This contract is based on Contract Killer
Between Gilli Sigurdsson (a.k.a Sigurdur Gisli Sigurdsson) and you [customer name]
I'll always do my best to fulfil your needs and meet your expectations, but it's important to have things written down so that we both know what's what, who should do what and when, and what will happen if something goes wrong. In this contract you won't find any complicated legal terms or long passages of unreadable text. I've no desire to trick you into signing something that you might later regret. What I do want is what's best for both parties, now and in the future.
So in short;
You ([customer name]), located at [customer address] are hiring me (Gilli Sigurdsson) located at Rauðamýri 1, Mosfellsbær, Iceland to [design and develop a web site] for the estimated total price of 20hours totalling 1500 USD as outlined in my previous correspondence. Of course it's a little more complicated, but I'll get to that.
You: You have the authority to enter into this contract on behalf of yourself, your company or your organisation. You'll give me everything I need to complete the project as and when and in the format I need it. You'll review my work, provide feedback and approval in a timely manner too. Deadlines work two ways, so you'll also be bound by dates I set together. You also agree to stick to the payment schedule set out at the end of this contract.
I: I have the experience and ability to do everything I've agreed with you and I'll do it all in a professional and timely manner. I'll endeavour to meet every deadline that's set and on top of that I'll maintain the confidentiality of everything you give me.
I create look-and-feel designs, and flexible layouts that adapt to the capabilities of many devices and screen sizes. I create designs iteratively, usually starting with static mockups but moving over to HTML and CSS for finer details so I won't waste time mocking up every template as a static visual.
You'll have plenty of opportunities to review my work and provide feedback. I'll share my working designs with you and have regular, possibly daily contact. If, at any stage, you're not happy with the direction my work is taking, you'll pay me in full for everything I've produced until that point and cancel this contract.
I'm not responsible for writing or inputting any text copy. If you'd like me to write new content or input text for you, I can provide a separate estimate for that.
You should supply graphic files in an editable, vector digital format. You should supply photographs in a high resolution digital format. If you choose to buy stock photographs, I can suggest stock libraries. If you'd like me to search for photographs for you, I can provide a separate estimate for that.
I deliver web page types developed from HTML5 markup, CSS2.1 + 3 stylesheets for styling and unobtrusive JavaScript for feature detection, poly-fills and behaviours.
Browser testing no longer means attempting to make a website look the same in browsers of different capabilities or on devices with different size screens. It does mean ensuring that a person's experience of a design should be appropriate to the capabilities of a browser or device.
I test my work in current versions of major desktop browsers including those made by Apple (Safari), Google (Chrome), Microsoft (Internet Explorer), Mozilla Firefox and Opera. I'll also test to ensure Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 for Windows users get an appropriate, possibly different, experience. I won't test in other older browsers unless you specify otherwise. If you need an enhanced design for an older browser, I can provide a separate estimate for that.
Testing popular small-screen devices is essential in ensuring that a person's experience of a design is appropriate to the capabilities of the device they're using. I test my work in:
iOS: Safari, Google Chrome Android 4.x: Google Chrome and Firefox
I currently don't test Blackberry, Opera Mini/Mobile, Windows Phone or other mobile browsers. If you need me to test using these, I can provide a separate estimate for that.
I'm not a website hosting company so I don't offer support for website hosting, email or other services relating to hosting. You may already have professional hosting and you might even manage that hosting in-house; if you do, great. If you don't, I can set up an account for you at one of my preferred hosting providers. I can set up your site on a server, plus any statistics software such as Google Analytics and I can provide a separate estimate for that. Then, the updates to, and management of that server will be up to you.
I know from experience that fixed-price contracts are rarely beneficial to you, as they often limit you to your earliest ideas. I don't want to limit your ability to change your mind. The price at the beginning of this contract is based on the length of time I estimate I'll need to accomplish everything you've told me you want to achieve, but I're happy to be flexible. If you want to change your mind or add anything new, that won't be a problem as I'll provide a separate estimate for that.
I can't guarantee that my work will be error-free and so I can't be liable to you or any third-party for damages, including lost profits, lost savings or other incidental, consequential or special damages, even if you've advised me of them. Finally, if any provision of this contract shall be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from this contract and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.
Phew.
First, you guarantee that all elements of text, images or other artwork you provide are either owned by your good selves, or that you've permission to use them.
Then, when your final payment has cleared, copyright will be automatically assigned as follows:
You'll own the visual elements that I create for this project. I'll give you source files and finished files and you should keep them somewhere safe as I're not required to keep a copy. You own all elements of text, images and data you provided, unless someone else owns them.
I'll own the unique combination of these elements that constitutes a complete design and I'll license its use to you, exclusively and in perpetuity for this project only, unless I agree otherwise.
In cases of open source contribution, all rights will be transferred to the open source project and licensed according it its standard.
I love to show off my work and share what I've learned with other people, so I reserve the right, with your permission, to display and link to your project as part of my portfolio and to write about it on websites, in magazine articles and in books.
I'm sure you understand how important it is as a small contractor that you pay the invoices that I send you promptly. As I'm also sure you'll want to stay friends, you agree to stick tight to the following payment schedule.
An upfront deposit of 40% is required before commencing with any agreed work. This deposit is non-refundable and will only be paid once a fixed scope has been set, and we are confident that we wish to work together to these agreed terms. No deposit shall be taken until You are completely happy with, and clear about, the agreed scope of The Work and its surrounding terms. Work shall commence as soon as the deposit is received.
About half way through the project, an invoice shall be raised for the next 30% of the project cost. Often when initial mockups are complete, before commencing work on HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
Once a project is deemed complete, an invoice shall be raised for the remaining 30% of the project cost, along with any other incidental costs.
The remaining balance shall be paid within 14 days of it being invoiced.
Just like a parking ticket, you can't transfer this contract to anyone else without my permission. This contract stays in place and need not be renewed. If for some reason one part of this contract becomes invalid or unenforceable, the remaining parts of it remain in place.
Although the language is simple, the intentions are serious and this contract is a legal document under exclusive jurisdiction of Iceland courts.
Signed by and on behalf of Gilli Sigurdsson
Signed by and on behalf of [customer name]
Date [date]
Everyone should sign above and keep a copy for their records.