# Website design contract template

Source: https://contracko.com/de/vertragsvorlagen/website-design-contract

# Website design contract template

A comprehensive service agreement for website design and development including e-commerce, corporate sites, portfolios, and landing pages. Covers project scope, wireframes, mockups, responsive design, CMS integration, SEO optimization, revisions, hosting, domain transfer, maintenance, and launch timelines.

## Website Design Contract

This Website Design Contract (the "Agreement") is entered into on 2024-01-01 (the "Effective Date") by and between Client Name ("Client") with an address of 123 Client St and Designer Name ("Designer") with an address of 456 Designer Rd.

### 1. Project Overview

Website Type: Business Website (business website, e-commerce, portfolio, blog, landing page, web app, etc.)

Primary Purpose: Company Information and Lead Generation

Target Audience: Business Professionals

Current Website: New Site (redesign / new site)

Domain Name: example.com

Estimated Page Count: 10 pages

Desired Launch Date: target launch

### 2. Scope of Work and Deliverables

Design Services:

- Discovery and planning session
- Sitemap and information architecture
- Wireframes: wireframe details
- Visual design mockups: design mockup count unique page templates
- Responsive design for: responsive breakpoints (desktop, tablet, mobile)
- Style guide/brand guidelines
- additional design services

Development Services:

- HTML/CSS coding
- JavaScript functionality
- CMS integration: cms platform (WordPress, Webflow, Shopify, custom, etc.)
- Contact forms: form count forms
- Blog setup: blog included
- Search functionality: search included
- additional dev services

E-Commerce Features (if applicable):

- Shopping cart integration
- Payment gateway setup: payment gateways
- Product catalog: product count products initially
- Inventory management
- Shipping calculator
- ecommerce features

Technical Features:

- SEO optimization (on-page)
- Google Analytics integration
- Social media integration
- SSL certificate installation
- Performance optimization
- Security measures
- GDPR/privacy compliance: compliance requirements
- technical features

Third-Party Integrations:

- Email marketing: email integration
- CRM: crm integration
- Booking/scheduling: booking system
- Live chat: chat integration
- other integrations

Content Services:

- Copywriting: copywriting included (Client provides / Designer writes / combination)
- Image sourcing: image sourcing (Client provides / stock photos included / professional photography arranged)
- Content upload: content upload (up to initial pages pages)

Deliverables:

- Fully functional responsive website
- Source files (PSD, Sketch, Figma, etc.): source files
- Documentation: documentation included
- Training: training included (training hours hours)
- revision rounds rounds of revisions per phase

Services NOT Included:

- Ongoing maintenance after launch
- Hosting fees
- Domain registration/renewal
- Third-party plugin/software licenses
- Professional photography/videography
- Ongoing SEO/marketing
- excluded services

### 3. Project Phases and Timeline

Project Start Date: project start

Estimated Completion: total weeks weeks from start

Phase 1: Discovery & Planning (phase1 weeks weeks)

- Kickoff meeting
- Requirements gathering
- Sitemap approval
- Competitor research
- Milestone payment: phase1 payment

Phase 2: Design (phase2 weeks weeks)

- Wireframes
- Initial design concepts: design concepts options
- Design revisions: design revisions rounds
- Final design approval
- Milestone payment: phase2 payment

Phase 3: Development (phase3 weeks weeks)

- Front-end development
- Back-end/CMS development
- Feature implementation
- Content population
- Milestone payment: phase3 payment

Phase 4: Testing & Launch (phase4 weeks weeks)

- Quality assurance testing
- Browser compatibility testing: browser support
- Mobile responsiveness testing
- Client review and feedback
- Revisions
- DNS/hosting setup assistance
- Launch
- Final payment: final payment

Timeline Contingencies: Dates are estimates subject to:

- Timely Client feedback and content provision
- No major scope changes
- Third-party service availability
- Hosting/domain access

### 4. Client Responsibilities

Client agrees to provide:

- Timely feedback on deliverables (within feedback days business days)
- All content (text, images, videos) by content deadline
- Brand assets (logos, fonts, colors)
- Access to hosting, domain, and necessary accounts
- Login credentials for existing systems
- Feedback and approvals according to schedule
- Payment according to schedule
- Final content approval before launch
- additional client responsibilities

