Free tools
The money clauses in a freelance contract
Three calculators for the parts of a contract that decide whether the work is profitable: late payment, scope growth and the retainer.
Three calculators for contract money
Contracts
Late Payment Interest Calculator
Interest, fixed compensation and total owed on an overdue invoice.
Open tool →Scope Creep Cost Calculator
The hours, money and margin lost to added work and extra revision rounds.
Open tool →Retainer vs Hourly Calculator
Compare a retainer with hourly billing, including admin time saved.
Open tool →What it will do
This site prices the clauses freelancers negotiate most often: what a late invoice is worth in interest, what added scope costs in hours and margin, and whether a retainer beats hourly billing once admin time is counted.
- Invoice amount, applicable interest rate, days late and any fixed compensation
- Original and added hours, revision rounds and your hourly rate
- Retainer fee, included hours, overage rate and admin hours saved
Why the answer is not obvious
Freelance contracts are usually negotiated on rate and deadline, while the money is lost in the clauses: a payment term without a consequence, a scope sentence without a boundary, and a retainer priced without counting the admin it removes. Each clause can be priced before it is signed.
Who it is for
Freelancers and small studios negotiating contracts with business clients, especially where payment terms, revisions and retainers are on the table.
Frequently asked questions
Will a client accept late-payment interest?
Many will if it is presented as a standard term and the rate is lawful. The clause matters most when a payment is already late; without it, the only remedy is usually a demand letter or a claim.
How do I define scope clearly?
Name the deliverables, the number of revision rounds and what counts as a revision. Anything outside that list is a change order with its own price and timeline.
Is a retainer always better than hourly?
No. A retainer trades upside for predictability. It wins when the client needs regular availability and the admin overhead is real; it loses when the hours are volatile or the fee is priced below the effective hourly rate.
Does this site give legal advice?
No. It prices contract terms. The enforceability of an interest rate or a compensation clause depends on the law and the contract; check the applicable rules before relying on a number.