TLDR (Summary)
The best contract software for designers is Plutio ($19/month).
Standalone e-signature tools collect signatures but don't enforce terms during delivery. Plutio contracts connect to scope documentation, revision limits, and project records... so signed agreements become enforceable boundaries during work.
Designers get digital signatures, revision limit clauses, kill fee terms, and contracts attached to project records. Reference terms instantly during scope discussions.
Designers using proper agreements reduce disputes through documented scope and clear revision limits.
For additional strategies, read our guide to preventing scope expansion.
What is contract software for designers?
Contract software for designers is software that creates, sends, and manages legally binding agreements that define project scope, payment terms, copyright ownership, and revision limits.
The distinction matters: word processors create documents, contract software adds electronic signatures, tracking, and legally defensible records. Designer-focused contract software includes clauses specific to creative work and connects to proposals and invoicing.
What designer contract software actually does
Core functions include creating contracts from templates, sending documents for electronic signature, tracking signature status with reminders, storing signed agreements with timestamps, and providing legally defensible records of agreement. Advanced platforms connect contracts to proposals so scope and terms flow automatically.
Generic vs designer-specific contracts
Tools like DocuSign and HelloSign handle signatures for any document but don't include designer-relevant clauses. Designer-focused tools like Plutio include templates covering copyright transfer, revision limits, kill fees, and design-specific liability clauses. The difference matters when disputes arise.
What makes designer contracts different
Design work has unique legal considerations: who owns the copyright before and after final payment, how many revision rounds are included, what happens if the client cancels mid-project, and whether the designer can show work in their portfolio. Generic contracts don't address these scenarios. Designer-specific contracts do.
When contracts connect to proposals and projects, scope stays documented throughout the engagement. You can reference exactly what was agreed when clients request work beyond the original terms.
Why designers need contract software
Designers without contracts risk unpaid work, extra work without extra pay without recourse, copyright disputes, and damaged client relationships when expectations aren't documented.
The cost of working without contracts
Research shows 40% of have experienced non-payment at some point in their career. Contracts establish legal obligation to pay and provide documentation for collections if needed. Without contracts, your only recourse is hoping clients pay voluntarily.
What breaks without contracts
- Non-payment: No legal documentation of payment obligation. Collection becomes difficult
- Extra work without extra pay: Nothing defining what was included. Clients expect more without additional payment
- Copyright disputes: Unclear who owns the work at each stage. Clients use work you haven't been paid for
- Revision overload: No limit on revision rounds. Projects extend indefinitely
- Cancellation losses: No kill fee provision. Clients cancel without compensation for work completed
The documentation value
Beyond legal protection, contracts create clarity. Clients know exactly what they're paying for, what's included, and what costs extra. Written documentation prevents misunderstandings that damage relationships even when no one acts in bad faith.
Contracts protect both parties. Clients get clear deliverables and timeline. Designers get payment protection and scope boundaries. The relationship starts with shared understanding rather than assumptions.
The alternative is starting work on a handshake and hoping everything works out. Sometimes it does. But when it doesn't, the consequences range from unpaid invoices to legal disputes to portfolio work you can't show. Professional contracts prevent these scenarios with minimal upfront effort.
Contract features designers need
The essential contract features for designers handle document creation, electronic signatures, and ongoing management while including clauses specific to creative work.
Core contract features
- Template library: Pre-built contracts for common scenarios. Customize rather than starting from scratch
- Electronic signatures: Legally binding e-signatures without printing, scanning, or mailing
- Signature tracking: See when contracts are viewed, opened, and signed. Send reminders for unsigned documents
- Secure storage: Signed contracts stored with timestamps and audit trails
- Mobile signing: Clients sign from any device. No excuses about not having a printer
- Counter-signatures: Both parties sign. You and the client both have documented agreement
Designer-specific features
- Copyright clauses: Clear ownership terms. Transfer on final payment, license vs full rights, portfolio usage
- Revision limits: Defined number of rounds included. Additional revisions at additional cost
- Kill fee provisions: What happens if clients cancel. Compensation for work completed
- Scope documentation: Deliverables listed clearly. Reference when clients request additional work
Platform features that multiply value
- Proposal integration: Contracts create from proposals. Scope, timeline, and payment terms flow through
- Project connection: Signed contracts link to projects. Reference terms during work
- White-label branding: Contracts display your brand. Professional presentation
- Automations: Trigger project creation when contracts sign. Create invoices when milestones hit
The deciding factor for designers is integration depth. Contracts that connect with proposals and projects keep terms visible throughout the engagement instead of filing away after signature.
