Free Statement of Work (SOW) Template for Freelancers
Stop renegotiating legal terms for every project. Use a Master Service Agreement once, then a one-page Statement of Work per engagement. A clean SOW has five fields: deliverables (specific, measurable, dated), milestones (what gets delivered when), fees (total and per-milestone), assumptions (what you assume the client provides — assets, access, sign-off windows), and signatures.
The Assumptions Field
The section most freelancers skip and where scope creep comes from. "Client provides all copy within 5 business days." "Client provides brand assets in vector format." "Client responds to feedback within 3 business days." If they don't meet these, your deadlines shift. Write it down.
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Decode My LeaseFrequently asked questions
Does it need to be signed?
Yes. Even a one-line email works, but a signed SOW is stronger if you ever need to enforce.