7 red flags in freelance contracts (and how to push back)

Most freelancers sign client contracts without reading past the rate. That is exactly where expensive surprises hide: in liability, payment terms and IP clauses written by the client's lawyer, for the client's benefit.

The most common red flag is an unlimited liability clause. If a project goes wrong, you could be on the hook for damages far beyond the project fee. Push back by capping liability at the total fees paid under the agreement.

Watch payment terms next. Net-60 or net-90 terms turn you into your client's bank. Counter with net-30 and a late-payment interest clause; most clients accept it without discussion.

IP transfer clauses often assign everything you create — including your reusable tooling and libraries — to the client. Carve out your pre-existing work and general-purpose components explicitly.

Finally, check for missing clauses: a kill fee for cancelled projects, a revision limit, and a clear scope definition. What a contract doesn't say is often riskier than what it does.