Contract software pricing for designers
Contract software for designers typically costs $10-30 per month for standalone e-signature tools, with the actual cost depending on signature volume and whether you need additional tools for proposals.
What designers typically pay for stacked tools
Designers piece together multiple subscriptions:
- Signatures: DocuSign ($10-25/month), HelloSign ($15-25/month), PandaDoc ($19-49/month)
- Proposals: Better Proposals ($19-49/month), Proposify ($19-29/month)
- Client management: HoneyBook ($29-79/month), Dubsado ($28-48/month)
- Invoicing: FreshBooks ($17-55/month), QuickBooks ($30-90/month)
Combined, this stack costs $75-200/month with contracts disconnected from the rest of your workflow.
Plutio pricing (February 2026)
- Core: $19/month - Unlimited contracts with proposals, invoicing, project management, and client portals included
- Pro: $49/month - Unlimited clients, 30 team contributors, advanced permissions, priority support
- Max: $199/month - Unlimited team, white-label custom domain, single sign-on
The ROI calculation for designers
If contracts prevent one non-payment per year on a $3,000 project:
- Tool cost: $19/month x 12 = $228/year
- Protected revenue: $3,000+ (one prevented non-payment)
- Additional value: Reduced extra work without extra pay, clearer client relationships
Contracts pay for themselves with a single prevented non-payment. Everything beyond that is additional protection and workflow efficiency.
Why Plutio is the best contract software for designers
Plutio handles contracts as part of a complete platform where proposals, projects, and invoicing work together rather than as separate tools.
Proposals become contracts with one click
When your proposal is ready, convert to contract instantly. Scope, deliverables, timeline, and payment terms carry through. Clients see and sign one document covering what you'll deliver and what they'll pay. No re-entering information into a separate contract tool.
Contracts create projects automatically
When clients sign, project structure can create automatically. Tasks, milestones, and timeline populate from the agreed terms. Work begins immediately with scope already documented in the project record.
Terms stay visible during work
The signed contract links to the project. During work, reference exactly what was agreed. When clients request changes, check the scope section. When disputes arise about revision limits, the contract is right there. Terms don't disappear into a filing system after signature.
Designer-focused templates
Pre-built contract templates include clauses for: copyright transfer timing, revision rounds, portfolio usage rights, kill fees, and liability limits. Customize for your practice rather than researching what to include.
White-label presentation
Contracts display your brand, not third-party software. Clients see a professional document from your studio, reinforcing the premium experience that design practices want to project.
Revision round limitations
How many revision rounds are included? What counts as a "round"? Clear definitions prevent endless revision cycles... protecting both time and client relationships.
Kill fee structures
When projects cancel mid-stream, kill fees compensate for work completed and opportunity cost. Cancellation terms protect against project abandonment.
Source file ownership
Does the client get working files or only finals? Source file ownership clarifies upfront... preventing disputes after delivery.
Credit and attribution rights
Can the designer show the work in their portfolio? Credit requirements in the final product? Attribution terms establish from the start.
Every contract connects to your broader workflow. Proposals convert to contracts, contracts create projects, and terms stay accessible throughout the engagement.
How to set up contracts in Plutio
Setting up contracts in Plutio takes 1-2 hours for initial template customization, with contracts ready to send immediately after.
Step 1: Customize contract templates (1-2 hours)
Start with the built-in designer contract templates. Customize clauses for your practice:
- Scope section: How you'll describe the work
- Payment terms: Deposit percentage, milestone schedule, final payment timing
- Revisions: How many rounds included, additional revision rates
- Copyright: Transfer timing, usage rights, portfolio permissions
- Cancellation: Kill fee percentage, deliverable ownership on cancellation
Step 2: Set up signature fields
Configure where client and designer signatures appear. Add date fields. Set up counter-signature workflow if you sign after clients.
Step 3: Configure automations
Set up actions triggered by signature: create project, send welcome email, add to calendar, create first invoice. These automations eliminate manual post-signing setup.
Step 4: Test with a sample contract
Send a test contract to yourself or a colleague. Experience the client signing flow. Verify the signed document looks correct. Test any automations trigger properly.
