Independent contractor contracts help protect both the contractor and the hiring party.
Independent contractor contracts can be used for any type of job where an independent professional is hired for a period of time to complete a task. These documents help protect both the hiring party and the independent contractor and ensure that project specifications are defined in advance. Independent contractor contracts generally specify the nature of the project, the amount of time it is expected to be completed, and the estimated charges for the project. Additional information, such as confidentiality agreements or cancellation clauses, may also be part of these agreements.
To start, independent contractor contracts will specify the name of the company or person hiring the freelancer, as well as the freelancer’s name and contact information. The start date of the contract will also be specified, followed by a description of the work or project for which the freelancer is hired. The details of this job description may vary depending on its length and the degree to which the company or contractor cares that the work is completed as specified. You must specify at least the minimum requirements for the project.
The agreed payment for the work or project must also be specified in the independent contractor contracts. This can change if the project takes longer than expected or if there are additional costs, but it is important that the terms and conditions of payment are specified. The timing of payments, such as bi-weekly or monthly, should also be specified. This will help avoid confusion or problems and ensure that work on the project can continue smoothly and without interruption due to non-payment.
The terms by which the agreement can be broken must also be included in the independent contractors’ contracts. In general, the employer and employee may terminate the contract for any reason if specified in the original written document, although in some cases it may require a certain payment of funds. These clauses help protect both the employer and the contractor by ensuring that if the job isn’t working out, they can look elsewhere for help. Anyone especially concerned about what is or isn’t included in a contract, especially for large projects, may want to review it with an attorney just to make sure it’s acceptable before signing. It may even be helpful to search online for sample contracts to get ideas of what to include.