What to check before signing a client service agreement

Start with the scope of work

The scope section is where most disputes begin, and it is usually the part clients skim past. Before you sign, read it as though you were a stranger trying to work out exactly what you have promised to deliver. If it says "ongoing support" or "reasonable revisions", ask yourself what those words actually mean in practice. Vague language almost always favours the person paying the invoice, because they can argue their interpretation was reasonable.

Ask for the deliverables to be listed explicitly: the number of items, formats, pages, sessions or hours, and the channels you will use to communicate. If something sits outside the fee, say so in the agreement rather than trusting a verbal conversation. A short line such as "additional landing pages are charged at the agreed day rate" prevents an awkward email three weeks in.

• What exactly is being delivered, and in what format?
• How many rounds of changes are included, and what counts as a round?
• What is explicitly excluded from the fee?
• Who is responsible for supplying content, assets, or approvals?

Check the fees, payment terms and expenses

Money clauses deserve the same scrutiny. Look for the total fee, whether it includes or excludes VAT, and when each payment falls due. If you are VAT-registered, the agreement should say so plainly, and if you are not, it should be clear that no VAT will be added. Deposit terms matter enormously for cash flow, so confirm the percentage, when it is invoiced, and whether it is refundable.

Payment windows are worth a second look. Many client templates stretch to 60 or even 90 days, which can be punishing for a small business. UK late payment legislation gives you some protection on commercial debts, but it is far simpler to agree a sensible window up front than to rely on it later. Also check whether expenses, travel, software licences or third-party costs are reimbursed, and whether they need prior approval.

• Is the fee fixed, capped, or estimated?
• Are payment milestones tied to dates or to deliverables?
• What happens if the client delays feedback or approval?
• Are late payment interest and recovery costs mentioned?

Pin down deadlines and revision limits

Deadlines cut both ways. Your delivery dates should assume the client meets their own obligations, such as providing copy, brand assets or sign-off within a set number of working days. If they do not, you need a clause that adjusts your timeline accordingly, otherwise you can be held to a date that was never realistic.

Revision clauses are equally important. Unlimited revisions sound harmless until you are on round six with no additional fee in sight. Agree a number, define what a revision is, and set out your rate for anything beyond it. This is not about being difficult. It simply keeps the project commercially viable for both sides.

Understand liability, indemnities and insurance

Liability clauses are the ones most likely to cause real financial damage, and they are also the ones freelancers read least carefully. Look for any wording that makes you responsible for "indirect" or "consequential" losses, because these can be enormous and unpredictable. A cap on your total liability, ideally tied to the fee you have been paid, is standard and reasonable. If a client insists on uncapped liability, that is a serious red flag.

Indemnity clauses deserve attention too. You may be asked to cover the client against claims arising from your work, which is broadly fair if you have caused the problem. It becomes risky if the indemnity extends to content the client supplied or to their own business decisions. Check whether you are required to hold professional indemnity insurance, and at what level, before you agree to it.

Sort out intellectual property and confidentiality

Ownership of your work usually transfers to the client once you have been paid in full, and most agreements say so. What is often missed is the position before payment, and whether you retain the right to showcase the work in a portfolio. If you want that right, put it in writing. It is far harder to negotiate once the project is finished.

Confidentiality should work in both directions. You will keep their information private, and they should do the same with yours, including rates and any proprietary methods you use. Watch for clauses that prevent you from working with similar businesses in future, as these can quietly restrict your whole client base.

Read the termination and contract terms

Finally, check how either side can end the agreement. Notice periods, payment for work completed up to that point, and the return of materials should all be spelled out. If the contract renews automatically, note the date by which you must give notice. Diary it the moment you sign, because missing it can lock you in for another term.

Take your time with the whole document. Read it twice, mark anything you do not understand, and ask questions before you commit. A good client will respect you for it, and a difficult one will reveal themselves early, which is useful information in itself.