Content Format: content format requirements

Client Delays: Project timeline extended if Client delays providing materials or feedback beyond delay threshold days

### 5. Revisions and Changes

Included Revisions: revision rounds rounds per phase

Revision Scope: Minor adjustments to approved concepts (color changes, text edits, layout tweaks)

Major Changes: Significant departures from approved direction require new proposal and pricing

Additional Revisions: Beyond included rounds: additional revision rate per hour

Change Order Process:

1. Client submits written change request
2. Designer provides time/cost estimate within estimate days days
3. Client approves
4. Change Order signed
5. Timeline and payment adjusted

Scope Creep Prevention: Features not in original scope require Change Order

### 6. Testing and Browser Compatibility

Browser Support:

- Chrome (latest 2 versions)
- Firefox (latest 2 versions)
- Safari (latest 2 versions)
- Edge (latest 2 versions)
- additional browsers

Device Testing:

- Desktop (1920px+, 1366px, 1024px)
- Tablet (768px)
- Mobile (375px, 414px)
- additional devices

Accessibility: accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1 Level AA / basic / not specified)

Performance Targets:

- Page load time: Under load time seconds seconds
- Mobile speed score: mobile speed target
- performance requirements

### 7. Hosting and Domain

Hosting: hosting arrangement (Client provides / Designer arranges / Designer provides)

Hosting Requirements: hosting specs

Domain Registration: domain responsibility

DNS Management: dns management

Email Setup: email setup (included / additional fee / not included)

SSL Certificate: ssl arrangement (included / Client obtains / hosting provider)

Ongoing Hosting Costs: hosting cost per month (paid by Client directly to host)

### 8. Compensation and Payment

Total Project Fee: total project fee

Payment Structure:

- Deposit: deposit amount (due upon signing)
- Phase 1 completion: phase1 payment amount
- Phase 2 completion: phase2 payment amount
- Phase 3 completion: phase3 payment amount
- Final launch: final payment amount

Payment Terms: Net payment net days days from invoice

Payment Method: payment methods

Late Payment: late fee or late percentage% per month. Work may be paused after late suspension days days.

Hosting/Licenses: third party costs (Client pays directly / included / billed separately)

Expenses: expense policy (pre-approved only / not applicable)

### 9. Intellectual Property Rights

Final Work Ownership: Upon full payment, Client owns:

- Custom website design
- Custom code written specifically for project
- Final deliverables

Designer Retains:

- Pre-existing code libraries and frameworks
- Templates and tools
- General techniques and knowledge

Third-Party Components:

- Open-source libraries: Subject to respective licenses
- Premium themes/plugins: premium component licenses
- Stock images: stock image licenses
- Fonts: font licenses

Source Files: source file ownership (provided to Client / retained by Designer / provided for additional fee)

Portfolio Rights: Designer may:

- Display website in portfolio
- Use as case study
- Include screenshots in marketing
- Link to live site

Client may opt out: portfolio opt out

### 10. Content and Materials

Client-Provided Content: Client warrants ownership or rights to all provided content

Content Liability: Client indemnifies Designer against claims related to Client-provided content

Placeholder Content: Designer may use placeholder text/images during development

Stock Images: stock images included stock images included (if applicable)

Content Migration: Migration of existing content: migration included (up to migration page limit pages)

### 11. Training and Support

Training Included: training hours hours of training on:

- CMS basics
- Content updates
- Image uploads
- Basic edits
- training topics

Training Format: training delivery (video tutorials / live session / documentation / combination)

Post-Launch Support: support days days of bug fixes and minor adjustments after launch

Support Scope: Fixing defects and issues; does not include new features or content updates

After Support Period: Support available at hourly support rate per hour

### 12. Maintenance and Updates

Ongoing Maintenance: maintenance offering

If offered:

- Monthly fee: monthly maintenance fee
- Includes: maintenance inclusions
- Updates, backups, security monitoring, minor content changes

Client Self-Maintenance: Client may manage site independently

Designer Not Responsible: For issues caused by:

