Do any of you use contracts for your clients when creating and maintaining websites for your customers? If so do you have any templats that you use or an online resource where I can build up my knowledge.

The company I work for always uses contracts that spell out exactly what we're going to do and how and when we'll get paid, with requirements, deliverables, and all that.

Where are you located? This varies country to country and state to state.

Here's one sample:

http://www.digitalsurvivors.com/services/contract/

Do a Google search, you'll come up with a lot more.

Always, ALWAYS use contracts. Even when freelancing.

Like Learning Newbie said, it's best to have contracts that outline billing schedules, expectations and deliverables.

Depending on if you're billing per project or per hour, sometimes your client might come back to you with changes, alterations, revisions that aren't normally covered under your agreement. If you don't have a contract, you could end up losing money because of additional time spent on a project. Especially for website designs, it's best to outline what is covered under initial development and what is covered under maintenance.

I charge a flat fee (based on an hourly rate) for the initial concept and design. And then I suggest a monthly fee for a contract term (6 or 12 months) to cover management and maintenance time.

Just to save yourself time and money, I would suggest doing something similar with your contracts. Plus, a contract is binding.

Always, it defines clear lines, we both know where we stand, what our responsibilities and expectations are. This is both for one off, and longer term support.

Thanks Guys, this is a great help.

I believe a contract is necessary to protect both parties

Yes always get a contract before you start any project b.c if not clients would play you like a yo yo google it up you would find couple of them

It is always good to have a contract. However some freelancers prefer not to. I still wonder why.