A logo design contract is a written agreement between a designer and their client that covers all of the details around designing the client logo. These details include things like intellectual property rights, final payment details, delivery of timely feedback, and so much more.
Your freelance design contract should give a total overview of your logo designing services, the scope of work, and the entire agreement.
Sign-up now to start creating your free logo design contract. It has all the elements you need to create a legitimate, legally binding agreement.
As an independent contractor, you need a graphic design contract to build a stronger employer employee relationship, align on the personal delivery of your work, and formalize the graphic design agreement, so it's legally binding.
Without signed contracts in place for your logo design, you run the risk of not being paid, losing rights to your work, and client decisions that you're unhappy with yet unable to do anything about—like multiple unpaid renditions, canceling the project with no warning, or receiving an out of scope brief.
A freelance design contract formalizes an entire agreement and promotes you as a professional designer. In some cases, it can help you get graphic design clients!
Ready to cover what you need to include in your go-to design contract template, so you only need to tweak it for each client?
We thoughts you'd never ask. There are quite a few things you should include in your graphic design contract template. We've also included all of the below in the free graphic design contract you can find on this page.
On this occasion, you're hired to create the client's logo. However, any freelance graphic designer knows that logo design doesn't stop at a couple of logo renditions. Your work will include user research, competitor analysis, brand analysis, and so much more. In this section, give a clear overview of all the work expected to create a finished product.
You'll most likely need to work with client employees to get a final product. In this part of your contract, outline the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders of the logo design. In your research, you will need to encourage client customers and encourage client employees to give qualitative feedback to aid your process.
Who is expected to do what? And, how critical is each role in helping to achieve a final logo? Map it out here.
Graphic designers need to accurately outline exactly what the client will get with their logo delivery. This includes
Your graphic design contract template for a logo build needs to give an accurate project roadmap. When are you delivering the first logo renditions? When will the client provide timely feedback, and will you be delivering a second round?
Work with your client on this. Typically, such services take between 3-6 weeks; however, all graphic designers work differently. Your graphic design contract will ensure your client agrees with the timeline.
An independent contractor often thinks the sole purpose of each graphic design contract template is to cover payment details. Hopefully, you see that's not the case! Nonetheless, they're still a must-have. You'll find well-written payment details in the free graphic design contract on this page. It's good to include:
Every designer knows that a great logo isn't made overnight. There will be countless renditions you'll do before the client even sees the first draft.
Formalize your process here, and layout how many options and edits you'll give a client that is in scope. What will the client need to pay more for? This logo build shouldn't contain too many renditions if you've received a great design brief upfront.
Intellectual property and intellectual property rights. This part of the contract aligns on whose intellectual property the logo is. This logo should be the client's intellectual property. However, is the designer allowed to use the logo in their portfolio to win new clients?
Despite the logo being no one else's intellectual property rights, the client can agree that the designer can use the logo in their portfolio when necessary.
Every contract needs a cancellation policy. This includes the written notices either party needs to provide to cancel the agreement. As this is a legally binding document, the designer would need the client's written permission to cancel the contract, and the client would need the designer written permission to cancel.
Decide here what that permission needs to look like, whether that's written notice by registered or certified mail, or an email is enough.
Every graphic design agreement will also need a termination clause. Your graphic design agreement should clearly define under what grounds someone can terminate the contract. This means the contract ends immediately and is usually the result of a contract breach or misconduct.
Lastly, include anything you may have missed. Things like any third parties involved, tools needed, and if you're using your own equipment for the project and who is responsible for them. Include liability of responses here.
Also, the client decides if they would like to add any clauses in this section too. Of course, their suggestions should remain confidential information, whether it ends up in the contract or not.
That's everything covered for your entire agreement. Make sure your client agrees—and their directors, just in case—before you proceed with any work. Both parties will feel much better about the working relationship with a signed contract on the table.
As promised, here's your free graphic design contract. Sign up for Bonsai today, get your template tweaked, personalized, and sent off to your client so you can begin creating that logo.
Like with every contract on the Bonsai platform, your graphic design contract is legally vetted and approved by experts. It means you can send your contract using Bonsai's e signing system, knowing that you're delivering a sound agreement.
Your graphic design contract build could not be easier. In fact, it's already done. Once you sign up for the Bonsai platform, you'll have the option to work from the logo contract template or start your own contract from scratch.
Simply select the contract option you need, add what's necessary, and send it off to your client. It's as simple as that.
