Career & Work

Freelance Agreement

Use this freelance agreement template to define scope, payment terms, revisions, expenses, confidentiality, ownership, cancellation terms, and signatures before starting client work.

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  • Free PDF and Word download
  • Built in your browser, nothing uploaded
  • Reviewed August 23, 2026

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Letter

Freelance Agreement

Date: 2026-09-12 Freelancer: [Freelancer/business name] Client: [Client name] Project: [Project name]

Services: [Services]

Deliverables: [Deliverables]

Timeline:

Fees and payment: [Fees and payment schedule]

Late payment:

Revisions and change requests:

Expenses:

Intellectual property:

Termination/cancellation:

Signatures: Freelancer: ______________________ Date: __________ Client: ______________________ Date: __________

  • Freelancer/business name is required.
  • Client name is required.
  • Project name is required.
  • Services is required.
  • Deliverables is required.
  • Fees and payment schedule is required.

What this template is for

Use this freelance agreement template to document project scope, deliverables, timeline, fees, payment schedule, revisions, and ownership before services begin.

This template is not legal advice. Contracts can have significant consequences and should be reviewed for important projects.

How to use it

  1. Enter both party names and project details.
  2. Define scope, deliverables, timeline, payment, and revisions.
  3. Review carefully and sign only when both sides agree.

Common questions

When does the client own the work?

Only when the agreement says so. Under Canadian copyright law an independent contractor generally keeps copyright in what they create unless it is assigned in writing. Tie the transfer to payment in full so an unpaid invoice does not come with free ownership.

Do I need to charge GST/HST?

Once your worldwide taxable revenue passes $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters you generally must register and charge GST/HST. You can register voluntarily before that to claim input tax credits.

Does a signed agreement make me a contractor rather than an employee?

No. The CRA and provincial regulators look at the actual working relationship — control, tools, financial risk, and integration — not the label on the contract. Misclassification can create back-payroll liability for the client.

What should the late payment clause say?

A stated interest rate, when it starts, and what happens to work in progress. Without a written rate you are limited to what the law allows by default, which is usually lower and harder to enforce.

How this template is maintained

Last reviewed
Reviewed by
Thomas TremblayFounder and editor, Canooq

Sources

See also

Practical pathways

Continue with related Canadian tasks

Page details

Author: Thomas Tremblay

Updated: August 23, 2026

Cite: Canooq.ca, Freelance Agreement

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