Wk36-Review Your Client Contract

Legal Tune-up

Close-up of a printed receipt highlighting, "This document is to be treated as an invoice to the extent of supply of taxable goods and bill of supply." Remember to review your client contract for accurate billing details.

My first web design contract was written by a lawyer nearly 20 years ago. It served me well, but let’s be honest, things have changed. AI is here, accessibility is a priority, and compliance matters more than ever. This year, I gave my 12‑page agreement a serious overhaul. I want to protect my time, clarify expectations, and yes, weed out the wrong clients. I’m not a lawyer, so I used tools I trust and I recommend you talk to one if you want full peace of mind.

Habit of the week:

Wk36-Review Your Client Contract

This habit is about treating your contract like any other part of your systems: something that evolves as your business grows. Whether you’re adding new services like SEO or responding to client red flags, reviewing your contract regularly helps you stay clear, protected, and professional.

Why it matters:

Your contract isn’t just legal protection. It sets expectations, defines scope, and helps avoid awkward misunderstandings. If your agreement is too vague or outdated, it could leave you exposed. Whether your contract is one page or twelve, it should reflect how you actually work today.

Quick Start Guide:

  1. Feed it to ChatGPT: Paste your existing contract into your favorite LLM and ask what’s missing, confusing, or outdated.
  2. Cross-check with a trusted template: I subscribe to Monster Contracts for up-to-date language on accessibility, AI, and legal compliance.
  3. Add modern protections: Address things like revision rounds, payment terms, and scope changes to prevent common client issues.
  4. Decide your comfort level: Some designers prefer a short one-pager. Others (like me) need more coverage. There’s no wrong length—just what helps you sleep at night.
  5. Need legal eyes? Ask a business attorney to review it. BNI groups are a great place to find one.

Cami's Tips

  • Review your contract annually. September works well so you can have it ready by the beginning of next year.
  • Use something for digital signatures. Google Docs now has this feature.
  • I recommend a Monster Contracts subscription for solid, battle-tested language.
  • If your contract turns some people away, it’s probably doing its job.

Routine Checkpoint:

Remember, your contract should reflect the business you have now, not the one you started with.

Does it clearly explain how you work and protect your time? If not, this is the week to begin to fix it.

What's Your Take?

Do you keep your contract short or detailed? Have you made any recent updates?

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about the author

Cami MacNamara is a web designer and owner of WebCami LLC, a Seattle-based agency since 2002. She created Web Designer Habits to help solopreneurs build smarter systems, stay productive, and run a business that works for them.