What Happens When a Web Design Project Has No Written Contract

Web design disputes are among the most contentious in the freelance world: 'the site isn't done,' 'you didn't build what I asked for,' and 'where are the source files?' — all preventable with a proper contract.

What's at Stake

Web designers who hold client websites on their own hosting as leverage for unpaid invoices create liability for business disruption. Clients who withhold final payment without objective grounds for rejection are in breach.

What Happens If This Goes Wrong

Content-dependency issues (client hasn't provided copy or images, so designer can't finish) need to be addressed in the contract — most contracts include a provision that delays caused by client content delivery extend the timeline without penalty to the designer.

Critical Deadlines

Execute and collect deposit before any work begins. Build client content delivery deadlines into the schedule. Allow 2–4 weeks of review after each milestone. Post-launch warranty periods typically run 30–90 days. Document all change requests in writing, even minor ones.

A website design contract defines project scope, technology stack, hosting responsibilities, content responsibilities, revision limits, launch criteria, and post-launch maintenance. Without one, disputes about what was included in the price are almost inevitable.

How This Document Protects You

Project scope: number of pages, features, forms, and integrations

Technology stack (platform, CMS, programming language)

Content responsibilities — who provides copy, images, and media

Revision rounds included and definition of revision scope

Hosting, domain, and third-party service responsibilities

Acceptance criteria and "launch-ready" definition

Post-launch warranty and maintenance provisions

Training, documentation, and source code handover

Scope Management

Page count and feature list documented — prevents "can you just add..." scope creep

Milestone Payments

Pay as stages are completed — not all upfront — protects client from incomplete work

Launch Criteria

Objective criteria for when the project is "done" — prevents disputes about completion

Post-Launch Terms

Maintenance window, bug fixes, and training documented — no ambiguity after launch

State-Specific

Legally Structured

Updated 2026

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Client Information

Client Information

Entity Type Individual Person Corporation Limited Liability Company (LLC) Partnership Sole Proprietorship Trust Non-Profit Organization Government Entity

Select the type of entity

Full Legal Name

As it should appear on the document

Doing Business As (DBA)

Optional trade name

State of Formation Select state... Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming District of Columbia

Where the entity was formed

Authorized Representative

Person authorized to sign

Representative Title

Title or position

Address

Street Address

Full street address including suite or unit number.

City

City of client residence or business.

State Select... Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming District of Columbia

State where this address is located.

ZIP Code

5-digit ZIP code.

Email Address

Used for correspondence and notices.

Phone Number

Best number for direct contact.

Web Designer / Design Agency Information

Web Designer Information

Entity Type Individual Person Corporation Limited Liability Company (LLC) Partnership Sole Proprietorship Trust Non-Profit Organization Government Entity

Select the type of entity

Full Legal Name

As it should appear on the document

Doing Business As (DBA)

Optional trade name

State of Formation Select state... Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming District of Columbia

Where the entity was formed

Authorized Representative

Person authorized to sign

Representative Title

Title or position

Address

Street Address

Full street address including suite or unit number.

City

City of web designer residence or business.

State Select... Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming District of Columbia

State where this address is located.

ZIP Code

5-digit ZIP code.

Email Address

Used for correspondence and notices.

Phone Number

Best number for direct contact.

Deliverables Timeline

Design Mockup/Concept Count

Number of initial design concepts presented for client selection. More concepts give the client more choice but increase design time.

Included Revision Rounds *

Each "round" is a complete review-and-feedback cycle. 2–3 rounds is standard. Additional rounds should be charged separately.

Hosting Setup Included

Hosting Duration Select... 1 month 3 months 6 months 12 months

Duration of hosting included in the project fee. After this period, the client assumes hosting costs or renews with you.

Domain Registration Included

SSL Certificate Included

Client Training/Tutorial Included

Basic SEO Optimization Included

Project Start Date *

Date the designer will begin work. Typically after the deposit is received and client materials are provided.

Target Completion Date *

Estimated date for project delivery. Note that delays due to slow client feedback are typically excluded from completion obligations.

