Protecting yourself as a freelancer​

One of the main reasons for me to initiate Barefoot: The Blog was to create a platform wherein I could journal my experiences as a freelance content writer. The hope is to help those in the industry have smoother navigation or others who can take a page out of my book and (with luck) save their energies. Obviously, I have often wondered if and how Barefoot would reach out to a larger audience but today, writing this blog, I am content with just having this out there for anyone to read when they need it. God knows I needed it at the time. 

Of course, there’s a reason for this. 

In October, a client I had signed on earlier this year decided that the deliverables we had mutually agreed upon and signed a contract for, weren’t enough. The client owed me a good chunk of the sum and very subtly, tried to bully me into offering more, for the same amount. Now, I’ve been in this industry for almost two years but this was my first experience like this. More importantly, I don’t do well with people taking advantage of others. I have always stood up for the weak and when this came on to me, there was no way I was going down without a fight (more on this below). 

The only difference is that I was calm. I was calm because I was secure. I was secure because we had a contract in place, with all the details mentioned in case of a dispute like this one. 

If you take away one thing from this article, please promise me it is the following: You will always have a contract in place before you on-board a new client. The most obvious reason for this is that when a dispute arises, you know how to amicably get yourself out of it by resolving it. The less obvious reason for having a contract in place is that there are clear and defined expectations. It helps get both parties on the same page from the get-go. In other words, it significantly reduces the likelihood of a dispute (sigh, not always). 

My contract can be modified on the whole to clarify the services I am being hired for but there is a structure to it which remains unchanged. Certain elements that always have to be included are: 

1. Scope of work: This should include the services you are offering. 

However, this can be tricky and to make sure I set the expectations straight, I sometimes also include what I am not offering. For example, if a client has hired me to manage their social media campaigns – I will mention content writing only and assistance with creatives (no graphic designing). This will give them the whole picture to allocate their budgets and know what they can get from me. 

2. Fees: Here it is important to clarify the metric you are using. Is it per hour/project/word and how it is charged individually and a total. Over and above, if you are offering some kind of discount, mention it there as well. 

3. Payment terms: How you handle your payment structure has to be broken down in this segment of the contract. Clearly mention if you are charging an advance to kickstart the project and the balance that is due and WHEN that has to be cleared. 

Full disclosure: Mention what happens if the payment is not received on time. This is something I had missed out on initially but now have it covered. Freelancer fam, if you do not mention this, your contract immediately becomes vanilla in case of a dispute. 

4. Deliverables: This includes all that you are going to deliver at the end of the project. 

5. Timeline: Mention when you will start the work and complete it (please account for changes and delays). 

6. Edits: This is so integral to your peace of mind. Therefore, I always like this clarified and mentioned in the contract. For example, I mention 2 edits within 2 days of receiving the content. This ensures both parties have clarity and are not waiting to hear back from the other. 

 PSA: Now, the above is going to help you but it goes without saying that you, as a freelancer, have to also maintain your integrity and uphold the reputation of our industry while ensuring you have your facts in place.

Honestly, in the freelance world, the more clarity there is, the better it is. I would personally rather spend my energy trying to help other brands. I went through some anxiety because this was the very first time I experienced something like this but I navigated it in a way that worked out (yes, I got paid) and while keeping my sanity intact. Here’s how: 

1. I maintained my end of the bargain and was very clear while communicating. Everything was on email and I had the contract to show. 

2. My lawyer had been looped in (for advice). 

3. If I hadn’t received the money I was owed, I would’ve gone social with my experience. There are Instagram accounts like Diet Sabya (https://www.instagram.com/dietsabya/) that are happy to call out bullies for you. 

I want to end with the fact that you can never be too careful with your contract. Invest some time, money and energy – sit down with a lawyer and idiot-proof your contract. Maybe, your lawyer has more inputs than the ones above, in that case, share them in the comments below so we can all help each other out. More importantly, things like this will happen. Hang in there, be honest with what you can offer and don’t let an experience like this deter you. 

After all, it is the freelance industry. The unpredictability is also the opportunity to grow.