A Web Developer usually reaches for a Work-for-Hire Agreement when when the client must own the finished creative work outright. This free template does one job well: it assigns full ownership of the created work to the client on payment. It is written for how web developers actually work — around a marketing site or web-app build with defined milestones, the familiar headache of endless post-launch bug reports being treated as free work, and getting paid on staged payments tied to milestones, often 30% up front and the rest on acceptance. Use a Work-for-Hire Agreement rather than something looser, because when you want to license the work and keep the underlying rights. Edit any line to fit your rates and terms, then send it for e-signature in a couple of minutes — no account for your client, and it is legally binding under the ESIGN Act and eIDAS.
WORK-FOR-HIRE AGREEMENT — WEB DEVELOPER
1. PARTIES
This Work-for-Hire Agreement ("Agreement") is made on ____________ between ____________ ("Client") and ____________ (the "Creator"), a Web Developer. Together they are the "Parties".
2. THE WORK
The Creator will produce working, deployed source code and a live site as described here: ____________. This is the "Work" whose rights are assigned under this Agreement.
3. ASSIGNMENT OF RIGHTS
On full payment, the Creator assigns to the Client all rights in the Work. This is a work-for-hire; the Client owns it outright. Note the source-code ownership transferring only on final payment, plus third-party and open-source licences that apply to a Web Developer.
4. FEES & PAYMENT
The fee is $____________. Payment terms: staged payments tied to milestones, often 30% up front and the rest on acceptance. Invoices are due within ____________ days. Late payments may pause work and accrue interest at ____________% per month.
5. CREDIT & MORAL RIGHTS
The Client may use the Work without crediting the Creator. The Creator may still list the project as a sample unless the Client asks otherwise in writing.
6. WARRANTIES
The Creator warrants the Work is original and does not knowingly infringe anyone's rights, taking into account the source-code ownership transferring only on final payment, plus third-party and open-source licences relevant to a Web Developer.
7. TERMINATION
Either Party may end this Agreement with ____________ days' written notice. On termination, the client pays for all milestones completed to date on termination, and the Client pays for all work completed to that point.
8. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement is governed by the laws of ____________, and any dispute will be handled in the courts of ____________.
9. SOURCE-CODE OWNERSHIP
The Client owns the custom source code on full payment. Pre-existing libraries and the Provider's reusable components remain the Provider's, licensed to the Client for this project.
10. ACCEPTANCE
The Client has ____________ days to review the delivered working, deployed source code and a live site and report issues. If no issues are raised, the work is deemed accepted.
11. WARRANTY & FIXES
The Provider will fix genuine defects reported within ____________ days of delivery at no charge. Beyond that window, or for new pages, integrations or design changes added after the spec is signed off, work is billed as new.
12. THIRD-PARTY & OPEN SOURCE
The build may use third-party or open-source components under their own licences. The Client is responsible for any paid third-party services after handover.
SIGNATURES
Signed by the Parties on the date first written above. Both Parties keep a copy. An electronic signature is legally binding under the ESIGN Act and eIDAS.
Client: ______________________ Date: __________
Creator: ____________________ Date: __________This Work-for-Hire Agreement ("Agreement") is made on ____________ between ____________ ("Client") and ____________ (the "Creator"), a Web Developer. Together they are the "Parties".
The Creator will produce working, deployed source code and a live site as described here: ____________. This is the "Work" whose rights are assigned under this Agreement.
On full payment, the Creator assigns to the Client all rights in the Work. This is a work-for-hire; the Client owns it outright. Note the source-code ownership transferring only on final payment, plus third-party and open-source licences that apply to a Web Developer.
The fee is $____________. Payment terms: staged payments tied to milestones, often 30% up front and the rest on acceptance. Invoices are due within ____________ days. Late payments may pause work and accrue interest at ____________% per month.
The Client may use the Work without crediting the Creator. The Creator may still list the project as a sample unless the Client asks otherwise in writing.
The Creator warrants the Work is original and does not knowingly infringe anyone's rights, taking into account the source-code ownership transferring only on final payment, plus third-party and open-source licences relevant to a Web Developer.
Either Party may end this Agreement with ____________ days' written notice. On termination, the client pays for all milestones completed to date on termination, and the Client pays for all work completed to that point.
This Agreement is governed by the laws of ____________, and any dispute will be handled in the courts of ____________.
The Client owns the custom source code on full payment. Pre-existing libraries and the Provider's reusable components remain the Provider's, licensed to the Client for this project.
The Client has ____________ days to review the delivered working, deployed source code and a live site and report issues. If no issues are raised, the work is deemed accepted.
The Provider will fix genuine defects reported within ____________ days of delivery at no charge. Beyond that window, or for new pages, integrations or design changes added after the spec is signed off, work is billed as new.
The build may use third-party or open-source components under their own licences. The Client is responsible for any paid third-party services after handover.
Signed by the Parties on the date first written above. Both Parties keep a copy. An electronic signature is legally binding under the ESIGN Act and eIDAS.
Transfer ownership of the working, deployed source code and a live site only on full payment — never before the money clears.
A Web Developer lives on a portfolio, so keep the right to show the work as a sample unless the client pays to remove it.
Confirm the working, deployed source code and a live site is original, taking account of the source-code ownership transferring only on final payment, plus third-party and open-source licences that apply to web developers.
When the client must own the working, deployed source code and a live site outright. If you would rather keep the rights and grant use, license it instead.
On payment the client owns the work fully, though a Web Developer can still negotiate a credit or the right to show it.
Yes. Once you and your client sign it — including with an electronic signature — this Work-for-Hire Agreement is a binding contract under the ESIGN Act, eIDAS and similar laws in most countries.
Point them back to the scope. Extra work such as new pages, integrations or design changes added after the spec is signed off is quoted separately — that is exactly what the written terms are for.
Yes. Paste it into Signr, drop the signature fields on, and send a link. Your client signs from any device with no account, and you both get a sealed, court-ready copy.
Paste the template into Signr, drop signature fields on, and send. Your client signs from any device, no account needed, and you both get a sealed, court-ready copy.
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