Freelance contract analyzer
Don't sign blind.
Client sent over an SOW or master service agreement? Upload it. Dang reads it and flags the clauses that decide whether you get paid on time and own your work: payment terms, scope, IP assignment, kill fee, portfolio rights.
No account requiredFile deleted after analysisNot legal advice
What Dang checks for
Thirteen named checks run against every freelance contract. The clauses that move the needle:
- No kill fee. If the client cancels, do you get paid for work-in-progress? Flagged when no kill fee or cancellation compensation appears.
- Payment terms over 30 days. Flagged at Net 60 or longer. Several state freelance protection laws cap at 30 days. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law Art. 44-A, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 18100 (SB 988), 820 ILCS 193/.
- Missing payment terms. If terms aren't stated, several states require a written contract above a dollar threshold. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law Art. 44-A.
- Scope undefined. Vague deliverables open the door to scope creep without compensation.
- IP assignment broad. Work-for-hire that assigns all IP including pre-existing materials. Carve out what you bring in.
- No portfolio right. Some clauses prohibit you from showing the work in your portfolio. Worth pushing back.
- Unlimited revisions. Open-ended revision rounds can erase margin.
- One-sided indemnity. Indemnification only running from contractor to client.
- Non-compete in freelance. Unusual; flagged for review where it appears.
State variation matters
Several states have freelance protection laws that cap payment terms, require written contracts above a dollar threshold, and impose anti-retaliation:
- New York · Freelance Isn't Free Act (statewide, eff. Aug 2024). Written contract required above $800; payment within 30 days. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law Art. 44-A.
- California · Freelance Worker Protection Act (SB 988, eff. Jan 2025). Written contract required above $250; payment within 30 days. Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 18100 (SB 988).
- Illinois · Freelance Worker Protection Act (eff. July 2024). Written contract required above $500; payment within 30 days. 820 ILCS 193/.
Sample preview
No kill fee or cancellation compensation. Client can cancel mid-engagement with no compensation for work in progress.
Net 60 payment terms. Several state freelance protection laws cap at Net 30.
Source: Source: Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 18100 (SB 988)No cap on revision rounds. Could erase margin on a fixed-fee project.
What to ask before signing
- When am I owed payment, and what is the late-payment remedy?
- Is the scope of work clearly defined?
- Does the IP assignment carve out my pre-existing materials?
- Can I show the work in my portfolio?
- Is there a kill fee if the project is canceled?
- How many revision rounds are included before extra fees apply?
Frequently asked questions
Do freelance protection laws apply to me?
Depends on where you live and where the client is based. New York, California, Illinois, and NYC all have laws that may apply above a dollar threshold.
What's a reasonable kill fee?
Common practice ranges from 25-50% of the unpaid project fee, plus payment for work delivered to date.
What payment terms are normal?
Net 30 is the common standard. Net 60 is increasingly seen but several state laws cap at Net 30.
What does it cost?
Preview is free. Full report is $6.99, one-time, no subscription.
Sources & further reading
- N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law Art. 44-A · New York Freelance Isn't Free Act
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 18100 (SB 988) · California Freelance Worker Protection Act (SB 988)
- 820 ILCS 193/ · Illinois Freelance Worker Protection Act
No account required · File deleted after analysis · Not legal advice. Dang reports contract findings in plain English. For consequential decisions, consult a licensed attorney in your state.