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Five Contract Clauses That Cost Freelancers Money and How to Fight Back

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Freelancers often lose income not through poor work but by overlooking harmful contract language before signing. Five common problem clauses include unlimited revision obligations, immediate IP transfer without payment, no cancellation or kill-fee terms, Net-60 payment windows, and broad non-compete restrictions spanning entire industries. Each clause can expose a freelancer to unpaid labor, loss of leverage, or being locked out of their primary market for up to two years. Experts recommend countering these with specific alternative language, such as capping revisions at two rounds, tying IP transfer to final payment, and limiting non-competes to named direct competitors for six months. Carefully reading every contract before signing remains one of the most valuable habits a freelancer can develop.

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