Free Copywriter Contract Template

A copywriter contract is the professional foundation of any engagement between a freelance copywriter and a client who needs written content for marketing, advertising, or communication purposes. This free copywriter contract template is designed for US-based freelance copywriters and their clients, covering content scope and deliverables, revision policies, editorial freedom provisions, deadlines, payment terms, copyright assignment, portfolio rights, and kill fees.

Copywriting is both a craft and a commercial discipline. A copywriter's job is not simply to write words—it is to use words strategically to achieve a specific business outcome: sell a product, drive a website action, build brand awareness, or change audience behavior. Great copywriting requires research, strategic thinking, audience empathy, and creative skill, all of which represent significant time and intellectual investment by the writer. A well-structured copywriting contract protects both parties: it gives the client clear terms around what they are buying and what recourse they have if the copy doesn't meet their needs, and it gives the writer clear terms around compensation, creative boundaries, and ownership rights.

This copywriting contract template covers all essential provisions for freelance copywriting engagements: content scope and specifications, revision policy, editorial freedom, deadlines and turnaround times, payment terms and scheduling, intellectual property assignment, portfolio and credit rights, kill fee provisions, confidentiality, and termination.

What Is a Copywriter Contract?

A copywriter contract is a specialized professional services agreement that defines the terms under which a copywriter creates written content for a client. It is distinct from general freelance contracts in that it must address the unique dynamics of the creative writing process—including how revisions are handled, what editorial authority the writer retains versus what the client controls, how the writer's creative ownership interests are protected, and how the kill fee mechanism works when projects are cancelled midstream.

One of the most important—and most frequently misunderstood—aspects of copywriting contracting is the relationship between creative input and client direction. Many clients believe they are buying the right to dictate every word the writer produces. Professional copywriters understand that this approach produces mediocre copy, because copywriting is not transcription—it is strategic communication that requires the writer to internalize the brand voice, understand the audience, and craft language that achieves specific effects. A copywriter contract that gives the client unlimited approval authority over every word effectively transforms the writer into a typist and destroys the creative value of the engagement.

The solution is to structure the contract to give the client authority over strategic decisions (what message are we communicating, who is the audience, what tone should we strike, what outcome are we optimizing for) while giving the writer authority over the creative execution (how do we phrase this, what words do we choose, how do we structure this argument). This distinction—between strategic direction and creative execution—is at the heart of every effective copywriting relationship.

Key Clauses Every Copywriter Contract Must Include

1. Content Scope and Deliverables

The scope clause should list every specific piece of copy to be produced, with specifications for each. For a blog post, specify word count range, topic, target keyword (if SEO-related), and any formatting requirements. For website copy, list every page or section and a brief description of what it should communicate. For email sequences, specify how many emails, the purpose of each, and any triggers or timing requirements. Include any research requirements in scope (client interviews, product briefings, competitor reviews) or specify that the client will provide existing materials. The more specific the scope, the easier it is to establish when the project is complete and what additional requests fall outside scope.

2. Revision Policy

The revision clause is one of the most negotiated—and most frequently disputed—provisions in copywriting contracts. Define how many revision rounds are included (two is standard, three is generous), what constitutes a round of revisions (one comprehensive, consolidated set of written feedback, not piecemeal changes submitted over time), the timeline for the writer to deliver revisions, and the process for requesting additional revisions beyond those included. Specify the rate for additional revisions (commonly an hourly rate or a per-round flat fee) and the timeline for the client to request additional revisions (typically within a defined period after draft delivery, not indefinitely).

3. Editorial Freedom

The editorial freedom provision protects the writer's creative authority and sets appropriate boundaries on client direction. The contract should specify that the writer retains authority over word-level creative decisions, phrasing, sentence structure, and stylistic choices within the agreed strategic framework. The client approves strategic direction (key messages, audience definition, tone, call to action), and the writer executes creative choices within that framework. If the client wants to dictate specific word choices, the contract should note that this may affect the creative quality of the final copy and that the writer's ability to guarantee effectiveness is limited to the strategic framework, not individual word selections.

4. Deadlines and Turnaround Times

Specify the project deadline (the date by which final approved copy is delivered), the deadline for client feedback and revisions, and the consequences of missed deadlines by either party. If the client provides feedback late (after their agreed turnaround window), the writer's revision delivery deadline extends by the same amount. Specify what happens if the client goes silent—failing to provide feedback, approval, or revision requests. Many writers include a provision that if the client fails to respond within a specified period (commonly 14 to 30 days after draft delivery), the draft is considered approved and the project is complete.

5. Payment Terms and Kill Fee

The payment structure should specify the total project fee, the payment schedule (common for larger projects: 50% at signing, 50% upon final delivery and approval), the payment due date, and accepted payment methods. The kill fee provision should specify that if the client cancels after work has begun but before final delivery and approval, the client pays the writer for all work completed to date plus a kill fee (commonly 25% to 50% of the remaining project value) to compensate for opportunity cost and invested creative effort. The contract should also address what happens to partially completed drafts upon cancellation—whether the client receives them and under what terms.

How to Write a Copywriter Contract

Writing a copywriter contract requires the writer to establish clear creative and commercial boundaries before the project begins. The most common source of copywriting disputes is not quality problems—it is misalignment about what 'done' means and what the client's approval authority includes. Establishing these terms upfront prevents the situations where a client expects unlimited revisions on a budget that only covers two rounds, or where the writer produces excellent strategic work only to have the client rewrite it entirely and then claim the writer didn't deliver what they wanted.

Before drafting, ask the client for any existing materials: brand guidelines, previous copy they've used, competitor examples they like, a product or service brief, and examples of copy they consider effective. This discovery process helps the writer understand the scope and quality expectations, and it often surfaces scope items the client hasn't thought to include. Many clients don't know what a copywriter needs to produce great work—and it is the writer's responsibility to ask the questions that surface those needs before the contract is signed.

When setting revision scope, be specific and conservative. Two rounds of revisions is standard and appropriate for most copywriting projects. If a client needs more rounds, build in the ability to charge for them without making the additional cost a surprise. Clients who understand upfront that they get two included rounds and that additional rounds cost extra are far more likely to consolidate their feedback into meaningful, actionable revision requests rather than sending incremental micromanaged change orders.

Sample Copywriter Contract

Consider the following scenario: James, a freelance copywriter specializing in B2B SaaS, is engaged by Cloudflow, a workflow automation software company, to write an email nurture sequence for their trial-to-paid conversion campaign. The scope includes: discovery call with Cloudflow's product marketing lead, a 5-email drip sequence (400 to 500 words per email), subject line and preview text options for each email, and one round of revisions per email included in the project fee.

Total project fee is $2,800, payable as $1,400 at signing and $1,400 upon delivery of final approved copy. James delivers drafts for all five emails within 10 business days of receiving the signed contract and the product briefing. Cloudflow has 5 business days to provide consolidated feedback for each email; James delivers revisions within 3 business days of receiving feedback. Additional revision rounds beyond the first included round are billed at $175/hour with a minimum 1-hour engagement per email.

Copyright in all five emails transfers to Cloudflow upon receipt of final payment, with James retaining the right to display non-confidential excerpts in his portfolio and case studies (with attribution). Kill fee in the event of cancellation after work has begun is $700 plus payment for completed work. Either party may terminate with 7 days' written notice; upon termination, James delivers all completed drafts to Cloudflow.

Related Templates

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• /contract-templates/marketing-contract — General marketing services agreement
• /contract-templates/digital-marketing-contract — Digital marketing agency agreement
• /contract-templates/nda — Non-disclosure agreement for protecting confidential information