Contracts for general use and not-for-profit experiences/guidelines

Is anyone willing to share their contract, or an example with me? I've been sorely remiss in producing such a beast, but it's bitten me in the past and I am a little stuck for what exactly consists of a safe and legally binding contract for development services.

I have researched and I know what the general idea is, but I don't really know best practices or what all the CYA stuff should be. If any kind souls out there would lend a hand with an example that I can use to create my own I'd be eternally grateful.

I tend to be a little shy with the business end of all this, although I am changing my ways.

Also, I'd like to ask how others deal with non-profits? First, do you donate any time/developing at all, and if you do, how do you deal with "donated time" monetarily, especially with taxes? And second, if you normally charge for NP development, how much of a discount, if any, do you provide? Any discussion on this subject would be welcome cuz it seems like everyone I know associated with a NP wants my time for free.

Quote from: frogabog at Jan 07, 2013, 03:51 PM

Is anyone willing to share their contract, or an example with me? I've been sorely remiss in producing such a beast, but it's bitten me in the past and I am a little stuck for what exactly consists of a safe and legally binding contract for development services.

I have researched and I know what the general idea is, but I don't really know best practices or what all the CYA stuff should be. If any kind souls out there would lend a hand with an example that I can use to create my own I'd be eternally grateful.

I tend to be a little shy with the business end of all this, although I am changing my ways.

Also, I'd like to ask how others deal with non-profits? First, do you donate any time/developing at all, and if you do, how do you deal with "donated time" monetarily, especially with taxes? And second, if you normally charge for NP development, how much of a discount, if any, do you provide? Any discussion on this subject would be welcome cuz it seems like everyone I know associated with a NP wants my time for free.

I'm not the right person to help with this since I'm an employee and the little freelancing I do is usually for free for people I know. I do how ever want to get out of both and be in charge of myself.

About a year ago I came across the site of a freelancing graphic designer / art-director that has a part were she is giving some helpful tips of how to set your prices and how to get paid. I haven't read all yet but maybe she mentions contracts somewhere. Its not the same field as web design / development but I'm sure you could get some useful ideas that could be adapted. =)

http://jessicahische.is/thinkingthoughts

Tell me if this is helpful! =)

A List Apart has a number of good articles on the subject. Here's a few interesting ones, plus an inexpensive ebook.

http://www.abookapart.com/products/design-is-a-job
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/pricing-strategy-for-creatives/
http://www.alistapart.com/articles/letting-go-of-john-hancock/

Definitely need to see this... http://vimeo.com/22053820?utm

Quote from: sottwell at Jan 09, 2013, 04:45 AM

Definitely need to see this... http://vimeo.com/22053820?utm

great talk!