When reaching the stage of a project when it’s time to seal the deal, you may find clients are hesitant to sign a lengthy contract or scared of the term “contract” in general. Therefore, it is important to treat contracts as two-way agreements and present them as such to your clients.
Include Provisions for Both Parties
Make sure your contracts include provisions for your clients. Just like a contract should protect your rights as a designer, detail the payment schedule, and spell out the other terms of the agreement, it should assure the client will get what they are paying for. Include what is provided for the cost of the job, when the work will be completed, and other factors that show the client the contract benefits him or her as well.
Tell the Client About the Benefits
If you do face a client who is reluctant to deal with a contract, explain to them the benefits to each of you. Be up-front about how it protects you as a designer, and show them how it guarantees your services. In the end, if a contract is fair and you are open to their questions or revisions, a client should see the document as just as much a benefit to them as it is to you.