Generate an Irish Freelancer Contract

Yes. Even for small projects, a written contract protects both parties. It clarifies deliverables, payment terms, and who owns the finished work. Without one, you have no legal basis if the freelancer delivers substandard work, misses deadlines, or claims ownership of the IP.

A freelancer contract engages someone as an independent contractor - they manage their own tax, set their own hours (within reason), and can work for other clients. An employment contract creates an employer-employee relationship with different tax obligations (PAYE, PRSI, USC). Following the Supreme Court's Karshan decision in 2023, Revenue now applies a structured five-step test to determine employment status, focusing on control, integration, and the reality of the working relationship. Our contract is carefully structured to ensure the engagement passes the Karshan test and will not be reclassified as employment by Revenue.

Our questionnaire lets you choose. The default is full IP assignment to the client on payment - meaning the client owns all work product. Alternatively, you can choose a licence model where the freelancer retains ownership but grants the client a perpetual licence. Either way, it is clearly documented.

Yes. The questionnaire includes options for both project-based and retainer arrangements. For retainers, you can specify the monthly fee, hours included, and how additional hours are billed.

For most freelancer engagements, yes. The built-in confidentiality clause covers the protection of sensitive business information during and after the contract. Note: since November 2024, the Maternity Protection, Employment Equality and Preservation of Certain Records Act 2024 restricts NDAs in employment-related discrimination, harassment, or victimisation contexts. Our freelancer contract confidentiality clause is for commercial purposes and is unaffected by these restrictions. If you need a standalone NDA before discussing a project, we offer a dedicated NDA for EUR 29.