Understanding the Importance of Contracts in Web Design
As a freelancer or agency creating websites for your commercial clients using frameworks such as Parallax Pro, it’s vital to understand just what a contract is, not only for your own benefit but also for the benefit of your client. Fulfilling an obligation that isn’t formally codified into something like a comprehensive commercial purchase contract can leave your business at risk of litigation while also hurting the client’s interests.
Most professional designers and developers would scoff at the idea of getting into the business of law. After all, you’ve got the skills to create a gorgeous website from scratch, so why worry about the details of a contract? The answer is simple: Because you want to offer your clients the best level of service possible, and you want to maintain your reputation in the community, solid contracts are essential.
So, what exactly is a commercial purchase contract? In short, it’s an agreement between two or more parties regarding the transaction of commercial goods by the buyer and the sale of specific products or services by the seller. It’s important to note that the contract must be signed by both parties to be considered official. There may be exceptions such as the use of indentures, which is when the signatures are part of the contract and not a separate, physical document. Essentially, it’s a legal requirement for commercial goods sold between two or more parties.
When selling products or services to a commercial buyer, the client should expect to receive a contract or similar documentation. Similarly, if you’re a freelance designer, part of an agency, or an organization providing commercial goods or services, you need a contract in place as well. Without a binding contract, you’re losing out on any legal protections you might have otherwise had. You may even fall victim to legal action yourself.
Of course, it’s also wise to explore the possibility that the client doesn’t have a contract in place, or that they did put one in place and didn’t choose to use it. Think about it: In the past, a freelance designer or agency was able to create a site, pass it off to the client, and never see it again. Today, however, it’s common for designers and developers to be contacted back to make updates, blog posts, security updates, and other modifications to a website. With that level of continuity throughout the lifespan of the project, it’s wise to have a contract in place to protect yourself.
For those who have a contract in place, take note! From the moment you enter into a contractual agreement, you have a legal obligation to complete the work outlined in the contract by the terms listed. Anything less than that would be considered a breach of contract. For example, if your client owes you $4,500 upon completion of the website, you’re legally entitled to that payment once you complete the project. Your contract may even stipulate that you’re to receive a deposit, another portion of the rest of the fees by a certain date, and the remaining fees after the completion of the project. As long as the contract is legally binding, your client has an obligation to meet those guidelines and provide the payment stated therein.
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Thankfully, you don’t need to be a master lawyer to read a contract and understand the foundations of commercial contracts. Know what to look for, and you’ll have a bit more confidence the next time you’re signing a contract of your own for a client website that uses the Parallax Pro theme.
There are three ways to build a professional-looking site that would appeal to a commercial buyer. First, you can choose a theme that automatically is considered to be a “pro” level design, such as the Parallax Pro theme. The second option is to build a professional site yourself using a blank page template, a drag and drop page builder, and custom modules provided by a premium WordPress theme. Finally, you could hack together an inelegant collection of plugins, themes, and shortcodes to get a semi-professional site that may or may not be a headache to use.
For the greatest ease of use, use an all-in-one solution like the Parallax Pro theme. This is a great solution for designers because it’s easy to install and use, but it also provides a high-level design that the average customer can spot from a mile away. Commercial buyers will be more impressed by the results they see on their screen, making them more likely to seal the deal with you.
Whether you want to focus more of your time on conversion, or you want to increase your service capabilities to be able to offer your clients more of what they need in a site, the customized functionality of the on-site modules of the Parallax Pro theme can help you get the job done.
For example, you might want to create a home page that’s a little bit different from the demo version of the site. The ability to customize this template lets you add on features, change the layout, and make the site a truly original creation that fulfills the dreams and desires of your clients. It’s not enough to have a pretty website design that matches their vision, you also need a site that performs to the best of its ability. What that means will differ for every client, but the Parallax Pro theme makes it easy for you to customize the site to their specifications.
This is just some of the customizable features that you can take advantage of through a professional theme like Parallax Pro. Others include:
- Customizable layouts
- Integrated SEO options
- Responsive design
- Easy-to-use interface
The above list only touches on a few of the customizable and modular features of the Parallax Pro theme. However, just because you’re the one customizing the site doesn’t mean you should be responsible for the cost of every module you create. So, when it comes to creating a client contract, keep this in mind. For example, you could set a provision that the costs of any modules you create will be taken out of your payment.
Another way to relieve yourself of that burden is to charge an additional fee for incorporating these features. However, you may want to specify that anything needed in addition to the theme will be charged extra, and that modules and other features will be completed at the typical hourly rate. This way, you’re covered no matter what, whereas a fixed cost could leave you at a loss if you have to put in wildfire hours after the deadline is past.
Contracts have a way of ensuring that everyone involved in a project is on the same page. Of course, you might prefer to use the contracting as a way to establish milestones for the client to meet as well. For example, you might have them agree to pay 50% of the fee upfront and the remaining 50% halfway through the design process. Then, you might specify that they have a final review period of one week to submit revisions before the site is considered live.
The end result? You and your client both have a better understanding of the workflow and expectations involved in completing the site.
Finally, it’s important to remember that a contract doesn’t just protect your business. It protects the clients as well. For example, it’s possible to create an EULA (End User License Agreement) that outlines what your client can and can’t do with the site. Without the use of a contract, you have no protection against your website being duplicated elsewhere or being shared publicly on GitHub.
However, bear in mind that the use of a contract can include some limitations as well. In some cases, for example, it can be used to hold a client’s access to their site as ransom against their final payment. Avoid having that negative stigma against you; make sure that your contracts reflect a fair deal for both parties.
Professional web design has come a long way in the past decade, and the same is true of web developers. As you start to build more professional-looking sites for commercial clients, the use of contracts will only become more necessary. On the one hand, you’ll be protected with a legally binding agreement that obligates the client to pay for the services they need. However, you’ll also know that you’ve protected your clients in the process, creating a professional and beneficial working relationship for years to come.