A few last questions around design contracts that we frequently get.
Your logo design contract template saves you time and peace of mind knowing it includes everything needed to keep you covered in your work agreement. It also presents you as a professional to your client and lets them rest assured knowing they are also protected in the agreement.
A template contract imposes special restrictions that benefit both parties, and both parties should want to have one in place.
If you decide to create your own logo design contract template that you'll edit per client, it's a good idea to include the following clauses:
If you'd like to skip the legal hassle, explore our library of contract templates to get the exact agreement you need.
Your client expects you to deliver a logo design contract once you've informally agreed on the workload, project timeline, and pay. The designer agrees to meet the client's expectations and formalizes all of these details and more before any work starts.
The cost of a logo design can range from an hourly rate to the cost of the project itself. The cost of a logo design depends on your experience, the amount of work involved, the client, and a few more factors. Read this article for a full overview of how much to charge for a logo design.
Intellectual property clause outlines the terms that an intellectual property may be used. It also defines who owns it and the time period of ownership.
Unlike other freelances, logo designers charge per output. Depending on experience, their rate goes up from $300 to $1500.
Microsoft word has a generic contract template. If you're looking for one specifically made for logo designers then Bonsai is your tool. It has all the legal jargon and requirements you need.
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This Contract is between Client (the "Client") and Acme LLC (the "Designer").
The Contract is dated [DATE BOTH PARTIES SIGN].
1.1 Project. The Client is hiring the Designer to do the following: Design a brand new logo which adheres to new brand guidelines and standards.
1.2 Schedule. The Designer will begin work on [START DATE] and will continue until the work is completed. This Contract can be ended by either Client or Designer at any time, pursuant to the terms of Section 6, Term and Termination.
1.3 Payment. The Client will pay the Designer a rate of [PROJECT RATE]. Of this, the Client will pay the Designer [DEPOSIT AMOUNT] before work begins.
1.4 Expenses. The Client will reimburse the Designer's expenses. Expenses do not need to be pre-approved by the Client.
1.5 Invoices. The Designer will invoice the Client at the end of the project. The Client agrees to pay the amount owed within [X DAYS TO PAY] days of receiving the invoice. Payment after that date will incur a late fee of [LATE FEE PERCENTAGE]% per month on the outstanding amount.
1.6 Support. The Designer will not provide support for any deliverable once the Client accepts it, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
2.1 Client Owns All Work Product. As part of this job, the Designer is creating “work product” for the Client. To avoid confusion, work product is the finished product, as well as drafts, notes, materials, mockups, hardware, designs, inventions, patents, code, and anything else that the Designer works on—that is, conceives, creates, designs, develops, invents, works on, or reduces to practice—as part of this project, whether before the date of this Contract or after. The Designer hereby gives the Client this work product once the Client pays for it in full. This means the Designer is giving the Client all of its rights, titles, and interests in and to the work product (including intellectual property rights), and the Client will be the sole owner of it. The Client can use the work product however it wants or it can decide not to use the work product at all. The Client, for example, can modify, destroy, or sell it, as it sees fit.
2.2 Designer's Use Of Work Product. Once the Designer gives the work product to the Client, the Designer does not have any rights to it, except those that the Client explicitly gives the Designer here. The Client gives permission to use the work product as part of portfolios and websites, in galleries, and in other media, so long as it is to showcase the work and not for any other purpose. The Client does not give permission to sell or otherwise use the work product to make money or for any other commercial use. The Client is not allowed to take back this license, even after the Contract ends.
2.3 Designer's Help Securing Ownership. In the future, the Client may need the Designer's help to show that the Client owns the work product or to complete the transfer. The Designer agrees to help with that. For example, the Designer may have to sign a patent application. The Client will pay any required expenses for this. If the Client can’t find the Designer, the Designer agrees that the Client can act on the Designer's behalf to accomplish the same thing. The following language gives the Client that right: if the Client can’t find the Designer after spending reasonable effort trying to do so, the Designer hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Client as the Designer's agent and attorney-in-fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for the Designer and on the Designer's behalf to execute, verify, and file the required documents and to take any other legal action to accomplish the purposes of paragraph 2.1 (Client Owns All Work Product).
