Creating a website is always a partnership. The client invests budget and expectations, the contractor invests time and expertise. But without clear “rules of the game,” this partnership can easily turn into a confrontation: one side believes promises weren’t kept, the other feels demands keep growing. Most often, the culprit isn’t the contract itself, but its absence or a formal document that regulates nothing.
A proper website development agreement isn’t a bureaucratic hurdle; it’s a collaboration manual. It protects the interests of both parties, making the process predictable and professional. This checklist breaks down what both clients and contractors should look for to ensure the project ends not with mutual claims, but with a working website and a satisfied client. Modern tools like ai contract review can help both sides quickly check a document against these principles.
1. Scope of Work: What Exactly Will Be Created?
- The most common mistake is thinking “it’s all clear.” It’s clear in conversation, but nuances always arise during the project. The “Scope of Work” section must provide an unambiguous answer.
For the client: It shouldn’t just say “develop a website” but include clear technical specifications (SOW/Statement of Work) as an integral appendix. The SOW should detail the number of pages, functional descriptions (e.g., “contact form with email submission”), design requirements, and integrations. Without an SOW, you’re buying a “pig in a poke.”
For the contractor: A clear SOW is your protection against endless revisions and project scope creep (“can we add another section?”). You can refer to the document and discuss additional payment for changes.
Timelines and Milestones: How Will the Project Progress?
Without checkpoints, a project can last forever. A transparent milestone structure keeps everyone disciplined.
- What should be in the contract: Specific dates or periods for key stages. For example:
- Milestone 1: Approval of sitemap and homepage design mockup — 10 days from the contract date.
- Milestone 2: Development and coding of internal pages — 20 days after sign-off on Milestone 1 mockup.
- Milestone 3: Testing and final delivery — 7 days after completion of Milestone 2.
- Important nuance: Specify how many business days the client has to review and approve each milestone. If feedback is delayed, the overall timeline shifts accordingly. This is fair to both parties.
3. Cost, Payment, and Revisions
Finances are the most sensitive topic. Transparency here prevents 90% of conflicts.
Key Points:
- Fixed Price vs. Hourly Rate. For a project with a clear SOW — fixed price. For support or additional revisions — an hourly rate may apply.
- Payment Schedule. The gold standard is linking payments to milestones. For example: 30% deposit, 40% after design approval, 30% upon final delivery. A 100% upfront payment is a significant risk for the client.
- Revisions and Changes. Clearly define what’s included in the price (e.g., “2 rounds of design revisions”) and what constitutes new work to be billed separately upon mutual agreement.
| Situation (Risk) | Consequence for the Client | Consequence for the Contractor |
| No Detailed SOW | Receives something different than expected. Demands free reworks. | Faces constantly changing requirements. Works at a loss. |
| 100% Upfront Payment | Loses all leverage. The contractor may delay deadlines. | May face unreasonable demands, as the client feels they’ve “already paid for everything.” |
| No Defined Payment Milestones | May face a sudden demand for a large lump sum payment. | May face payment delays after completing a significant portion of the work. |
4. Rights to the Work Product and Warranties
Who owns the finished website? What happens if something breaks in a month?
- Intellectual Property (IP) Rights: A crucial clause. The contract must clearly state that upon full payment, exclusive rights to the design, code, and content (created by the contractor) transfer to the client. The contractor typically retains the right to feature the work in their portfolio.
- Warranties: The contractor should provide a warranty on their work (e.g., 30-60 days). During this period, they commit to fixing errors and critical bugs arising from their work free of charge. This does not cover new feature requests or training.
5. Acceptance of Work and Final Settlement
How is the project considered complete? Without a clear acceptance procedure, work can drag on indefinitely.
The process must be outlined:
- The contractor notifies the client of completion for a milestone or the entire project.
- The client has an agreed number of days (e.g., 5-7 business days) for testing and compiling a list of substantive objections (within the SOW scope).
- The contractor addresses the objections.
- The client signs a work acceptance certificate or sends written confirmation of acceptance. After this, the final payment is made (if applicable), and the warranty period begins.
How to Quickly Check a Contract Against This Checklist?
Reading and analyzing legal documents isn’t the core competency of most designers or business owners. To avoid missing crucial details, you can use ai contract review technology.
How it works for both parties:
Both the client and the contractor can upload the draft agreement into the Contract Crab system. Artificial intelligence, trained on thousands of contracts, analyzes the text in minutes. It doesn’t just find words; it evaluates context and highlights potential risk areas:
- For the client: Missing SOW, unlimited liability, unfavorable payment terms.
- For the contractor: Vague language allowing for endless revision requests, lack of a clear acceptance procedure that could delay payment.
Instead of guessing, you receive a structured commentary on the document in plain language. This isn’t a replacement for a lawyer in multi-million dollar deals, but a powerful self-check tool that saves time and builds confidence before signing. Try ai contract review by Contract Crab to make your next contract a foundation for successful collaboration, not a source of problems. For a more in-depth self-analysis, a detailed contract review checklist is also useful.
Bottom Line: The Contract is the Foundation of Professionalism
For the client, a good contract is a guarantee of receiving the expected result for the agreed price and on time. For the contractor, it’s a guarantee that their work will be paid for and the scope won’t expand uncontrollably.
Spend time agreeing on a clear contract at the beginning — you’ll save nerves, money, and reputation in the end. Start with this checklist, and for confidence, use modern verification tools.
FAQ: Common Questions About Website Contracts
Can we work without a contract if we use advance payment?
Absolutely not. Advance payment without a contract is maximum risk for the client (can lose money) and for the contractor (can face unreasonable demands). A contract is the rulebook, not just an invoice.
What’s more important: the contract or the technical specifications (SOW)?
They are inseparable. The technical specifications (SOW) are the essence of what needs to be done. The contract is the legal framework for how it will be done, paid for, and accepted. The SOW must be part of the contract.
Who should draft the contract: the client or the contractor?
Often, the contractor proposes the contract, as the party that does this regularly. However, the client has every right to suggest amendments. Best practice is to start with the contractor’s template and refine it together before signing.
What if the SOW needs significant changes during the project?
You must formalize an addendum to the contract, outlining the new tasks, adjusted timelines, and cost. This protects both parties.