Milestone 1

Name the first key deliverable (e.g., "Wireframes approved", "Homepage design finalized"). Milestones trigger partial payments and keep the project on track.

Milestone 1 Date

Target date for the first milestone. Used to track project progress and calculate delay penalties if applicable.

Payment Rights

Total Project Cost ($) *

Full fixed-price fee for the project as scoped. Changes in scope should be handled via a written change order, not informal agreement.

Upfront Deposit ($)

Typically 25–50% of the total. Protects the designer from non-payment and signals the client's commitment to the project.

Payment Schedule * Select... Full payment upfront 50% upfront / 50% on completion By milestone Monthly installments Upon completion

50/50 splits are most common for web design. "Upon completion" is risky for designers — consider requiring a deposit to reduce non-payment risk.

Cost Per Additional Page ($)

Rate for pages added beyond the initial scope. Defining this upfront prevents scope disputes when the client asks for "just one more page."

Post-Launch Maintenance Included

Maintenance Period Select... 30 days 60 days 90 days 6 months 12 months

Free bug fixes are typically offered for 30–90 days post-launch. After this window, maintenance should be billed under a separate retainer agreement.

Source Files Ownership * Select... Client owns all files Designer retains rights Shared ownership

Clarifying who owns the source files (PSD, Figma, HTML) prevents disputes if the client wants to hire a different developer later.

Usage Rights * Select... Exclusive rights to client Non-exclusive license Limited use

Exclusive rights prevent the designer from reusing elements for other clients. Non-exclusive licenses let designers reuse templates or components — common for lower-cost projects.

Designer May Use in Portfolio

Governing Law (State) * Select... Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

State whose laws govern this agreement. Typically the designer's home state or the state where the client's business is registered.

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How to Create Your Document

1. Define the project scope in detail — pages, features, and required integrations
2. Identify the platform/CMS and who will host the final site
3. Clarify who provides content (client) vs. who designs (designer)
4. Set revision limits and define what counts as a major revision
5. Structure payments: 50% deposit, milestone payments, balance on launch
6. Define acceptance criteria — what must work before you pay the final invoice
7. Include post-launch support terms (30-90 day warranty period)

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Website Design Contract

Who owns a custom-built website?

It depends on the contract. If the designer builds a custom site and includes a copyright assignment, the client owns it. If no assignment is made, the designer retains copyright. For template-based sites (WordPress themes, Squarespace), the platform terms govern the template rights, but custom design elements belong to the designer absent an assignment. Always get a written IP assignment for custom work.

What happens if the client doesn't provide content?

The design contract should include a content timeline and consequences for delay. Typically: the client is responsible for providing all copy, images, and media by a specified date; delays caused by missing content extend the project timeline at no additional cost to the designer; after a certain delay (e.g., 30 days), the project may be suspended and restart fees may apply. Document all content requests and responses.

What is typically included in a website maintenance agreement?

Website maintenance agreements cover: software and plugin updates, security monitoring, regular backups, uptime monitoring, and technical support for a monthly retainer fee. Some include content updates (adding blog posts, changing prices) and some don't. Define exactly what is and is not included in the retainer, the response time SLA, and the cost of work outside the retainer scope.

Can a web designer take down a website if the client doesn't pay?

Only if the designer controls the hosting and the contract permits it. If the client's site is hosted on the client's own hosting account, the designer cannot take it down. If hosted on the designer's account, the designer technically can — but this creates significant legal risk (tortious interference, business disruption) unless the contract explicitly grants this right as a remedy for non-payment.

What is the difference between a fixed-price and hourly web design contract?

Fixed-price contracts specify a set amount for a defined scope of work. Any scope changes require a change order and additional payment. Hourly contracts bill for actual time spent — better for projects where scope is unclear, but exposes the client to unlimited cost overruns. Fixed-price is most common for defined projects; hourly is used for ongoing work, maintenance, and projects with evolving requirements.

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Not Legal Advice: This automated form assistance tool provides general information and document templates. It is not a substitute for legal advice from a qualified attorney. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult with a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Last updated: January 2026