Free Business Contract Template
A business contract covers the work being delivered, payment timing, feedback and revision rules, ownership, responsibilities, and how the agreement ends.
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A brand identity job can look right in a deck, then fall apart on a box, a van, or a sign once the light goes flat, and nobody wants to find that out after the files are final. This business contract puts the real-world scope, the decision process, and the production edge cases into writing, so the work has a clear finish line and changes get handled out loud. The pages sit under Space Grotesk headings and Inter body text, with a deep violet-blue and enamel olive used to keep the sign-off moment feeling firm.
The agreement starts by tying the work to the proposal you already accepted, then spells out what’s being made and what the client needs to provide so feedback stays consolidated. Payment sets a 40% invoice on signing and the remaining 60% at file handover, with 14-day terms and a pause if an invoice goes overdue. Feedback and revisions defines two revision rounds at each review point, then draws the line between revisions and new direction so extra time gets priced and approved before it starts.
- It covers the brand identity system Connects the agreement to the accepted proposal and frames the handover as usable identity assets, with roles for timely input and one point of contact.
- What we’re making Lists the identity deliverables and calls out production checks for print, packaging, signage, and decks, plus what the client supplies at the start.
- Payment Sets the 40%/60% split, 14-day due dates, and what happens if an invoice goes overdue, including work pauses until the account is current.
- Feedback and revisions Defines two revision rounds per review point and requires one consolidated list of changes, then routes new deliverables into priced, approved add-on work.
- Ending the project Explains how an early end works in writing, what gets paid up to the end date, what gets handed over, and where the Signature sits.
It stays as a reusable contract template once it’s in Plutio, which means you replace names, dates, and rates, then send it to a client to review and sign online. Once the client signs, both sides have the same reference for what gets delivered, what gets approved, and what happens if the project needs to end early.
We went from spending hours on every proposal to creating fully customized ones in under 5 minutes. That's not an exaggeration - we timed it.
What to include in a business contract
| Part | What it covers |
|---|---|
It covers the brand identity system | Defines the identity system being delivered and ties it to the accepted proposal, so the agreement has a clear finish line. You update the project description so it matches what was sold and what files get handed over. |
What we’re making | Describes the specific deliverables and the production checks that keep the identity working in print and physical environments. You adjust the list of items and the client inputs so approvals stay routed through one decision-maker. |
Payment | States the 40% deposit on signing, the 60% due at final file handover, and the 14-day payment window for each invoice. You change the amounts and any billing process requirements before sending. |
Feedback and revisions | Explains how review points work, what counts as a revision round, and how feedback gets consolidated into one list. You change the revision rules only if your process differs, because this section is what stops endless rounds. |
Who owns what | Transfers ownership of final approved assets after the final invoice is paid, while keeping drafts, working files, and internal templates with the studio. You clarify any editable formats a vendor needs so handover matches the production plan. |
Showing the work | Covers portfolio rights for the final approved identity system and the option to keep work private under embargo or a specific date. You update the confidentiality expectations if the client has sensitive launch details. |
What we’re responsible for | Commits to fixing clear file errors and explains the limits around printing variables, vendor equipment, and delays caused by missing inputs or approvals. You keep the boundaries aligned with how you handle printers and fabricators in practice. |
Ending the project | Explains how either side can end the project in writing, what gets paid, and what gets handed over in usable form. The Signature sits here, so you confirm the notice language matches how you want an early exit to work. |
Who it is for
Brand identity studios, graphic designers, and teams doing packaging design, print & editorial, or presentation design when the client needs the scope, revision rules, and file handover agreed in writing.
The contract in full
It covers the brand identity system described in the proposal you accepted, along with any related production support we agree in writing (like preparing files for print, packaging, signage, or decks). Our job is to design and deliver the agreed identity assets and hand over usable files. Your job is to give us timely input and one clear point of contact so decisions don’t drift. The project runs on the terms below, so we both know what “done” looks like and how we’ll handle changes if the plan shifts once we’re underway.
What we’re making
We’ll design and deliver the brand identity system and the specific items listed under this section. We build identities to work in the real world, so we’ll check the system in the places it has to live, like print, packaging, signage, and slides, and we’ll flag anything that needs a production decision before it becomes a problem.
You’ll provide what you have to start (current logo files, recent packaging or sales sheets, your website link, and a few competitors), even if it’s messy. You’ll also name one person to gather feedback into a single, consolidated list at each review point so we can move cleanly from draft to approval.
