Terms and conditions for a freelance copywriter

A copywriter is paid to write persuasively on behalf of a business whose facts the copywriter cannot check. The terms have to warrant originality without warranting the client's claims, count revisions, tie ownership to payment, and make sure the project that stops halfway is still paid for. I draft those terms for a fixed fee of £995, delivered in five working days.

Who this is for

Freelance copywriters, content writers and editors in England and Wales writing websites, campaigns, articles and marketing material for business clients and agencies, as a sole trader or through a small company. These are business-client terms.

What matters in a copywriter's terms

Briefs, revisions and what the fee buys

The terms should require a written brief for each job, define the deliverables by piece or by word count band as the proposal describes, include a stated number of revision rounds with further rounds charged, and say that a change of brief after the first draft is new work. Research time and interviews should be included or excluded expressly.

Originality and the client's facts

The copywriter should warrant that the work is original and does not knowingly infringe anyone's rights, and the terms should say that the client is responsible for the accuracy of facts, statistics, testimonials and claims about its products and services, for compliance with the unfair commercial practices rules in Part 4 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 and the advertising codes that apply to its offers, and for any defamation risk under the Defamation Act 2013, and for any changes it makes to the approved text. That division is what protects a writer who was given the wrong numbers.

Ownership, credit and portfolio

Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 the writer owns the copy until it is assigned. The terms should transfer ownership on payment in full, keep the writer's research notes and templates, and say whether a credit or byline is required and whether the writer may show the work in a portfolio, which is often not the case for ghost-written work and should be stated either way.

Deposits, kill fees and payment

The terms should take a deposit on booking, invoice on delivery or at stages, and provide a kill fee where the client cancels or stalls the project after work has started. Business clients pay interest and fixed compensation on late payment under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998, and the terms should say that the work may not be used until it is paid for.

Results, liability and confidentiality

Copy is written with reasonable skill and care; conversions, rankings and sales are not guaranteed and the terms should say so. Liability should be capped at the fee, with consequential loss excluded, tested for reasonableness under the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977. Confidentiality should run both ways, with the client's plans and the writer's rates each protected, and any customer data the writer sees treated under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

What it costs

Customer or supplier terms and conditions, £995. One set of terms, customer-facing or supplier-facing, drafted for your business. Five working days.

Review of your existing terms, £495. You already have terms and want them checked and brought up to date. Returned marked up with my amendments and an explanation of the changes. Three working days.

Buying online forms the engagement on payment. The scope is what the terms and conditions drafting page describes, you accept the Terms of Service at checkout, and I email you within four working hours to get started. If you would rather ask something first, email me.

What you get

• A full set of bespoke terms drafted for your business, reflecting the legal requirements that apply to your business and sector
• A note in plain English explaining the terms I have drafted for you
• Liability, payment, termination and IP provisions that protect your position and are drafted to withstand scrutiny from the other side
• Guidance on how to incorporate the terms properly
• Your questions and comments answered by email or phone
• One round of amendments to finalise the terms ready for use

What is not included

• Negotiating your terms with individual customers (I am happy to quote for this as an additional service if required)
• Sector-specific regulatory compliance beyond the contract terms themselves
• Website privacy notice and cookie compliance, which I quote separately
• Terms governed by the law of another country
• Tax advice

Questions I am often asked

The client published my copy with a claim they added and the regulator objected. Am I exposed?

If the terms make the client responsible for the accuracy and compliance of its claims and for changes made after approval, the exposure is the client's. Keep the approved version.

Can I show ghost-written articles in my portfolio?

Only if the terms say so. Many clients expect ghost-written work to stay unattributed; the terms should say whether a portfolio right exists, and if not, whether you may describe the work without naming the client.

The client stopped responding after the first draft. Can I invoice?

If the terms provide a kill fee or payment for work done where the client stalls for a stated period, you can. A deposit taken at booking reduces the exposure.

Related guidance and services

• Terms and conditions drafting, £995, the service this page describes
• Contract review, £495
• Terms and conditions for a content agency
• Terms and conditions for a freelance graphic designer

This page is general guidance for businesses in England and Wales, not advice on your own circumstances. Last reviewed: September 2026. Email geoffrey@caesar.co.uk.