Though appealing, work with a freelancer is not built on trust alone. Before you delegate a task and a project begins, sign a contract with your performer that will protect you from potential issues. The contract should list terms and conditions for the project, payment terms, deadlines, responsibilities and sanctions for breach of obligations.
Here are the required sections for any freelance contract:
- Subject of the contract (general description of the task);
- Description of specific tasks and criteria for their evaluation;
- Materials used;
- Cost and payment terms;
- Terms of submission and acceptance of work;
- Intellectual property rights (if the client is granted rights to use the performer's product);
- Confidential information (if applicable);
- Reporting;
- Responsibilities of the parties;
- Force majeure events;
- Dispute resolution procedure;
- Term of the contract and termination rules.
Once all questions have been answered and settled for the project, you may begin work with a freelancer and wait for results. Working with remote professionals through freelance marketplaces helps you avoid the red tape, settle disputes faster and get closing documents. With time, you will develop a feeling for how much projects cost and how much to charge.