Most projects do not go wrong because of the work. They go wrong because something was never written down. Four short documents cover most small projects, and each one answers a question that otherwise turns into an argument later.
1. The contract
The contract says what is being delivered, for how much and by when. A good one is short and specific:
- What is included, and what is not
- The price and when each payment is due
- The timeline and any milestones
- What happens if the scope changes
- Who owns the finished work, and when that ownership passes
- How either side can end the agreement
2. The NDA
A non-disclosure agreement protects information you share before or during a project: an idea, a customer list, a design, a price. Sign it before you share anything sensitive, not after. It should say what counts as confidential, how long it stays confidential and what each side may do with the information.
3. The content agreement
Many projects use content: text, photos, logos, product data. A content agreement says who provides it, who is responsible for having the right to use it, and who may reuse it afterwards. It prevents the awkward moment when someone asks where a photo came from.
4. The closure document
The closure document is signed at the end. It confirms that the work was delivered and accepted, that every payment has been settled, and that neither side owes the other anything further. It is the document people skip and later wish they had.
Keep them together
Whatever you use to prepare and sign these, keep every signed copy in one place that you can search. Signed agreements saved across folders and inboxes are hard to find at exactly the moment you need them.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules on agreements and stamping differ by place and by case, so check what applies to you.
