invoices and contracts

[datswhutsup]

hi

i bought the book "Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines"

and been trying to come up with my own invoice/contract for little freelance jobs.

every website i clicked on and researched from (including designer's toolbox) all gives samples of freelance contracts but from employers.

what i am looking for is a simple contract to do a simple project like a postcard or tri-fold brochure from a small privately owned business.

and need a simple invoice with things such as
1st. payment, 2ndpayment, last payment,
total balance, remaining balance, for each stage of the payments.


can anyone help me? with very simple invoices and small contracts for small business.

[Drazan]

The forms I used.

1) Quote good for 30 days.
2) My contract that is currently 26 pages long and covers every aspect of what I do (which is a lot.) - I wrote the contracts for the business I work for now too, they run 8 pages each, one for graphic and design, one for web.
3) Proof sign off. Before anything is sent to print, the customer must sign off on it. If there is changes from what was described in the quote/contract, then there's a place to amend the proof form with the extra charges. The proof form has a place where the customer checks to send to print, or make changes. The proof also states that we can use any and all artwork as we deem fit for promotional uses for the business.
4) Invoice, Depending on the contract we can require a partial or full deposit before any work is actually started. Or we invoice every two weeks, or at the end of the job with preappoved credit.
5) statement and receipt. Takes the quote, proof modifications, payments and finalizes the job.

There is no "simple" solution for a contract. It is really what is going to work for you and keep your butt out of hot water. If you have never done a contract you may need to enlist a lawyer to go over it. You must have items to cover copyright and trademark issues. Cover fair use of your clients material for your own promotional purposes. Cover when and how you want to get paid. There's no standard rule on payments - you require what you are comfortable with. If the customer trusts you, then they will pay up front 100%. Those that don't want to pay upfront, well, what's stopping them from paying you at all if they "change their mind".

I've got clauses in there that protects me and the business I work for, if someone trips over a customer's sidewalk sign and gets hurt. Not my problem, that clause says that we are not liable in any way shape or form after the sign leaves the shop. It's not an unsafe sign - it's a stupid person not watching where they are going.

Lucky me I had a friend who was in law school and leagalized me. But that still doesn't take the place of a good lawyer. Once I get my health back and my bills down, I'm going to be taking this to another lawyer soon.

Invoices are easy. Contracts are there to cover yourself incase they want to come back at you for any reason. Some people have run small self made contracts and have never had a problem. I live in a very sue happy city. I made sure that I'm covered six ways side ways on my contracts.

Good luck.

[morea]

http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7892

there are some sample contracts posted in that thread.

[budafist]

Thank goodness people don't sue in my country!

[daSnarf]

Im actually looking for an invoice myself.

I sent an email stating the amount owed, and they said just email them the invoice. Anyone have any good links for something online or should I just scan in a hard copy and email that to them? Make one up in Excell?

Thanks for any help

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

Here's my own contract (http://blog-omotives.blogspot.com/2006/07/signing-on-dotted-line.html) - which I can adapt to any required use. I keep it to one page to not scare away well intentioned potential clients.

There's a bunch of other resources listed at the end of the piece.

- J.

[carter the artist]

buda, I thought they sue there, but you have to pay for it... whereas here a lawyer is willing to do a case pro bono if they feel they have a good case...but without such procedures, Rosa Parks wouldn't have had a lawyer.


Yeah, I had to create my first invoice... I just used a template out of pages.

[PandaBear]

.
My contract that is currently 26 pages long and covers every aspect of what I do (which is a lot.) - I wrote the contracts for the business I work for now too, they run 8 pages each, one for graphic and design, one for web.

Do your clients have time to read all those pages to understand your contract fully? It reminds me of a resume I once had that was 6 pages long! Once I reduced it to one page, I got more calls for interviews.