Free Graphic Designer Contract Template
A freelance contract template built for graphic designers — with the specific clauses that prevent the disputes most common in your line of work.
About this template
Graphic design invoices need to handle three things that generic templates skip entirely: licensing, revision rounds, and print production. A logo or brand identity isn't just a creative deliverable — it's a piece of intellectual property whose value depends on how it's used. A startup using a logo on their website is different from a company licensing it for national print advertising. Your invoice should reflect this. Revision rounds are another pain point: including unlimited revisions in a flat fee destroys your margins. The right template makes revisions explicit — how many are included, and what happens when the client exceeds them. And if your work goes to print, the invoice should account for the production file formats (press-ready PDF, packaged InDesign, outlined EPS) the client actually needs.
Key clauses in this contract
These are the sections specific to graphic designers — the ones that actually come up in disputes.
License scope — what the client may do with the final artwork
Number of revision rounds included before additional charges apply
File formats to be delivered and when
What happens to source files if the project is cancelled mid-way
Portfolio display rights
Contract guide for graphic designers
Licensing vs. ownership: know the difference
When a client pays for a logo, they're typically buying a license to use it — not ownership of the underlying artwork. Your contract and invoice should specify exactly what they're getting: personal use, commercial use, digital only, or unlimited use including print and merchandise. 'Unlimited commercial use' is worth more than 'website use only' — price accordingly. Full IP transfer (where the client owns the original artwork files and can modify them freely) should cost significantly more and be negotiated explicitly.
How to handle revision creep without losing the relationship
The most common source of scope creep in design work is ambiguous revision policies. Solve this upfront: include exactly two rounds of revisions in your fee, state this on the proposal and the invoice, and set your hourly rate for additional rounds. When a client hits their limit, send a short change order invoice before continuing. Most clients respect the boundary when it's been clear from the start — and those who don't are telling you something important.
Print vs. digital file delivery
Print production adds real cost and risk that your invoice should reflect. Print-ready files require bleeds, crop marks, and color mode conversion (RGB to CMYK), which takes time beyond the design phase. If you're liaising with a print vendor on the client's behalf, that coordination time belongs on the invoice. Always deliver digital files first and charge for print prep separately so the client understands the distinction.
What's in this contract
- Scope of work section
- Payment terms and deposit
- License scope — what the client may do with the final artwork
- Number of revision rounds included before additional charges apply
- File formats to be delivered and when
- What happens to source files if the project is cancelled mid-way
- Portfolio display rights
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