Web Design Contract

[BoeingDrew]

Hey all. I was looking for some information on how to draft a web design contract. What to include and other information that is vital. If you have any links that would be great as well. I know it is proabaly best to see a lawyer, but I just want to get an idea for now. :)

Thanks,
Drew

[Pegasus]

The contract should include deadlines, pay rates, penalties, and exactly what work you're contracting.

For example, you could have:

25% of (stated fee) due upon approval of storyboard (due date)
25% of (stated fee) due upon approval of basic layout (due date)
25% of (stated fee) due upon approval of image layout (due date)
25% of (stated fee) due upon approval of final layout (due date)

That's just a rough guesstimate of what you'll need, but don't do the entire project for nothing. Make them pay as the work gets done.

You may want to include a penalty - for both of you. If they don't have the necessary information/images to you in time to get the job done by the due date, fine them. And if you're late for the due date, you get fined. *g* Unless, of course, they've made you late. I dunno. 1% of the total cost? Something like that.

Also, make sure you have a killfee - you get 20%-25% of the contracted price if they back out of the deal before the first due date. What's the point in you working for nothing?

You'll also want to outline precisely what it is that they want you to do (so many images, so many pages, so many forms/databases, etc.), who provides the images/information, and who in their organization has final say on what the website will look like.

If you're not sure if you should include something, include it anyway. If you have any doubts about something, include that, too. Things can always be deleted from a contract, but it's awfully hard to get things included in one.

Good luck!

Peg