COPYWRITING CONTRACT ==================== Disclaimer — not legal advice. This template is provided free of charge, as is and with no warranty of any kind, and using it creates no attorney-client relationship. It is jurisdiction-neutral: you are responsible for adapting it, for your own legal and tax compliance, and for having a qualified professional in your jurisdiction review it before you rely on it. Full terms: https://trycolo.co/terms-of-use This Copywriting Contract ("Agreement") is made on [EFFECTIVE DATE] between: Writer: [YOUR NAME / BUSINESS NAME], of [YOUR ADDRESS], email [YOUR EMAIL] (the "Writer") Client: [CLIENT LEGAL NAME], of [CLIENT ADDRESS], email [CLIENT EMAIL] (the "Client") ------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Deliverables --------------- # | Piece | Type | Approx. words | First draft due - | ---------------------------- | ----------- | ------------- | --------------- 1 | [HOME PAGE] | Web copy | [600] | [DATE] 2 | [ABOUT PAGE] | Web copy | [400] | [DATE] 3 | [WELCOME EMAIL SEQUENCE] | Email × [5] | [250 each] | [DATE] 4 | [CASE STUDY — CUSTOMER NAME] | Long-form | [1,000] | [DATE] 1.1 Word counts may vary by plus or minus [15]%. A piece that needs to exceed that range because of a change in brief will be quoted as additional work. 1.2 Not included: design, layout, uploading to a CMS, translation, image sourcing, and copy not listed above, unless added by a signed change order. 1.3 SEO (if applicable): the Writer will include target keywords supplied by the Client in headings and body copy where they read naturally, and write a title tag and meta description per page. The Writer does not guarantee search rankings or traffic. 2. Research and inputs ---------------------- 2.1 The Client will provide by [DATE]: a completed copywriting brief, brand voice or style guide, product information, existing copy, and access to subject-matter experts. 2.2 The fee includes up to [NUMBER] interviews of up to [45] minutes each. Additional interviews or research beyond [NUMBER] hours are charged at [CURRENCY] [HOURLY RATE]. 2.3 The Client will arrange customer or staff interviews and obtain their consent for quotes to be published. 2.4 Late inputs move the draft dates by the length of the delay. 3. Revisions and approval ------------------------- 3.1 The fee includes [2] rounds of revisions per piece. A round is one consolidated set of written comments on the draft, returned within [7] business days. 3.2 Approver. [APPROVER NAME] consolidates feedback from all reviewers. Feedback from additional reviewers after a round is closed counts as a new round. 3.3 Revisions refine the agreed brief. A change in audience, offer, angle, or structure after the first draft is a new brief and will be quoted separately. 3.4 Additional rounds are charged at [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] per round per piece or [CURRENCY] [HOURLY RATE] per hour. 3.5 If no feedback is received within [15] business days of a draft, the piece is treated as approved. 4. Accuracy and compliance -------------------------- 4.1 The Writer relies on information the Client supplies. The Client is responsible for verifying that factual, technical, legal, financial, and health-related claims in the copy are accurate and compliant with laws and regulations that apply to the Client's business and advertising. 4.2 The Client will obtain any internal or regulatory approval required before publishing. 5. Originality and AI policy ---------------------------- 5.1 The Writer warrants that the copy is original and not copied from third-party sources, except for quotes and material supplied by the Client. 5.2 AI tools. Choose one: (a) The Writer will not use generative AI tools to produce the copy. (b) The Writer may use AI tools for research and outlining; all final copy is written and edited by the Writer. (c) [OTHER AGREED POLICY]. 5.3 The Writer will run final drafts through [PLAGIARISM CHECKER] on request. 6. Rights and credit -------------------- 6.1 On full payment, the Writer assigns to the Client the copyright in the final approved copy. 6.2 Drafts, unused versions, and rejected concepts remain the Writer's property. 6.3 Choose one: (a) Byline. The Writer is credited as "[CREDIT]" on [PIECES]. (b) Ghostwriting. The copy is published under the Client's name; the Writer will not claim public authorship but may show the work privately to prospective clients [or: may not disclose the work at all]. 6.4 The Writer may display published copy in a portfolio unless clause 6.3(b) restricts it. 7. Fees and payment ------------------- 7.1 Fee: [CURRENCY] [TOTAL] for the deliverables in clause 1 [or [CURRENCY] [RATE] per piece / per word / per hour]. Payment | Trigger | Amount ------- | ------------------------ | --------------------------- Deposit | Signature | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] ([50]%) Balance | Approval of final pieces | [CURRENCY] [AMOUNT] ([50]%) 7.2 Invoices are due [NET 14] days from issue. 7.3 Late payment. Overdue invoices carry interest at [LATE PAYMENT INTEREST RATE] or the maximum allowed by applicable law if lower. Rights do not transfer until payment is complete. 8. Kill fee and termination --------------------------- 8.1 If the Client cancels after work has started, the deposit is non-refundable and the Client pays for each piece according to its stage: Stage | Amount due for that piece --------------------- | ------------------------- Research started | [25]% of the piece fee First draft delivered | [50–75]% of the piece fee Revisions under way | 100% of the piece fee 8.2 Either Party may terminate for a material breach not fixed within [10] business days of written notice. 8.3 On termination, rights transfer only in pieces paid for in full. 9. Confidentiality ------------------ 9.1 Both Parties will keep each other's non-public business information confidential during this Agreement and for [2] years after. 10. Liability ------------- 10.1 The Writer does not guarantee results such as sales, conversions, open rates, or rankings. 10.2 Each Party's total liability is capped at the fees paid under this Agreement. Neither Party is liable for indirect or consequential loss, except where the law does not allow that limit. 11. General ----------- 11.1 Governing law: [GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION]. 11.2 Independent contractor: the Writer is not the Client's employee and may write for other clients, including in the same industry, unless agreed otherwise in writing. 11.3 Entire agreement: this Agreement, the brief, and signed change orders form the whole agreement. 11.4 E-signature: this Agreement may be signed electronically. ------------------------------------------------------------ Signatures ---------- Writer | Client --------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- Signature: ____________________________ | Signature: ____________________________ Name: [YOUR NAME] | Name: [CLIENT SIGNATORY] Date: [DATE] | Date: [DATE] ------------------------------------------------------------ How to use this template 1. List every piece in clause 1 with an approximate word count. 2. Choose your AI policy and your byline or ghostwriting option. 3. Name one approver who will consolidate feedback. 4. Attach the creative or copywriting brief as the scope reference. 5. Have a lawyer in your jurisdiction review your filled-in version once before reuse. Template provided by Colo (trycolo.co). Not legal advice — review with a qualified professional in your jurisdiction.