Loose Ends

Before we close off our discussion on contracts, 0:00 there are a few stray topics I want to cover. 0:02 Now we've already been over creating your contract, 0:05 but the opposite scenario can be true as well. 0:08 The client can present you with a contract 0:10 stating their terms and asking for your signature. 0:13 Just as you would try to protect yourself as much as possible with your contract, 0:15 the client is obviously doing the same. 0:19 Set aside some time to go over every single line in the contract 0:22 before your put your signature on it. 0:26 If you don't agree with certain terms, 0:28 renegotiate the contract to come to a more mutual relationship. 0:30 Now I know I've spent a bit of time painting the client in a bad light, 0:34 whereas the truth is that that's rarely the case. 0:38 Sure, you will have clients that are difficult to work with. 0:41 But rarely will you work with a client that will make you 0:44 want to stop freelancing altogether. 0:46 The key to having a longlasting career in this field 0:49 is that understanding that your goal is not money, but a great working relationship. 0:51 Even if you work with the best of clients, 0:57 there are 3 factors where you will often be clashing: 0:59 money, time, and talent. 1:02 Everyone seeks to maximize what they can get out of the relationship, 1:05 and if you view it that way, all clients will be bad clients to you. 1:08 To maximize your relationship doesn't mean being submissive 1:13 and accepting whatever the client just hands you 1:16 so that they can be happy. 1:18 It means communicating to the client why your price is necessary. 1:20 It means working with them when the revisions seem reasonable. 1:23 And it means using your judgment to understand 1:26 whether certain decisions outside of the norm 1:29 will be good for the long-term business or not. 1:32 There will always be bad clients. 1:35 But as you get better at protecting yourself with contracts, 1:36 holding your ground, and being professional, 1:39 you will soon start to see issues that before you deemed 1:42 as part of being a bad client 1:45 now just a normal part of running a business that you work through. 1:47 That being said, there are some clients you just can't work with, 1:50 and that's fine as well. 1:53 Learn to identify these people early on, 1:55 and promptly say no. 1:58 That should wrap up our talk on contracts. 2:00 And hopefully I've convinced you that, one, contracts aren't a choice— 2:02 you should always have one ready— 2:06 and, two, that there are certain key areas that you must cover. 2:08 Now, as you create your contract, 2:12 remember that you don't have to adhere to a template. 2:14 Most contracts are very strict and legal sounding, 2:17 but if you don't like that kind of stuff, you can change it up. 2:20 I've included a few templates in the notes and downloads section below. 2:23 Pay special attention to Andy Clarke's Killer Contract. 2:27 He does a great job of writing a comprehensive contract 2:30 that covers his needs and is super informal, 2:33 relfecting his personality and work. 2:36