Most freelancers lose money not on the work, but on a single sentence they skimmed in a contract. Here are the five clauses I've learned to catch before signing, why each one is dangerous, and the exact language I use to push back. Steal all of it.
1. Unlimited revisions
The clause: "Contractor shall provide revisions until the Client is fully satisfied."
Why it wrecks you: There is no cap on rounds and no definition of "satisfied." A $2,000 project can become a three-month unpaid marathon because "satisfied" is entirely the client's opinion.
Push back with: "I include up to 2 rounds of revisions per deliverable. Additional rounds are billed at my hourly rate of $X. This keeps us both focused on getting it right in the first two passes."
