Free Template

Free Graphic Design Contract Template

A clear, plain-English contract for freelance graphic designers. Defines the number of revisions, file delivery formats, intellectual property transfer, and payment terms. Download as PDF or Word.

Contract language

Your Info

Your Name (Designer)*

Your Email*

Your Address

Client Info

Client Name

Client Email

Client Address

Project

Project Name*

Type of Design

Scope of Work*

Start Date*

Final Delivery Date*

Initial Concept Directions

How many distinct concepts you will present at the first review.

Revision Rounds (after concept selection)

Usage Rights

Usage License Scope

Territory

Duration

Mediums Permitted

Exclusivity

Source Files (.ai / .psd / .fig)

Source files are normally NOT included in design contracts. Industry standard is to deliver final production-ready files only.

Designer Credit / Byline

Production

Print Specifications (if applicable)

Print Run / Edition Size (if applicable)

Stock Fonts / Photos / Icons

Payment

Total Amount*

Currency

Payment Schedule

Payment Method

Late Payment Fee (% per month)

Most freelancers charge 1% to 1.5% per month. Rates above 1.5%/month may be unenforceable in some US states.

Payment Due (days after invoice)

Legal

Termination Notice (days)

Governing Law (State/Country)

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What this contract covers

Scope of design work with explicit deliverables (logo, brand identity, packaging, social media kit, etc.)
Number of revision rounds included and the per-round fee for additional rounds
File formats delivered to the client (AI, EPS, PNG, PDF, SVG, etc.) and what the source files include
Intellectual property transfer terms — when ownership shifts to the client
Portfolio rights so the designer can show the work in their own portfolio
Usage rights and any restrictions on resale or modification
Payment schedule, late fees, and refund policy
Confidentiality, termination, and dispute resolution clauses

Why you need this contract

Designers face two predictable disputes: endless revision requests beyond what was agreed, and clients asking for the source files without paying for them. A written contract resolves both before the project starts.

This template caps revisions, defines exactly which files are delivered, and ties intellectual property transfer to final payment. It also reserves portfolio rights so the designer can show the work publicly even after handoff, which most informal agreements forget.

For brand identity and logo work, the IP clause is especially important. Without a written transfer, the designer technically retains copyright by default in most jurisdictions, which creates a real problem if the client later wants to register the trademark or sell the brand.

When to use this template

·Logo design and brand identity projects
·Packaging, print, and merchandise design
·Social media templates, content kits, and ongoing creative work
·Illustration commissions and editorial design
·Any design engagement with multiple revision rounds or deliverables

Get a free Pactful account

Drop your email and we'll send you a one-click setup link. The free trial includes contract sending, evidence-package generation, and full vault access. No credit card required.

Beyond the template

When a client charges back four months after receiving a logo they are now using on their packaging, the contract is only useful if you can prove they actually signed it. That means a tamper-proof signed copy with audit trail — not a Word doc emailed back and forth.

Pactful sends this contract through a real e-signature flow, captures the signer's IP address and timestamp, archives a tamper-proof copy in a public vault, and when a PayPal dispute comes in, compiles a one-click evidence package and drafts the response for you.

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