2.4 Designer's IP That Is Not Work Product. During the course of this project, the Designer might use intellectual property that the Designer owns or has licensed from a third party, but that does not qualify as “work product.” This is called “background IP.” Possible examples of background IP are pre-existing code, type fonts, properly-licensed stock photos, and web application tools. The Designer is not giving the Client this background IP. But, as part of the Contract, the Designer is giving the Client a right to use and license (with the right to sublicense) the background IP to develop, market, sell, and support the Client’s products and services. The Client may use this background IP worldwide and free of charge, but it cannot transfer its rights to the background IP (except as allowed in Section 11.1 (Assignment)). The Client cannot sell or license the background IP separately from its products or services. The Designer cannot take back this grant, and this grant does not end when the Contract is over.
2.5 Designer's Right To Use Client IP. The Designer may need to use the Client’s intellectual property to do its job. For example, if the Client is hiring the Designer to build a website, the Designer may have to use the Client’s logo. The Client agrees to let the Designer use the Client’s intellectual property and other intellectual property that the Client controls to the extent reasonably necessary to do the Designer's job. Beyond that, the Client is not giving the Designer any intellectual property rights, unless specifically stated otherwise in this Contract.
The Designer won’t work for a competitor of the Client until this Contract ends. To avoid confusion, a competitor is any third party that develops, manufactures, promotes, sells, licenses, distributes, or provides products or services that are substantially similar to the Client’s products or services. A competitor is also a third party that plans to do any of those things. The one exception to this restriction is if the Designer asks for permission beforehand and the Client agrees to it in writing. If the Designer uses employees or subcontractors, the Designer must make sure they follow the obligations in this paragraph, as well.
Until this Contract ends, the Designer won’t: (a) encourage Client employees or service providers to stop working for the Client; (b) encourage Client customers or clients to stop doing business with the Client; or (c) hire anyone who worked for the Client over the 12-month period before the Contract ended. The one exception is if the Designer puts out a general ad and someone who happened to work for the Client responds. In that case, the Designer may hire that candidate. The Designer promises that it won’t do anything in this paragraph on behalf of itself or a third party.
5.1 Overview. This section contains important promises between the parties.
5.2 Authority To Sign. Each party promises to the other party that it has the authority to enter into this Contract and to perform all of its obligations under this Contract.
5.3 Designer Has Right To Give Client Work Product. The Designer promises that it owns the work product, that the Designer is able to give the work product to the Client, and that no other party will claim that it owns the work product. If the Designer uses employees or subcontractors, the Designer also promises that these employees and subcontractors have signed contracts with the Designer giving the Designer any rights that the employees or subcontractors have related to the Designer's background IP and work product.
5.4 Designer Will Comply With Laws. The Designer promises that the manner it does this job, its work product, and any background IP it uses comply with applicable U.S. and foreign laws and regulations.
5.5 Work Product Does Not Infringe. The Designer promises that its work product does not and will not infringe on someone else’s intellectual property rights, that the Designer has the right to let the Client use the background IP, and that this Contract does not and will not violate any contract that the Designer has entered into or will enter into with someone else.
5.6 Client Will Review Work. The Client promises to review the work product, to be reasonably available to the Designer if the Designer has questions regarding this project, and to provide timely feedback and decisions.
5.7 Client-Supplied Material Does Not Infringe. If the Client provides the Designer with material to incorporate into the work product, the Client promises that this material does not infringe on someone else’s intellectual property rights.
This Contract is ongoing until the work is completed. Either party may end this Contract for any reason by sending an email or letter to the other party, informing the recipient that the sender is ending the Contract and that the Contract will end in 7 days. The Contract officially ends once that time has passed. The party that is ending the Contract must provide notice by taking the steps explained in Section 11.4. The Designer must immediately stop working as soon as it receives this notice, unless the notice says otherwise. The Client will pay the Designer for the work done up until when the Contract ends and will reimburse the Designer for any agreed-upon, non-cancellable expenses. The following sections don’t end even after the Contract ends: 2 (Ownership and Licenses); 3 (Competitive Engagements); 4 (Non-Solicitation); 5 (Representations); 8 (Confidential Information); 9 (Limitation of Liability); 10 (Indemnity); and 11 (General).
