A web design project without a written agreement is a project without a shared understanding of what's actually being delivered. You don't need a lawyer to know what a solid contract should cover.
What a Solid Contract Should Include
- A clear scope: exactly what pages, features, and deliverables are included
- Timeline, with milestones, not just a final deadline
- Payment schedule and what happens if the project pauses on your end
- How many rounds of revisions are included, and what happens beyond that
- Who owns the final files, domain, and hosting once the project is complete
- What happens if either side wants to end the project early
The One Clause People Skip and Regret
Ownership. Make sure it's explicit, in writing, that you own the domain name, hosting account, and final website files once the project is paid for. Without this, you can end up locked into a designer indefinitely just to keep your own website running.
A Contract Protects Both Sides
A good contract isn't adversarial; it protects the designer just as much as it protects you, by making sure everyone agrees on scope before work starts. If a designer resists putting terms in writing, treat that as useful information about how the rest of the project is likely to go.
Thinking About Web Design?
Hammerhead Creations offers web design for businesses in Cartersville, GA and beyond.