Free Work for Hire
Agreement Template
A full IP assignment agreement for writers, designers and developers — where the hiring party owns all copyright from creation. Includes dual US work-for-hire + international assignment clause.
- No signup required
- Free forever
- Reviewed June 2026
- Full IP assignment clause
Branding (optional)
1 — Contractor
2 — Client (Hiring Party)
3 — Work Description
4 — Fees
5 — Terms
PDF: choose "Save as PDF" in the dialog that opens.
Work for Hire Agreement
Date: enter date above
1. Parties
Contractor: Contractor name
Client: Client name
2. Description of Work
Title: title of work
Deliverables: deliverables description
Deadline: delivery deadline
3. Work Made for Hire / IP Assignment
The Work is a work made for hire under 17 U.S.C. §101. To the extent not qualifying as work made for hire, the Contractor irrevocably assigns all IP rights to the Client. The Client is sole owner from creation.
4. Fee and Payment
Fee: USD ($) amount
Payment terms: 50% on signing, 50% on delivery
5–9. Standard Clauses
Contractor warranties · No portfolio rights · Confidentiality · Independent contractor status · Limitation of liability
10. Governing Law
Governed by: governing jurisdiction.
Contractor
Signature
Print name: _______________
Title: _______________
Date: _________________
Client
Signature
Print name: _______________
Date: _________________
Template preview
Parties
1. Agreement Parties
This Work for Hire Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of [Date] between [Contractor Full Name], [Business Name] ("Contractor"), and [Client Full Name], [Company Name] ("Client").
Description of Work
2. Description of Work and Deliverables
The Contractor agrees to create the following work (the "Work") for the Client:
Title of Work: [e.g. "Summer 2026 Campaign Copy" / "Brand Identity Design Package"]
Deliverables: [List all specific deliverables: e.g. 5 social media ad scripts (Instagram and Facebook); 1 landing page copy (approx. 800 words); 3 email subject line options per campaign]
Delivery deadline: [Date]
[Optional: "The Contractor will revise the Work once in response to consolidated written feedback provided by the Client within [X] days of delivery."]
Work Made for Hire / IP Assignment
3. Intellectual Property Assignment
Work made for hire: The Work is intended to be a "work made for hire" as defined under 17 U.S.C. §101 of the United States Copyright Act. As such, the Client shall be deemed the author and shall own all copyright and other intellectual property rights in and to the Work from the moment of creation.
Assignment (fallback): To the extent that the Work does not qualify as a work made for hire under applicable law, the Contractor hereby irrevocably assigns, transfers and conveys to the Client all right, title and interest — including all copyright, moral rights, and related rights — in and to the Work throughout the world, in perpetuity.
Moral rights waiver: To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Contractor waives any moral rights (including rights of attribution and integrity) in the Work.
[Note for contractors: this clause transfers all rights permanently. You will not be able to use, display or adapt this work without the Client's written consent unless a portfolio rights exception is negotiated.]
Payment
4. Fee and Payment
Fee: [Currency + Total Amount]
Payment terms: [e.g. "50% upon signing, 50% upon delivery of final Work" / "Full fee due within 14 days of delivery" / "Full fee due upon signing"]
[Optional: "Work for hire commands a higher fee than a standard licence. The fee above reflects the full and permanent transfer of all intellectual property rights under this Agreement."]
📄 Download the full template — includes contractor warranties, no portfolio rights clause, confidentiality, independent contractor status and limitation of liability.
Download the full template — free
Fill in your details above and download a ready-to-send agreement.
What's included in this template
How to use this template
Use work for hire only when full IP ownership is genuinely needed
Work for hire transfers more than just the right to use a deliverable — it removes all rights from the creator permanently. Use it when: the client will commercialise the work (sell a product containing it), the work will become part of a larger branded asset, or the client cannot allow any risk of the contractor reusing the material. For most standard freelance projects where the client just needs to use the output, a standard IP assignment on payment is sufficient and cheaper.
Price accordingly — work for hire commands a premium
Permanent, unreserved IP ownership is worth significantly more than a standard licence. Copywriters typically charge 25–100% more for work for hire. Designers and developers charge similar premiums. If a client asks for work for hire at your standard rate, this is a negotiation point — you are giving up portfolio rights, attribution, and any future use of the creative work. That is real value being transferred and should be priced into the fee.
If you are the contractor: negotiate portfolio rights if you can
The no-portfolio-rights clause is one of the most significant trade-offs for creative contractors. Before signing, try to negotiate a limited portfolio rights carve-out: "Contractor may display the completed Work in their portfolio for the purpose of showcasing their professional services, with no other reproduction rights." Many clients will agree to this, especially if the work is not commercially sensitive. Get it in writing.
The dual clause protects you regardless of jurisdiction
The work for hire doctrine is a US-specific concept. In the UK, Australia, Canada and most other jurisdictions, copyright vests in the creator and must be explicitly assigned — it cannot be "made for hire" by default. This template includes both clauses: the US work-for-hire designation and a standalone assignment clause as a fallback. This means the client receives full IP ownership regardless of which country's law governs the contract. Use Bonsai for e-signatures and payment.
Frequently asked questions
- A work for hire agreement is a contract in which a contractor creates work and the hiring party owns all intellectual property rights from the moment of creation. The client is treated as the legal author — there is no licensing stage. Unlike a standard freelance contract where IP transfers to the client after payment, work for hire means the contractor never owns the copyright at all. This is used when companies need unreserved ownership of creative output for commercial, legal or brand reasons.
- In a standard freelance contract, the contractor owns the copyright and transfers it to the client on payment. In a work for hire agreement, the hiring party owns copyright from creation — the contractor never holds it. The contractor cannot use the work in their portfolio, cannot repurpose it, and has no residual rights whatsoever. Work for hire provides the strongest possible IP protection for the client and typically commands a higher fee from the contractor.
- Work for hire agreements are most commonly used by: companies hiring ghostwriters for branded content; businesses commissioning logos or brand assets; tech companies hiring developers to build proprietary software; publishers commissioning original articles or book content; and any organisation that needs unreserved ownership of creative output. If the output will be sold as part of a product, or used across multiple channels without restriction, work for hire is the appropriate agreement.
- Not without permission. Under work for hire, the contractor does not own the copyright and cannot display, reproduce or adapt the work without the client's consent. Portfolio use must be explicitly permitted in the contract if the contractor wants to retain it. This is a significant trade-off — many creative professionals charge a premium for work for hire precisely because it removes this benefit. If you are a contractor, negotiate a portfolio rights clause before signing.
- Yes. Full IP assignment transfers significantly more value than a standard licence. Freelance copywriters typically charge 25–100% more for work for hire. The client gains unreserved ownership forever — they can resell, modify, sublicence and use the work in any context. That value should be reflected in the fee. If a client wants work for hire at a standard licence rate, either negotiate the fee up or negotiate the IP terms down to a limited-use licence.
- The work for hire doctrine is primarily a US copyright concept. In most other jurisdictions (UK, Australia, Canada, EU), copyright vests in the creator and must be explicitly assigned — it cannot be designated as work for hire by default. This template uses a dual approach: it designates the work as work made for hire under US law, and includes a standalone IP assignment clause as a fallback for all other jurisdictions. This ensures the client receives full IP ownership regardless of governing law.
Bonsai lets you send the agreement, collect a signature and receive payment — before you start work.