The Client is hiring the Designer as an independent contractor. The following statements accurately reflect their relationship:
- The Designer will use its own equipment, tools, and material to do the work.- The Client will not control how the job is performed on a day-to-day basis. Rather, the Designer is responsible for determining when, where, and how it will carry out the work.- The Client will not provide the Designer with any training.- The Client and the Designer do not have a partnership or employer-employee relationship.- The Designer cannot enter into contracts, make promises, or act on behalf of the Client.- The Designer is not entitled to the Client’s benefits (e.g., group insurance, retirement benefits, retirement plans, vacation days).- The Designer is responsible for its own taxes.- The Client will not withhold social security and Medicare taxes or make payments for disability insurance, unemployment insurance, or workers compensation for the Designer or any of the Designer's employees or subcontractors.
8.1 Overview. This Contract imposes special restrictions on how the Client and the Designer must handle confidential information. These obligations are explained in this section.
8.3 Third-Party Confidential Information. It’s possible the Client and the Designer each have access to confidential information that belongs to third parties. The Client and the Designer each promise that it will not share with the other party confidential information that belongs to third parties, unless it is allowed to do so. If the Client or the Designer is allowed to share confidential information with the other party and does so, the sharing party promises to tell the other party in writing of any special restrictions regarding that information.
Neither party is liable for breach-of-contract damages that the breaching party could not reasonably have foreseen when it entered this Contract.
10.1 Overview. This section transfers certain risks between the parties if a third party sues or goes after the Client or the Designer or both. For example, if the Client gets sued for something that the Designer did, then the Designer may promise to come to the Client’s defense or to reimburse the Client for any losses.
10.2 Client Indemnity. In this Contract, the Designer agrees to indemnify the Client (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against all liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of: (i) the work the Designer has done under this Contract; (ii) a breach by the Designer of its obligations under this Contract; or (iii) a breach by the Designer of the promises it is making in Section 5 (Representations).
10.3 Designer Indemnity. In this Contract, the Client agrees to indemnify the Designer (and its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees, and agents) from and against liabilities, losses, damages, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) related to a third-party claim or proceeding arising out of a breach by the Client of its obligations under this Contract.
11.1 Assignment. This Contract applies only to the Client and the Designer. The Designer cannot assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Contract to a third-party (other than by will or intestate), without first receiving the Client’s written permission. In contrast, the Client may assign its rights and delegate its obligations under this Contract without the Designer's permission. This is necessary in case, for example, another Client buys out the Client or if the Client decides to sell the work product that results from this Contract.
11.2 Arbitration. As the exclusive means of initiating adversarial proceedings to resolve any dispute arising under this Contract, a party may demand that the dispute be resolved by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its commercial arbitration rules.
11.3 Modification; Waiver. To change anything in this Contract, the Client and the Designer must agree to that change in writing and sign a document showing their contract. Neither party can waive its rights under this Contract or release the other party from its obligations under this Contract, unless the waiving party acknowledges it is doing so in writing and signs a document that says so.
11.4 Notices.
(a) Over the course of this Contract, one party may need to send a notice to the other party. For the notice to be valid, it must be in writing and delivered in one of the following ways: personal delivery, email, or certified or registered mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested). The notice must be delivered to the party’s address listed at the end of this Contract or to another address that the party has provided in writing as an appropriate address to receive notice.
(b) The timing of when a notice is received can be very important. To avoid confusion, a valid notice is considered received as follows: (i) if delivered personally, it is considered received immediately; (ii) if delivered by email, it is considered received upon acknowledgement of receipt; (iii) if delivered by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), it is considered received upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt. If a party refuses to accept notice or if notice cannot be delivered because of a change in address for which no notice was given, then it is considered received when the notice is rejected or unable to be delivered. If the notice is received after 5:00pm on a business day at the location specified in the address for that party, or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice is considered received at 9:00am on the next business day.
11.5 Severability. This section deals with what happens if a portion of the Contract is found to be unenforceable. If that’s the case, the unenforceable portion will be changed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, unless that change is not permitted by law, in which case the portion will be disregarded. If any portion of the Contract is changed or disregarded because it is unenforceable, the rest of the Contract is still enforceable.
11.6 Signatures. The Client and the Designer must sign this document using Bonsai’s e-signing system. These electronic signatures count as originals for all purposes.
11.7 Governing Law. The laws of the state of [STATE] govern the rights and obligations of the Client and the Designer under this Contract, without regard to conflict of law principles of that state.
11.8 Entire Contract. This Contract represents the parties’ final and complete understanding of this job and the subject matter discussed in this Contract. This Contract supersedes all other contracts (both written and oral) between the parties.
THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE TO THE FOREGOING AS EVIDENCED BY THEIR SIGNATURES BELOW.
