How to Sell Your Creative Services: Pitch, Close & Sign [Live Workshop with Form Contract]
If you provide creative services in exchange for money, you should have a written contract.
If you are relying on a exchange of emails to get hired and get paid, it’s probably time to up your game. Many businesses start off with deal terms memorialized in emails. There’s nothing wrong with that, until there is.
Written agreements are how professionals do business. Professionalism allows you to charge more for your services than the average Fivver freelancer.
Written creative services contracts are good for more than just getting paid fairly.
A creative services contract provides a framework for your working relationship with your client and helps it to run smoothly. It manages expectations. Your client knows what they’re getting and you know what you’ve promised to do.
A contract signed before work begins establishes ownership of any copyrightable material being created.
A contract protects your clients, too. It is documentation for the IRS that provides evidence of your status as an independent contractor and not an employee.
If you are a creative services provider such as a copywriter, an editor, a graphic designer, an illustrator, a virtual assistant, or creative freelancer don’t rely on an exchange of emails (which is only slightly better than a handshake) to get paid.
Get it in writing and get it signed. On your terms.
In this workshop, we will cover the what should be included in a services agreement to ensure a successful, long term relationship with your client. The downloadable, customizable contract includes:
- the services definition to prevent scope creep;
- how and when payment is made;
- project schedule including timelines and responsibilities for client review and approval of work;
- re-activation fee after a client delay (a pause clause);
- how either side can end the agreement;
- who owns the work created and how ownership transfers only after final payment; and
- how changes to the project are made.
Our guest this month is Beth Knaus of That’s A Spade, an independent content writer. Her content creation services include drafting website content, blog series, sales pages, and email nurture series. Her offers include strategy sessions, hourly packages, and custom projects. She prides herself on offering writing services that honor her clients’ originality with dynamic content. Her business has grown to the point where her contracting process needed to be standardized.
Beth has generously agreed to share her proposal, negotiation, and contracting process in this month’s workshop. Her freshly drafted Services Contract will be available for download and customization in your business.
This Services Agreement is more than a work-for-hire contract. This contract is designed to allow you to streamline your client acquisition process (especially useful when offering multiple products), manage client expectations, and ensure prompt payment for your services with as little friction as possible.
This workshop is being offered as a stand alone opportunity. You do not have to be a member of the Creative Law Center to attend it (members will have access, of course, and need not purchase the workshop separately).
This is a live, interactive workshop using Zoom. You will be able to ask questions in real time.
You’ll get an email with the Zoom link for Wednesday, April at 21 at 1 p.m. Eastern time once you sign up.
You will have lifetime access to the replay.
Don’t miss it. Bring questions about how to use this contract in your business.