Contract template for social media managers
The worst social media disputes are about access. A manager sets up a business account under their own login, the relationship ends, and the client cannot get into their own page. Or the client changes passwords mid-month and still expects posts to go out. The contract should say that the accounts belong to the client and that access is granted through proper roles, not shared passwords.
The second category is blame. A post goes out that the client approved and it gets a bad reaction, or a comment goes unanswered over a holiday weekend. Spell out the approval process, the response hours, and that you do not guarantee followers, reach or sales, because the platforms control all three.
Not legal advice. This is a plain-language starting point, not a contract drafted for your situation or your country. For anything large or unusual, have a lawyer where you work read it before you sign.
Clauses specific to social media managers
- Account ownership. All social accounts, pages and ad accounts belong to the client. The manager is given access through each platform's role or partner system and gives that access back when the agreement ends.
- Ad spend. Advertising spend is paid by the client directly to the platforms. If the manager pays any spend on the client's behalf, it is invoiced at cost with receipts.
- Approvals. The client approves the content calendar before it is scheduled. Approved posts are the client's responsibility once published. Posts not approved by the agreed date may be held back.
- Response hours. Community management covers business days during the hours listed in the quote. Weekend or out-of-hours coverage is only included if the quote says so.
- No guaranteed results. The manager does not guarantee follower numbers, reach, engagement or sales, since these depend on platform algorithms and factors outside the manager's control.
- Content rights. Content created by the manager may be used by the client on its own channels once paid for. Stock, music and fonts remain subject to their own licence terms.
The clauses every freelance contract needs
- Parties. Who the agreement is between: your legal name or business, the client's legal entity, and the addresses of both.
- Scope of work. What you will deliver, in what form, and what is explicitly not included. Refer to the quote or proposal by number if it lists the details.
- Fees and payment terms. The total fee or rate, the currency, any deposit, when invoices are issued and how many days the client has to pay.
- Late payment. What happens when an invoice is late: interest or a fixed fee if you want one, and your right to pause work until the account is settled.
- Changes and revisions. How many revision rounds are included, what counts as a change of scope, and how extra work is priced and approved.
- Timeline and client delays. Key dates, and that deadlines move when the client is late with feedback, content or approvals.
- Ownership and licence. Who owns the finished work and when (usually on full payment), what the client may use it for, and what you keep, such as your tools, templates and know-how.
- Confidentiality. Both sides keep the other's non-public information private, during the project and after it.
- Cancellation. How either side can end the agreement, the notice required, and payment for work done up to that point.
- Liability. A cap on what either side can claim, often the fees paid under the agreement, and no liability for indirect losses.
- Governing law. Which country's law applies and where disputes are heard. Usually where you are based.
A plain-language sample
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and cut what doesn't apply. Shorter is fine as long as the scope, the money and the rights are clear.
1. Parties
This agreement is between [Your name or business], the social media manager ("we"), and [Client legal name], the client ("you"), and starts on [date].
2. The work
We will deliver the work described in quote [number], dated [date]. Anything not listed there is outside this agreement and will be quoted separately before we start on it.
3. Account ownership
All social accounts, pages and ad accounts belong to the client. The manager is given access through each platform's role or partner system and gives that access back when the agreement ends.
4. Ad spend
Advertising spend is paid by the client directly to the platforms. If the manager pays any spend on the client's behalf, it is invoiced at cost with receipts.
5. Approvals
The client approves the content calendar before it is scheduled. Approved posts are the client's responsibility once published. Posts not approved by the agreed date may be held back.
6. Response hours
Community management covers business days during the hours listed in the quote. Weekend or out-of-hours coverage is only included if the quote says so.
7. No guaranteed results
The manager does not guarantee follower numbers, reach, engagement or sales, since these depend on platform algorithms and factors outside the manager's control.
8. Content rights
Content created by the manager may be used by the client on its own channels once paid for. Stock, music and fonts remain subject to their own licence terms.
9. Fees and payment
The fee is [amount and currency]. We invoice [a deposit of X on signing and the balance on delivery / monthly in arrears]. Invoices are due within [14] days. If an invoice is more than [14] days late we may pause work until it is paid.
10. Changes
The quote includes [number] rounds of revisions. Further changes, or changes to work you have already approved, are charged at [rate] once you have agreed to the cost in writing.
11. Delays
Dates in the quote assume you send feedback and material on time. If you are late, the dates move by at least the same amount.
12. Confidentiality
We both keep the other's non-public information confidential, during this project and after it ends.
13. Ending the agreement
Either of us can end this agreement with [14] days' written notice. You pay for the work done up to the end date, and anything already paid for is yours to use under the terms above.
14. Liability
Neither of us is liable for indirect or consequential losses. Our total liability under this agreement is limited to the fees you have paid under it.
15. Law
This agreement is governed by the law of [country], and disputes are heard by the courts of [city or country].
Signatures
Social media manager: [name, date]. Client: [name, title, date].
Questions social media managers ask
Who owns a business's social media accounts if a freelancer set them up?
The business should, and the contract should say so. Set accounts up in the client's name and add yourself as an admin or partner, never the other way round. That avoids any argument about handing them back later.
Can a social media manager guarantee followers?
No, and the contract should say you do not. Platforms change how content is shown without notice. You can commit to the work: posting frequency, response times, reporting. Not to the numbers.
What notice period should a social media retainer have?
Thirty days is common after an initial minimum term. It gives you time to replace the income and the client time to hand the accounts to someone else without a gap in posting.
Get it signed without printing it
OIO has contract templates built in (service agreement, retainer, IP assignment, NDA) that you edit to fit, sign in the Sign app and send as a PDF. The contract sits next to the project and its invoices. Free plan, no card.
Start freeAlso for social media managers: invoice template and quote template. Contract templates for related trades: marketing consultants, content writers, copywriters, graphic designers. Or browse all contract templates.