Simple Contracts for Self-Employed Workers
7 mins read
Published Feb 14, 2024
Must-Haves in a Contract
A contract doesn’t need to be 20 pages long to protect you. What matters is covering the essentials.
Every self-employed worker should include:
Scope of work: Define exactly what’s included (and what isn’t).
Payment terms: How much, when, and how payment is collected.
Deadlines: Timelines for delivery and payment due dates.
Revision policy: If you’re creative, state how many rounds are included.
Termination clause: What happens if either side ends the deal early.
When these items are in black and white, you prevent 90% of common disputes before they start.
Common Contract Mistakes
Many independent workers skip details because they don’t want to “scare” clients with legal talk. That backfires.
Some frequent errors include:
Vague terms: Writing “Payment due after completion” instead of “Payment due within 7 days.”
Missing deliverables: Not listing what you will not provide.
No late fees: Leaving clients no incentive to pay quickly.
Handshake deals: Relying on trust without a signed document.
These small gaps are what lead to unpaid invoices or endless revisions.
Simple Tools to Save Time
You don’t need to hire a lawyer for every project. Modern tools make it easy to protect yourself without the complexity.
Templates: Start from a pre-built agreement tailored to your industry.
E-signatures: Remove the hassle of printing and scanning.
Integrated platforms: Create contracts and tie payments together in one flow.
👉 This is where Bind shines: it combines contract templates, e-signature, and secure payments into a single workflow. That means less back-and-forth and more time focusing on the work itself.
