Updated October 2026
Video editing contract template for freelancers
A freelance video editing contract should cover six things: what you will deliver (scope), how many revisions are included, how and when you get paid, who owns what, when and how you deliver, and what happens if the project is cancelled. Below is a plain-language template you can adapt, the mistakes to avoid, and how to keep proof that your client signed.
What a freelance video editing contract must cover
- Scope. The deliverables in specific terms: number of videos, length, formats and aspect ratios, what footage and assets the client provides, and what is not included.
- Revisions. The number of included rounds, what counts as a round, and the price of extra ones. Use our video revision policy template as a clause or an appendix.
- Payment. The total fee, deposit, instalments, due dates, accepted payment methods and what happens on late payment.
- Ownership and usage rights. Who owns the final video, what rights the client gets (where, how long, which media), who owns the project files and raw footage, and whether you can show the work in your portfolio.
- Delivery. The timeline, how you deliver (link, platform), how long files remain available, and what the client must provide by when.
- Cancellation. What happens if either side cancels, and what part of the fee is owed for work done.
Add the legal identity of both parties (name or company, address, and in France your SIRET if applicable), the date, and the governing law.
Plain-language template
Replace everything in [brackets]. Delete clauses you don’t need.
Video editing services agreement
Between [Your name / business name, address, registration number] (“the Editor”) and [Client name / company, address] (“the Client”), on [date].
1. Scope of work. The Editor will produce [number] video(s) of approximately [length] in [format / aspect ratio], using footage and assets supplied by the Client. The deliverables are: [list]. Anything not listed is not included.
2. Client materials. The Client will supply all footage, music licences, logos and scripts by [date]. If materials arrive late, the delivery date moves by the same number of days.
3. Revisions. This project includes [2] rounds of revisions. A round is one consolidated list of changes sent once on the current version. Additional rounds cost €[amount] each. New footage, concept changes or extra formats are new scope and are quoted separately.
4. Timeline. The Editor delivers the first version by [date] and each revised version within [3] working days of receiving feedback. The Client sends feedback within [5] working days of each version.
5. Fee and payment. The total fee is €[amount] [excluding / including] tax. A deposit of [percentage]% is due before work starts, and the balance is due [on approval / within X days of invoice]. [Late payment terms, as required by your local rules.] Payment by [bank transfer details].
6. Approval. When the Client approves a version in writing, it is final. Changes after approval are a new project. The Client’s approval is recorded by [tool] with name, version and date.
7. Ownership and usage rights. After full payment, the Client receives [the right to use / ownership of] the final video for [media, territory, duration]. The Editor keeps the right to [show the work in a portfolio, unless the Client asks otherwise in writing]. The Editor keeps ownership of project files, presets and working materials unless agreed otherwise in writing. The Client keeps ownership of the footage and assets it supplies.
8. Delivery. The Editor delivers via [link/platform]. Files are available for [duration]. The Client is responsible for downloading and backing up the final files.
9. Cancellation. If the Client cancels before work starts, [the deposit is / is not refundable]. If the Client cancels during the project, the Client pays for work completed up to that point, at minimum [percentage]% of the fee. If the Editor cannot complete the project, [describe your commitment].
10. Confidentiality. Each party keeps the other’s non-public materials confidential.
11. Liability. The Editor’s liability is limited to the fee paid for the project, except where the law does not allow that limit.
12. Governing law. This agreement is governed by the law of [country/region]. Disputes will be handled by [courts / mediation first].
Signed: [Editor] and [Client], with name, date and signature.
Common mistakes in freelance video contracts
- Vague scope. “Edit my video” can mean anything. List the deliverables and what is excluded.
- No revision limit. The most common cause of unpaid extra work. Cap the rounds and price extra ones.
- No deposit. Starting without money in advance leaves you with the risk. A deposit signals commitment on both sides.
- Silent on rights. If usage rights are not written down, the client and you may assume different things. In France and much of the EU, copyright transfers are interpreted narrowly, so spell out what the client may do (media, territory, duration) rather than writing “all rights”.
- Ignoring raw footage. Say who keeps the raw files, for how long, and who backs them up.
- No cancellation terms. A client who disappears after round one leaves you with unpaid work.
- Signing nothing. A conversation or a thumbs-up on WhatsApp is hard to rely on later.
Does an electronic signature count?
In the EU, the eIDAS Regulation (Article 25) says an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect and admissibility as evidence solely because it is electronic or because it is not a qualified signature. That covers a simple electronic signature such as ticking and typing your name in an online form. National law can still require a higher level of signature for certain types of documents, such as some real estate or family-law documents, but a typical freelance service agreement is not usually one of those. If you are unsure for your case, ask a professional.
What makes an e-signature useful is the evidence around it. Keep:
- The exact text of the contract that was signed, with its date.
- The signer’s name and email.
- The timestamp of the signature.
- The IP address and device information.
- How the signing link was sent.
How Revu handles the signature
In Revu the client signs the contract from the same private link as the brief and the files. The signature is stored with the client’s name, a timestamp and their IP address, so you have a clear record to point to. This is a record of who signed what and when; it does not replace legal advice about your contract.
Why I wrote this
I’m Khalil, a video editor in Nice, and I run Naja Studio. Most of my problems with clients started before editing began, with an unwritten agreement. A two-page contract and a clear approval would have saved me more time than any new software.
Frequently asked questions
Do freelance video editors need a contract?
It is strongly recommended. A contract defines the scope, revisions, payment, ownership and cancellation terms, so both sides know what was agreed. Even a short one is better than a chat conversation.
What should a video editing contract include?
Scope and deliverables, included revisions, fees and payment terms, ownership and usage rights, delivery and timeline, cancellation terms, and the legal identity of both parties.
Is an electronic signature legally valid in the EU?
Under eIDAS Article 25, an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect and admissibility as evidence solely because it is electronic. National law can require higher-level signatures for some document types, so check your case with a professional.
Who owns the video after the project?
It depends on what the contract says. Many editors transfer defined usage rights to the client after full payment while keeping project files and portfolio rights. In France and the EU, write the rights granted explicitly rather than relying on a general statement.
Should I ask for a deposit?
Many freelancers do, commonly a portion of the fee before work starts. The amount is your decision; write it into the contract so it is agreed from the beginning.