing. Designer is not responsible for recruiting test users or running usability tests unless separately scoped and priced.

This example of a service agreement for graphic designers working in product design shows how you can:

• Limit meetings to avoid unpaid time
• Separate design systems and testing into their own scope
• Define deliverables by screen counts and fidelity levels

In 2024–2025, with remote collaboration now the norm, agreements like this often reference shared tools (Figma, Slack, Notion) and clarify which party is responsible for subscriptions and access.

Trends shaping service agreement examples for graphic designers in 2024–2025

The best examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers in 2024–2025 share a few trends:

Remote-first collaboration. Contracts now regularly mention Zoom, Google Meet, or similar tools, and they define expected response times and meeting limits. This protects designers from being pulled into endless calls.

AI tools and originality. With generative AI everywhere, some agreements now explicitly state whether AI tools will be used, and who is responsible for verifying originality and avoiding infringement. If you’re using AI in your workflow, add a clause about it.

Data protection and privacy. Designers handling user data (for example, in UX research or analytics dashboards) may see references to privacy laws like GDPR or CCPA. While you’re not a lawyer, you can at least flag that you won’t store or process personal data beyond what’s necessary for the project.

For a big-picture view of contract basics, the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School offers a solid overview of contract law concepts in plain language.

Key clauses you’ll see across most examples

When you look across all these examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers, a few clauses keep showing up, no matter the niche:

Scope of work. The heart of the agreement. This is where you define deliverables, formats, and what’s excluded. The more specific, the fewer headaches later.

Revisions. Good agreements say how many rounds are included, what counts as a “round,” and how extra changes are billed.

Payment terms. Clear due dates, late fees, and deposit rules. Many U.S.-based designers use 7–14 day payment windows and late fees that comply with their state’s laws.

Intellectual property. Who owns what, when. Are you assigning all rights, or licensing? Can you show the work in your portfolio? Can the client modify it?

Termination. How either party can walk away, and what happens to payments and rights if the project ends early.

If your draft is missing any of these, compare it to the examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers above and plug the gaps.

FAQs about examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers

What are some common examples of service agreement clauses for graphic designers?
Common examples include detailed scope of work descriptions, limits on revisions, payment schedules with deposits, intellectual property and licensing terms, portfolio display rights, confidentiality clauses, and termination conditions. Each example of a well-written clause reduces ambiguity and gives both you and your client a clear roadmap.

Where can I find a reliable example of a graphic design service agreement template?
You can start with resources from professional organizations like AIGA (the professional association for design) and then adapt them. Law school sites and legal information portals, such as the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School, are also helpful for understanding the legal language you’re editing into your own examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers.

Do I really need a lawyer to review my service agreement?
If you’re doing small, low-risk projects, many designers work from well-tested templates and refine them over time. But if you’re signing higher-value contracts, long-term retainers, or licensing deals, having a licensed attorney in your state review at least one example of your service agreement can save you from expensive mistakes later.

Can I copy someone else’s contract if I like their example of wording?
You can use other contracts as inspiration, but copying blindly is risky. Laws vary by country and state, and someone else’s agreement might not match your business model. Treat the best examples of service agreement examples for graphic designers as reference points, then adapt the language to your own services, and have a professional review it if the stakes are high.

How often should I update my graphic design service agreement?
Many designers revisit their agreements at least once a year, or whenever something goes wrong on a project. If you find yourself arguing over the same issue more than once — for example, file ownership or extra revisions — that’s a sign your next version should borrow from stronger real examples that handle that issue more clearly.