* Primary logo suite * Secondary marks and icons * Color and type system * Brand guidelines PDF * Stationery and business card files * Master working files package
Payment
To book the project and reserve your start date, we invoice 40% of the total price when you sign. The remaining 60% is due when we hand over the finished files for the brand identity system. Each invoice is payable within 14 days of its date.
If a payment becomes overdue, we’ll pause work and any scheduled reviews until the account is brought current. That pause can shift the timeline, especially if we miss a printer window or a meeting you needed the materials for. If you have a billing process we need to follow (vendor setup, PO numbers, email addresses for AP), tell us up front so we can invoice the right way the first time.
Feedback and revisions
We keep feedback structured so the project doesn’t turn into endless polishing without decisions. Each review point includes two revision rounds. A revision round means you send one consolidated list of changes, we apply them, and we return an updated set for review. Small copy edits and fixes that come in as part of that list are included.
New direction, new deliverables, or changes that affect the underlying system are not revisions. If you want additional rounds beyond what’s included, or you add items or expand what the brand identity system needs to cover, we’ll price the extra time and get your written approval before we start that added work. Nothing rolls in silently.
Who owns what
Once the final invoice is paid in full, you own the final, approved identity assets we created for you as part of the brand identity system. That includes the final logo files and the final artwork and layouts we deliver at handover. You can use them across your business, including print, packaging, signage, web, and presentations.
We keep ownership of our working files, drafts, source layouts, and our tools and templates, even if they helped produce the final work. We do this so our process stays reusable and so we can support future updates efficiently if you ask. If you need a specific editable format for a vendor, tell us early so we can plan for it.
Showing the work
We’re proud of what we make, and showing finished work helps people understand what we do. Unless you ask us not to, we can display the final approved brand identity system as a portfolio example on our website, in social posts, and in presentations of our work.
If you’re launching quietly, working under embargo, or your timeline is sensitive, tell us in writing and we’ll hold the work back. If you have a specific date you want us to wait until, we can do that too. We will not share confidential business details you provide, like pricing, customer lists, internal process documents, or unpublished product plans.
What we’re responsible for
We stand behind the design work we deliver and we’ll fix mistakes in our files that are clearly our error, like a wrong bleed setup or an export issue that doesn’t match the approved artwork. If something looks right on screen but prints strangely because of paper stock, coatings, lighting, or a vendor process, we’ll help troubleshoot, but we can’t guarantee how every printer, fabricator, or installer will run their equipment.
We’re also not responsible for delays caused by missing inputs, slow approvals, or late third-party responses. Vendor timelines and production costs stay between you and the vendor. We can speak with your printer or fabricator directly to answer preflight questions and match specs, but we can’t control their schedule or output.
Ending the project
If either of us needs to end the project early, we’ll do it in writing and we’ll agree the notice period together in writing based on what’s in progress and what deadlines you’re facing. Up to the end date, you’ll pay for the work we’ve completed and any committed costs we can’t unwind.
When the account is brought current, we’ll hand over what’s ready at that point in a usable form, including any approved final assets and the latest working exports we’ve prepared for you. We do not hand over our internal working files or drafts unless we separately agree to that in writing. If you want us to help transition to another team or vendor, we can scope that support as additional work.
Signature
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Questions about this contract template
What should a business contract include for design work?
A design business contract usually covers what will be delivered, when payment is due, how feedback and revisions work, who owns the final assets, and what happens if the project ends early. This one also addresses production realities like print and vendor variables, so expectations don’t stop at what looks good on screen.
How do revision rounds work in a design contract?
A revision round means the client sends one consolidated list of changes, the designer applies them, then returns an updated set for review. This contract includes two revision rounds per review point and treats new direction or added deliverables as additional work that gets priced and approved first.
What deposit should you ask for in a design contract?
This contract uses a split payment structure: 40% when the client signs to reserve the start, and 60% due at final file handover. Each invoice is due within 14 days, and overdue payment pauses work and scheduled reviews.
Who owns the logo and brand files after payment?
After the final invoice is paid in full, the client owns the final, approved identity assets delivered at handover, including final logo files and final artwork and layouts. The designer keeps ownership of working files, drafts, and internal tools and templates unless a separate written agreement says otherwise.
Do you have to hand over editable working files to a client?
A contract can separate final deliverables from internal working files, and this one does: the client receives usable final assets and exports, but not drafts or internal working files by default. If a vendor needs a specific editable format, the contract says to raise that early so delivery can be planned.
Can a designer talk to a printer or fabricator on the client’s behalf?
This contract allows direct communication with a printer or fabricator to answer preflight questions and troubleshoot production issues. The agreement also makes clear that the designer can’t guarantee how every vendor’s equipment or process will behave, especially with stock, coatings, lighting, or installation variables.
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