Starting a freelance business can be very rewarding. You work for yourself, dictate your own hours, and can work in your own home in some instances. However, like any other type of business, you need to know about freelancer legal rights before marketing your services. We’ll also outline how you may and may not advertise your business.
Your Freelancer Legal Rights
We recommend you look up Freelancer’s Union for a more detailed description of your rights as an independent worker. Here are some of your rights in a nutshell:
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You work where and when you want. Your client cannot dictate that you work at a specific location or during certain hours.
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While the client may provide guidelines and expectations, you determine how you will complete the work, the resources you will use, the order you’ll complete the steps in, etc.
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You have the right to take on additional clients. Clients cannot expect you to work only for him/her.
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You have the right to subcontract some of the work to others, even without the client’s knowledge.
For further protection, our firm recommends that you create a contract for every project. Any type of written agreement, even informally via email, may be considered a legally binding agreement.
Provide an Accurate Trade Description
Under the Trade Descriptions Act of 1972, freelancers cannot make misleading claims. If you’re an independent watchmaker, for example, you cannot claim you acquired the parts from Switzerland when you got them from a U.S. supplier. You also cannot include false testimonials, or use them without consent. Our own testimonials, for instance, required written permission.
We Help Freelancers Set Up Shop
Curtis & Casteel Law Group assists independent workers. Our business law department understands the requirements and legal rights of freelance workers just as they do with traditional businesses.
Edited by Justin Vorhees
Business Consultation for Freelancers
Proudly serving the people of south Snohomish County, north King County, and the Greater Seattle area
