Dealcova guide
What Freelancers and Clients Should Agree Before Work Starts
A freelance project should define deliverables, milestones, revision limits, evidence of progress, deadlines, acceptance criteria and the final completion condition before substantial work begins.
By Dealcova TeamReviewed
Define the deliverable
Describe the output, format, dimensions, platforms, files, access, quality standard and exclusions. Attach a brief or reference when words alone could be interpreted differently.
Break work into milestones
Set reviewable stages such as discovery, draft, revision, testing, handover or launch. State what the client must provide before each stage can proceed.
Agree revisions and changes
Set the number of included revisions, response time, approval method and price or timing effect of work outside the original brief.
Set payment and timing
Record the amount, payment stages, start condition, milestone deadlines, dependencies, pause rules and what happens if feedback or required materials arrive late.
Define acceptance and handover
State what evidence shows a milestone is ready for review, how acceptance is recorded, what files or access are handed over and when the project is considered complete.