BuildWrightFor Builders
Documents

Freelancer services agreement for a client in India

What should a freelancer agreement in India say?

A services agreement both sides sign, and a sheet on copyright, stamping, tax deduction and what to check before signing.

  • Freelancer services agreement
  • Before you sign

₹499₹799

Launch price until 30 November. ₹799 after that.

Fill in and preview
  • See the first page of your own document before you pay
  • Pay through Cashfree by UPI, card or netbanking
  • Word to edit and PDF to print, the moment the payment clears
  • Full refund if the documents are not delivered
  • Refund policy

Under section 19 of the Copyright Act, 1957 an assignment of copyright must be in writing and signed by the person assigning it. It has to identify the work and state the rights, the duration, the territory and the consideration. Where it does not state the duration, it lasts five years, and where it does not state the territory, it covers India. Unless it says otherwise it lapses if the rights are not used within a year.

The agreement states all of these. It sets out the work and the deliverables, the term and the fee, tax deducted at source where the Income-tax Act, 2025 requires it, and how disputes are settled. It places no restriction on the freelancer's work after the term ends, because section 27 of the Indian Contract Act makes a restraint that runs past the term void (Percept D'Mark v. Zaheer Khan, 2006).

The before-you-sign sheet covers stamping under the Stamp Act of the State where the agreement is signed, and the rule for TDS on fees to a resident freelancer. A writer, lyricist or composer whose work goes into a film or sound recording keeps a royalty share that cannot be assigned away, so the sheet tells those freelancers to speak to us first. We can prepare the stamping and the signing with you.

Fill in your own

₹499₹799

Launch price until 30 November. ₹799 after that.

The client

Client's name *
Client's address *
Name of the person who signs for the client *
Role of that person *

The freelancer

Freelancer's name *
Freelancer's address *

The work

Services the freelancer will provide *
Work the freelancer hands over *The copyright clause covers this work, so name it.

Term and fee

Start date *
End dateLeave it empty if the agreement runs until the services are complete.
How is the fee paid? *
Fee *For a fixed fee, the full amount. For a monthly fee, the amount for each month.
Days the client has to pay each invoice *

Other terms

When does copyright in the work pass to the client? *
Does the freelancer work only for this client during the agreement? *
Choose yes for exclusivity during the agreement only. It ends when the agreement ends.
Days of written notice to end the agreement *Either party can end the agreement by giving this notice.
Where do disputes go? *
City for disputes *The city where any arbitration is held, or the city whose courts hear any dispute.

Signing

Date of the agreement *Today, or any day in the next seven days.

We keep your answers and number so we can help if you ask. Ask us at any time and we delete them.

BuildWright does documentation, filing and compliance facilitation. This tool works from the rules cited on this page and does not give legal advice. We prepare the documents from your answers; you check, sign and send or file them.

Common questions

Who owns the work a freelancer makes?

That depends on the writing. The agreement assigns the whole of the copyright in the deliverables to the client, and can make the assignment take effect on full payment for each part.

Can an agreement stop me working for others after it ends?

Section 27 of the Indian Contract Act makes a restriction beyond the term void, as Percept D'Mark v. Zaheer Khan held in 2006. This agreement carries none. Exclusivity, if you choose it, lasts only for the term.

Does the agreement need stamping?

Yes, under the Stamp Act of the State where it is signed, or where it is received if it relates to work there. The sheet explains the rule and we check the duty for your State.

Does it say whether I am an employee?

No. The agreement does not say whether the freelancer is an employee or worker under any labour law.

Can I see the document before I pay?

Yes. Fill in your details and the page shows the first page of each document with your own answers in it. You pay only if it is what you need.

Can I change the document after I download it?

Yes. Each document comes as a Word file you can edit and a PDF you can print. You can also change your answers and prepare it again before you pay.

What if the payment goes through and the documents do not open?

The page checks the payment again and opens the documents on the same payment, so you are never charged twice. If they still do not arrive, write to us within 7 days and we refund the full amount.

Can you send or file it for me?

Yes. After you download, ask us to take the next step and we handle the sending or filing for you.

Not sure it applies to you?Check with the free Agreement Coverage Checklist first. Nothing you enter is stored.

Often needed next

Want this handled for you? Tell us where you stand and we prepare the documents and take the next step for you.