Freelancer Agreement
Freelancer and consultant agreements — scope, deliverables, fees, timelines, IP assignment, confidentiality and payment terms.
- Estimate Cost
- ₹2,000 – ₹15,000
- Typical duration
- 3 days
Service overview
Creating clear, protective contracts for independent contractors and freelancers outlining deliverables, payment schedules, and intellectual property rights.
Who needs it? / When is it needed?
Freelancers, agencies, independent consultants, and businesses hiring external talent.
What to expect from the WCP Professionals
Drafting precise terms governing project scope, milestone payments, ownership of work output, and dispute resolution.
Key deliverables
Customized Freelancer Agreement draft, milestone tracking sheet, and project handover checklist.
Standard turnaround time
1 to 3 working days.
Government fees, timelines & key outcomes
No government fee for drafting; stamp duty at the State rate applies on execution.
Payments to freelancers may attract TDS under the Income-tax Act, and GST where the freelancer is registered.
Key outcomes: clear deliverables and payment terms, with IP owned by the client.
Forms & filings involved
- No statutory filing
- Execution on e-stamp paper or digitally
- TDS deduction and return where the payment crosses the threshold
Documents required
- Details of the client and the freelancer, including PAN and GSTIN where applicable
- Scope of work, milestones and deliverables
- Fee, payment schedule and expenses policy
- Any confidentiality or IP requirements
What we need from you
Detailed deliverables, deadlines, fee amounts, and revision limits.
Important conditions
Subject to clear demarcation of project deliverables and agreed timelines.
Additional information
An assignment of copyright must be in writing to be valid (Section 19 of the Copyright Act, 1957), so the IP clause is essential when a freelancer creates content, code or designs.
The agreement should make clear that the freelancer is an independent contractor, not an employee.
The estimated cost covers indicative professional fees only. Government fees, stamp duty and taxes are payable at actuals.
How it works
- 1. Raise a service enquiry describing your requirement.
- 2. A Relationship Manager reviews it and opens it for bidding.
- 3. Pay into escrow and assign the professional you select.
- 4. Track progress to completion, then accept and release payment.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns work done by a freelancer?
The freelancer, unless the copyright is assigned in writing to the client — so the agreement must include an IP assignment.
Is TDS deducted on freelancer payments?
Often yes, where payments cross the thresholds for professional or contract fees under the Income-tax Act.
How is a freelancer different from an employee?
A freelancer controls how the work is done and is paid for deliverables, without employment benefits; the agreement should reflect that.
What if deliverables are late?
The agreement should set milestones, acceptance criteria and remedies such as fee reduction or termination.