10 contract red flags every freelancer should know

1. Unlimited indemnity — cap at fees paid or 1× contract value.
2. All work is work-for-hire — carve out pre-existing IP.
3. Net-90 payment — negotiate Net-15 or 30, with late-fee teeth.
4. Auto-renewal — require 30–60 day notice.
5. Non-compete > 12 months — rarely enforceable but creates noise.
6. Termination for convenience without kill fee — ask for 30 days notice + fee.
7. Sole jurisdiction in another country — push for neutral.
8. No SOW versioning — always Schedule A + amendments.
9. Confidentiality without time limit — cap at 3–5 years.
10. No limitation of liability — cap at fees paid.

Use Elevatools Contract Analyzer to flag these automatically.