Turn the scope into something testable

Describe the deliverables, exclusions, assumptions, and information the customer must provide. “Marketing support” or “website services” may mean different things to each party. State how work will be submitted, who may approve it, and what a revision includes. If another document defines the scope, identify its version and explain which document controls when provisions conflict. Preserve the final attachments with the signed agreement.

Connect payment to the project

Specify the pricing model, invoice schedule, due dates, and any agreed expenses. Explain whether a deposit is credited against later fees and what happens when the customer delays access or approval. Any late charges or suspension rights need review under the applicable law and contract. Do not assume that a payment term added to an invoice after the agreement was signed will necessarily change the original bargain.

Create a route for changes

Projects rarely remain exactly as imagined. Identify who can approve additional work and how the effect on price and timing will be recorded. A short written change order can prevent an informal request from becoming a dispute about included work. Keep the actual project team informed of the process. A carefully drafted clause is less useful if staff routinely promise extras without documenting the agreed consequences.

Clarify ownership and permitted use

Discuss pre-existing materials, newly created work, third-party components, and the rights each side needs. Paying for a deliverable does not by itself resolve every copyright ownership question. An assignment and a license serve different purposes, and “work made for hire” has specific legal requirements. Have counsel address the intended rights, any payment conditions, portfolio use, confidentiality, and the permissions needed for material supplied by the customer.

Read the exit and risk provisions

Review termination, refunds, handover duties, warranties, indemnities, insurance, liability limits, and dispute procedures as a connected set. Ask how the clauses would work in a realistic missed deadline or failed delivery. Identify the correct contracting entities and authorized signers. Keep an accessible copy of the executed agreement, and make sure the people performing the work know the obligations that continue after the project ends.

Your preparation list

Bring the right information.

  • The proposal, scope, timeline, and every incorporated attachment.
  • A clear payment schedule and named approval contacts.
  • An inventory of existing and newly created intellectual property.
  • Questions about changes, termination, liability, and handover.

Reference: U.S. Copyright Office, Works Made for Hire and Copyright Law, Chapter 2. The broader contract checklist is general preparation guidance; enforceability depends on the agreement, facts, and governing law.