Step 5: Have legal review
Before using contracts with real clients, have an attorney review your templates. Plutio provides starting points, but contracts should match your local laws and specific practice needs.
Templates should be specific enough to protect you but general enough to apply across most projects. Build one solid template rather than trying to cover every scenario upfront.
Contract templates for designers
Different project types may require different contract terms. Building templates for common scenarios cuts contract creation from 30 minutes to 5 minutes and keeps consistent language across all clients.
Why templates matter for design contracts
Without templates, each contract starts from scratch or gets copy-pasted from the last one with edits you might miss. Template libraries let you select the right starting point, customize project-specific details, and send within minutes. The core legal language stays proven while project specifics adapt to each engagement.
Recommended contract templates for designers
- Standard project contract: The core template for most work. Scope, payment, revisions, copyright transfer on final payment. Use for brand identity, website design, packaging, and similar fixed-fee projects
- Retainer agreement: For ongoing relationships. Monthly hours, rollover policy, scope of included work, rate for additional hours. Review period and termination terms
- Rush project addendum: Extra terms for tight-deadline work. Rush fee percentage, adjusted revision schedule, acknowledgment of compressed timeline risks
- Subcontractor agreement: When hiring other creatives. Work-for-hire terms, confidentiality, timeline, payment terms distinct from client agreements
- NDA/Confidentiality: For projects requiring secrecy before launch. What's confidential, duration, exceptions, remedies
Key clauses to include
- Payment schedule: Deposit (typically 30-50%), milestone payments, final payment before file delivery
- Revision limits: Number of rounds included (typically 2-3), additional revision rate
- Copyright transfer: Ownership transfers on final payment, designer retains rights for portfolio
- Scope boundaries: What's included, what's explicitly excluded, change order process
- Cancellation terms: Kill fee (typically 25-50%), deliverable ownership based on payment received
A solid standard contract covers 80% of projects. Build additional templates as you encounter scenarios that standard terms don't handle well.
Client portals for contract management
A client portal gives your design clients one branded location to view, sign, and access their contracts alongside project status and other documents.
Contract signing through portals
Clients access contracts through their dedicated portal. They see the document, review terms, and sign electronically. The signed contract appears in their document library for future reference. No email attachments, no need to dig through inbox for their copy.
Document history and access
The portal maintains all signed documents: contracts, proposals, invoices. Clients have self-service access to their complete history. When they need to reference revision terms during a project, the contract is there. When accountants need copies of invoices, clients retrieve them directly.
Professional presentation
Contract signing through a branded portal reinforces professional perception. Clients see your logo, your colors, your domain. The experience feels like premium service from your studio, not commodity software.
Status visibility
Clients see which contracts await their signature. You see signing status in your dashboard. No need to email asking "did you get the contract?" because signing status is visible to both parties.
Portal-based contracts create a professional signing experience while maintaining organized document access for both parties throughout the client relationship.
How to migrate contracts to Plutio
Migrating contracts typically means setting up new templates rather than importing historical data. Past signed contracts usually remain accessible in their original tool for reference.
Step 1: Gather existing contract language
Collect your current contract templates. Note clauses that work well and any you want to improve. If you've had disputes, identify what contract language could have prevented or resolved them.
Step 2: Build templates in Plutio (1-2 hours)
Create your contract templates using existing language as reference. Take the opportunity to improve terms based on experience. Add clauses you've learned you need but didn't originally include.
Step 3: Use for new projects immediately
All new contracts go through Plutio. New clients never see your old system. New projects give you real experience with the new workflow without affecting in-progress work.
Step 4: Maintain access to old contracts
Keep read-only access to your previous contract tool for signed document reference. Historical contracts may need access for years depending on retention requirements. Export signed PDFs as backup.
Step 5: Cancel old subscription when ready
Once you've verified Plutio contracts work as expected and exported historical documents, cancel the old tool. Maintain old access for 3-6 months before fully transitioning.
Common migration considerations
- In-progress negotiations: Finish pending contracts in old system, start new ones in Plutio
- Client expectations: If repeat clients expect your previous signing flow, brief them on the new process
- Template refinement: Use migration as an opportunity to improve contract terms
Contract migration focuses on setting up new workflows rather than importing history. The signed documents stay valid regardless of which tool stored them originally.
