Freelancer & Contractor Agreement
Civil law agreement for working with freelancers and self-employed contractors without employment.
Standard version — balanced terms suitable for long-term partnerships.
What it is and why you need it
A civil law contract is the legal boundary between an employee and a contractor. Proper drafting protects the company from tax and labour inspection claims, and the contractor from non-payment and copyright disputes.
What happens without a proper agreement
- Tax authority reclassifies the contract as an employment relationship — back taxes and penalties
- Client refuses to pay citing inadequate quality
- Dispute over ownership of the work result
- Contractor sells the same result to the client's competitors
- Vague scope makes court recovery impossible
- No protection for confidential data shared with the contractor
What's included
| Scope and technical specification | Precise description of the result, eliminating disputes |
| Deadlines | Start date, delivery date, milestones |
| Acceptance procedure | How the act is signed, grounds for rejection |
| Payment | Amount, deadlines, advance, deductions for breaches |
| Rights to the result | Transfer of exclusive rights to the client |
| Confidentiality | Protection of data and methodologies |
| Civil law indicators | Protection against reclassification as employment |
Who it's for
| Who | How they use it |
|---|---|
| IT companies and startups | Working with developers and designers without hiring |
| Agencies | Engaging freelance writers, operators, analysts |
| Small businesses | One-off tasks without employment obligations |
| Self-employed professionals | Legally clean practice setup |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a freelancer agreement and an employment contract?
A freelancer agreement (GPC) governs completion of specific work without subordination to workplace rules. The contractor doesn't receive social benefits, leave, or sick pay but is free to choose their work schedule.
Are there tax obligations when hiring a freelancer?
Yes, the client must withhold income tax from payments to individuals. If the freelancer is registered as self-employed or sole proprietor, tax obligations depend on their tax regime.
Who owns the work product created by a freelancer?
By default, exclusive rights to the work remain with the author (freelancer). To transfer rights to the client, an IP assignment clause must be included in the agreement. Our template includes this section.