Only about a quarter of freelancers use a written contract for any given gig — and it shows up later as unpaid invoices with no documentation to fall back on. A verbal agreement feels faster when a project is small, right up until a client disputes the scope, stops responding, or refuses to pay for finished work.
What the Freelancers Union Contract Creator actually is
The Freelancers Union — a US nonprofit advocacy organization for independent workers — offers a free, browser-based Contract Creator at freelancersunion.org/contract. Rather than a static template you fill in blindly, it's a guided, step-by-step tool that walks you through building an agreement covering scope of work, payment terms, kill fees, and intellectual property, in plain English. No account or download is required, and it's genuinely free — not a "free trial" for a paid product.
What it covers — and what to check afterward
- Scope of work: specific enough to prevent scope creep — vague descriptions like "design assets" are exactly what lets a client keep adding unpaid work.
- Payment terms: total fee or rate, payment schedule, and what happens if payment is late.
- Kill fee: compensation owed if the client cancels mid-project — commonly structured as a percentage that increases the further along the work is.
- Intellectual property: when ownership of the finished work actually transfers to the client (typically only on full payment, unless you specify otherwise).
One thing worth knowing: the tool is explicitly labeled "Beta" by Freelancers Union, and it doesn't include built-in e-signature functionality — you'll need to arrange signing separately (a simple typed signature with date is generally legally binding in the US under the ESIGN Act, but a dedicated e-signature tool creates a stronger audit trail if a dispute arises later).
A local rule worth knowing if you're in NYC
New York City's Freelance Isn't Free Act requires a written contract for any freelance engagement worth $800 or more — this is one of the only US jurisdictions where a contract isn't just good practice but a legal requirement above that threshold. Several other cities and states have since introduced similar rules, so it's worth checking whether your location has one too.
How to actually use it
- Go to freelancersunion.org/contract and work through the guided steps for your specific project.
- Fill in the specific scope, deliverables, payment schedule, and kill fee percentage you want.
- Review the generated contract carefully — treat it as a strong starting point, not a substitute for adjusting language specific to your industry or unusual project terms.
- Get it signed before any work begins, including before accepting a deposit.