What is a web design contract?

A web design contract is a written agreement between you and your designer that outlines the project scope, deliverables, timeline, payment schedule, revision limits, ownership rights, and cancellation terms. It protects both parties. Key clauses to look for include: detailed scope of work, who owns the final design and code, intellectual property rights, hosting and domain ownership, payment milestones, what happens if the project goes over scope, confidentiality terms, and post-launch support terms. Never start a web project without a contract, even with someone you trust. Verbal agreements lead to disputes - written contracts prevent them.