Independent Contractor Agreement
The workhorse agreement for project work. Defines deliverables, milestones, payment schedule, and — critically — the contractor relationship itself, so your client classification stays defensible.
ESIGN & UETA Compliant
Legally Binding Freelance Contract Generator for US Solopreneurs
Stop starting from a blank page or a borrowed Word doc. Pick a US-ready template, fill in the scope and payment terms, and send it for signature in about two minutes. Every contract PaperDock produces is written to hold up under the federal ESIGN Act and state UETA rules.
2 Min
Draft to signature-ready
30 Days
Free, no card required
$69
One time, then never again
Unlimited
Contracts and clients
Legal Templates Written for US Independent Work
Each template covers the clauses that actually cause disputes: scope creep, late payment, revision limits, kill fees, and who owns the work when the project ends. Edit any clause, save your version, and reuse it forever.
Retainer & Ongoing Services
For monthly engagements. Caps included hours, sets the overage rate, and defines the notice period on both sides so a client cannot end a retainer mid-cycle without warning.
Mutual NDA
A two-way confidentiality agreement you can send before a discovery call. Defines confidential information, carve-outs, and a term that expires instead of running forever.
Work-for-Hire & IP Transfer
Transfers copyright on final payment rather than on delivery. If the invoice goes unpaid, the rights stay with you — which is the single most useful piece of leverage a freelancer has.
Statement of Work
Attach a scoped SOW to a master agreement so each new project does not need a fresh contract. Lists deliverables, acceptance criteria, and the exact number of revision rounds included.
Your Own Custom Templates
Already have language your lawyer approved? Paste it in, save it as a reusable template, and merge client details automatically on every future contract.
What Makes an Online Contract Legally Binding in the US
Two laws govern electronic agreements in the United States: the federal ESIGN Act of 2000 and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), adopted in nearly every state. Together they say an electronic contract cannot be denied enforceability just because it is electronic.
What they do require is evidence. You need to show that the signer intended to sign, consented to doing business electronically, was given a copy, and that the record has not been altered since. PaperDock captures all four automatically on every contract you send.
Intent to sign — the signer types their full legal name and actively submits the agreement.
Consent to electronic business — presented and recorded before the signature is accepted.
Record retention — both parties receive a PDF copy, and the signed version stays available in your account.
Attribution and integrity — timestamp, IP address, and a tamper-evident audit trail attached to the document.
PaperDock provides document automation software, not legal advice. Templates are a starting point — for high-value or unusual engagements, have an attorney licensed in your state review your terms.
From Blank Page to Signed in Four Steps
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1
Choose a template
Start from a US-ready agreement or one of your own saved versions.
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2
Fill in the deal
Client details, scope, fee, schedule and revision limits merge into the document.
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3
Send for signature
Your client gets a secure link — no account, no download, no software to install.
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4
Invoice against it
The signed contract links to the invoice, so scope and billing never drift apart.
Freelance Contract Questions
Is a contract generated online legally binding in the United States?
Yes. Under the ESIGN Act and state UETA statutes, a contract signed electronically carries the same weight as one signed in ink, provided both parties consented to electronic dealing and the record is retained without alteration. PaperDock captures consent, timestamps, IP address, and a tamper-evident audit trail on every signature.
Do I need a lawyer to review these contract templates?
For routine project work, the templates are written to be used as-is. For engagements with significant liability, regulated industries, or unusual IP arrangements, have an attorney licensed in your state review the terms. PaperDock is document software, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.
Can I edit the clauses or use my own contract language?
Every clause is editable. You can rewrite sections, delete ones that do not apply, or paste in language your own attorney drafted and save the result as a reusable template. Client details then merge automatically into future contracts.
Does my client need a PaperDock account to sign?
No. Your client receives a secure link, opens the contract in their browser, and signs. There is no signup, no download, and no per-signature charge to either side.
How much does the contract generator cost?
Thirty days free with no credit card, then $69 once for lifetime access. That covers unlimited contracts, unlimited clients, and unlimited signatures — there is no monthly plan and no per-document fee.
Everything Else in the Same $69
Contracts are one half of getting paid. PaperDock bundles the other half so you are not stitching three subscriptions together.
Send Your Next Contract Today
Thirty days free, no credit card. Draft a contract, send it for signature, and see the whole workflow before you decide.
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