Proofreading Services Agreement Template
Almost every dispute in this trade traces back to one of three things being unwritten: what you agreed to change, when it was due, and what happens if the file turns out to be much heavier than the sample suggested. A short agreement that covers those three is worth more than a long one that covers none of them.
See the coursesEverything on this page is yours to copy and adapt. The courses cover the decisions behind it: what to charge, what to promise, and what to put in writing.
What yours needs to cover
- ✓ A scope clause that states plainly this is proofreading and not copyediting or rewriting
- ✓ A definition of the deliverable: the file format, the markup method, and the style sheet
- ✓ Turnaround, and what a late delivery of source material does to it
- ✓ A revisions clause, bounded, so "one more look" has a defined end
- ✓ A confidentiality clause, because clients send unpublished work
- ✓ Payment terms, including a deposit for new clients and a late-payment position
- ✓ A re-quote clause for when the text is materially heavier than the sample assessed
How to use it
- Define the scope first and in the client own words, then state what is excluded.
- Attach or reference the sample assessment the quote was based on.
- Set turnaround from the date you receive the final file, never from the date of agreement.
- Say what happens if the work is heavier than the sample, before it is.
Proofreading Services Agreement Template FAQs
Do I need a written contract for small jobs?
A short written scope and a turnaround date, even in an email, is enough for a small job and is far better than nothing. The value is not the formality, it is having something to point at when a client remembers the agreement differently.
What should the scope clause actually say?
It should name what you will change and what you will not. Proofreading corrects errors and inconsistencies; it does not restructure, rewrite for style, fact-check or improve arguments. Clients frequently expect all four, and the clause is where that expectation is set rather than discovered.
Is this legal advice?
No. These pages explain what a document in this trade typically needs to contain. Contract law differs by country and by state, and anything you intend to rely on should be reviewed by somebody qualified where you operate.
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