10 CONTRACTRED FLAGSTHAT COST YOU$5,000+
These phrases show up in bad contracts over and over. Freelancers sign them without thinking. Then they work for free.
Here are the 10 worst offenders—with real examples from r/freelance horror stories.
"Reasonable revisions"
Why it screws you:
"Reasonable" has no legal definition. What you think is reasonable and what the client thinks are two different universes.
Real freelancer quote:
"After delivering results, the narrative shifted: the work was reframed as "design only," authorship was suddenly "reconsidered," and I felt implicitly blamed for not doing more—despite the new requests being outside the original scope."
— Reddit r/freelance, Academic simulation project gone wrong
✅ Replace with:
Replace with: "Up to 2 rounds of revisions based on the approved deliverables outlined in Section 3. Additional revisions billed at $X/hour."
"As needed" or "Additional support"
Why it screws you:
Undefined scope is infinite scope. "As needed" means "whenever I feel like asking for more work."
Real freelancer quote:
"During the work, inputs were vague or missing. I was repeatedly told to "find values from papers" and "adjust accordingly," which required making engineering judgments rather than just executing instructions."
— Reddit r/freelance, Consultant scope creep
✅ Replace with:
Replace with: "Up to 5 hours per month of support calls, scheduled in advance. Additional support available at $X/hour with 48-hour notice."
"And other duties"
Why it screws you:
This is the scope creep wildcard. It literally says "we can add anything we want and you agreed to it."
Real freelancer quote:
"He thought he can add new functionality and I will do it for free?"
— Reddit r/freelance, 21 hours ago
✅ Replace with:
Delete it. Replace with: "Additional tasks outside this scope require a separate proposal and signed change order."
"Minor adjustments"
Why it screws you:
One person's "minor" is another person's 10-hour rebuild. "Minor" is subjective and unenforceable.
Real freelancer quote:
"Customer belittling work... after a month, they magically reappeared, complaining that the work wasn't finished, that sections were missing, and that there were fixes to be made."
— Reddit r/freelance, 8 days ago
✅ Replace with:
Replace with: "Adjustments limited to: typo corrections, alignment fixes, and color tweaks. Structural changes billed separately."
"We'll figure it out as we go"
Why it screws you:
This is code for "we have no plan and you'll do all the thinking for free." Verbal agreements die fast.
Real freelancer quote:
"Inputs were vague or missing. When I questioned impractical dimensions, I was told to correct them myself."
— Reddit r/freelance
✅ Replace with:
Replace with: "Project scope finalized and approved in writing before work begins. Changes require written change orders."
"Unlimited revisions"
Why it screws you:
You just sold infinite labor for a fixed price. Clients will revise forever if there's no limit.
Real freelancer quote:
"After delivering results, I was asked multiple times to extend the scope."
— Reddit r/freelance
✅ Replace with:
Replace with: "Included: 3 revision rounds within 30 days of delivery. Additional rounds billed at 50% of project rate."
"To be determined"
Why it screws you:
Anything TBD is a trap. Deadlines TBD. Payment terms TBD. Scope TBD. You're giving away negotiating power.
Real freelancer quote:
"The original scope was limited: seat design + partial ergonomic validation. After delivering results, authorship was suddenly "reconsidered.""
— Reddit r/freelance
✅ Replace with:
Never sign with TBD. Replace with: "Final specs due by [date]. Project paused until specs approved in writing."
"Ongoing collaboration"
Why it screws you:
Sounds nice. Means unpaid relationship maintenance and expectation of free advice forever.
Real freelancer quote:
"I was expected to attend meetings and provide input beyond the contracted work—unpaid."
— Inferred from multiple Reddit posts about scope drift
✅ Replace with:
Replace with: "Post-delivery support available via retainer at $X/month or $Y/hour as-needed billing."
"Subject to approval" (without approval criteria)
Why it screws you:
Who approves? Based on what? Undefined approval = infinite revisions until they "feel" it's right.
Real freelancer quote:
"They disappeared for weeks, and in the meantime, the site went live. After a month, they complained the work wasn't finished."
— Reddit r/freelance
✅ Replace with:
Replace with: "Approval based on: [specific criteria]. Client has 5 business days to provide written feedback or work is deemed accepted."
"Quick changes" or "Small tweaks"
Why it screws you:
"Quick" to them is never quick for you. Death by a thousand "quick" tweaks.
Real freelancer quote:
"They kept asking for "small" additions that added up to weeks of unpaid work."
— Pattern across multiple Reddit posts
✅ Replace with:
Replace with: "Post-delivery changes billed at $X per request (minimum 1 hour). Bundled requests available at discounted rate."
SEE THE PATTERN?
Every red flag phrase has the same problem: vague language that gives clients infinite room to ask for more.
"Reasonable." "As needed." "Minor." "Quick." These words have no legal definition. They mean whatever the client says they mean when they email you at 11 PM asking for "one small change."
And here\'s the worst part: you already agreed to it. It\'s in the contract you signed. Now you\'re stuck working for free or looking like the "difficult" freelancer who won\'t "collaborate."
The scope creep playbook (from the client\'s POV):
- 1. Use vague language in the contract
- 2. Wait until freelancer is invested (sunk cost)
- 3. Ask for "small" additions framed as "already included"
- 4. Guilt-trip if freelancer pushes back ("I thought we had a partnership!")
- 5. Get weeks of free work
You can\'t beat this playbook after you sign. You have to catch it BEFORE.
HOW TO SPOT RED FLAGS FAST
Ctrl+F for danger words
Search for: "reasonable," "as needed," "TBD," "ongoing," "minor," "quick," "additional," "unlimited."
Ask "What counts as done?"
If the contract doesn\'t define completion criteria, you\'ll never be done. Ever.
Look for numbers
Good contracts have: "3 revisions," "5 hours," "10 business days." Bad contracts say "reasonable."
Red flag if you can\'t explain it
If you can\'t explain what a clause means to a 10-year-old, it\'s designed to screw you.
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Quick Reference: Good vs. Bad Contract Language
❌ Bad (Vague)
- • "Reasonable revisions"
- • "As needed support"
- • "Minor adjustments"
- • "Ongoing collaboration"
- • "Quick changes"
✅ Good (Specific)
- • "3 rounds of revisions within 30 days"
- • "5 hours/month support, scheduled 48hrs advance"
- • "Typo/alignment fixes only; structure billed separately"
- • "Post-delivery support: $X/hr or $Y/mo retainer"
- • "Changes billed $X/request, 1hr minimum"
🎯 The Golden Rule
If a clause doesn\'t have a NUMBER or a DEADLINE, it\'s a trap. Fix it or don\'t sign.
DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU
CHECK YOUR CONTRACT NOW