Do you need a written contract with your clients?

Yes, but it doesn't have to be long.

Most client disputes I've seen didn't involve bad people. They involved two parties with different memories of what was agreed and nothing to check against.

What actually prevents disputes

• Scope. What you're delivering, and explicitly what you're not. Most disputes are scope disputes wearing other clothes.

• Price and payment terms. Amount, when it's due, what happens if it isn't paid, whether you stop work.

• Timeline. What you're committing to and what happens if the client causes delay.

• Changes. How additional work gets agreed and priced. Without this, every extra request is an argument.

• Termination. How either side ends it and what's owed at that point.

That's five things and it fits on two pages.

What people leave out and regret

• Who owns the work product. Particularly for creative, technical, or written deliverables. Without a term, the answer may not be what either of you assumed.

• Limitation of liability. Capping your exposure, often at the fees paid.

• Late payment consequences. Interest, suspension of work, or both.

• Which state's law applies and where disputes get resolved. Being sued three states away is expensive regardless of the merits.

Email can be a contract

An exchange confirming scope and price is better than nothing and is often enforceable. If you're not going to use a written agreement, at least send a confirming email and keep it.

On templates

A reasonable template beats no contract. Just read it — templates frequently contain terms that don't fit your business, and occasionally terms against your interest.

What to do

Write down your five terms once, in plain language, and use it for every engagement. Most of the disputes you'd otherwise have simply don't happen.

This is general information, not legal advice for your situation. If you want an answer for your business, book a consultation.