- Client modifications
- Third-party plugins
- Hosting issues
- Hacking (unless Designer managing security)

### 13. Warranties and Disclaimers

Designer Warrants:

- Original work (except third-party components)
- No infringement of third-party rights
- Functionality as specified
- Free of material defects for warranty days days

No Guarantee:

- Search engine rankings
- Traffic or conversions
- Specific browser versions beyond listed
- Compatibility with all future updates

Third-Party Services: Designer not responsible for third-party service failures or changes

DISCLAIMER: EXCEPT AS STATED, WEBSITE PROVIDED "AS-IS" WITHOUT WARRANTIES

### 14. Confidentiality

Confidential Information:

- Business plans and strategies
- Login credentials
- Unpublished designs
- Proprietary information

Protection: Both parties agree to maintain confidentiality

Duration: Survives termination for confidentiality years years

### 15. Termination

Termination for Convenience: Either party may terminate with termination notice days notice

Upon Termination:

- Client pays for work completed
- Designer delivers work-in-progress
- Kill fee: kill fee if terminated before 50% completion

Termination for Cause:

- Material breach not cured within cure days days
- Non-payment
- Abandonment

### 16. Limitation of Liability

Liability Cap: Designer's liability limited to liability limit (typically total fees paid)

No Consequential Damages: Designer not liable for lost profits, data loss, or business interruption

### 17. Indemnification

Client Indemnifies Designer: Against claims from Client-provided content or materials

Designer Indemnifies Client: Against claims from Designer's original work infringing third-party rights

### 18. Dispute Resolution

Governing Law: Laws of governing jurisdiction

Dispute Process:

1. Good faith negotiation
2. Mediation
3. arbitration or litigation

Attorney Fees: Prevailing party entitled to reasonable fees

### 19. General Provisions

Entire Agreement: Supersedes all prior agreements

Amendments: Must be in writing

Independent Contractor: Designer is independent contractor

Assignment: Neither party may assign without consent

Severability: Invalid provisions don't affect remainder

Force Majeure: Neither party liable for delays beyond control

### 20. Contact Information

Client: Primary Contact: client contact Email: client email Phone: client phone

Designer: Email: designer email Phone: designer phone Website: designer website

### 21. Signatures

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

Client:

Name: ────────────

Title: ────────────

Signature: ────────────

Date: ────────────

Designer:

Name: ────────────

Title: ────────────

Signature: ────────────

Date: ────────────

## Vorlage anpassen

Effective Date

Content Deadline

Termination Notice

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## Häufig gestellte Fragen

- **Q:** What happens if the client delays providing content?
  **A:** The contract should include a clause stating that project timelines will be extended if the client fails to provide necessary content or feedback on time.

- **Q:** Who owns the website design and code?
  **A:** Typically, the client owns the final website design and custom code upon full payment. However, designers may retain rights to templates, frameworks, and stock assets. Always clarify ownership terms in the contract.

- **Q:** What is included in post-launch support?
  **A:** Post-launch support typically includes 30-60 days of bug fixes, minor adjustments, and technical assistance. Ongoing maintenance, updates, and new features require a separate maintenance agreement or hourly billing.

- **Q:** How many design revisions are included?
  **A:** Most contracts include 2-3 rounds of revisions per design phase (homepage, inner pages). Additional revisions beyond the agreed number incur extra fees. Define what constitutes a "revision" versus a scope change.

- **Q:** Who is responsible for obtaining and renewing hosting, domain, and SSL certificates?
  **A:** The contract should clearly assign responsibility for hosting setup, domain registration, and SSL certificate procurement. Clients often prefer to own these assets directly so they are not locked into the designer's accounts. The agreement should also address what happens at contract end — including transfer of credentials, DNS settings, and third-party service accounts — so the client can maintain or migrate the site independently without disruption.

## Verwandte Vorlagen

### [Software development agreement template](https://contracko.com/de/vertragsvorlagen/software-development-agreement)

### [Freelance graphic design contract template](https://contracko.com/de/vertragsvorlagen/freelance-graphic-design-contract)

### [Retainer agreement template](https://contracko.com/de/vertragsvorlagen/retainer-agreement)

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