California Freelance Editing Agreement

CALIFORNIA FREELANCE EDITING AGREEMENT

Effective date: [__/__/____]

Before you use this: Confirm that the parties, $250 compensation threshold, and editing services meet Bus. & Prof. Code § 18101 and Labor Code § 2778(b)(2)(J). For that editing category, the contract must state the pay rate, intellectual-property rights, and a defined payment time, and the worker must meet the stated replacement, work-location, and other-client conditions. Complete the payment and service-list dates before signing.

Client: [________________________________], mailing address [________________________________] ("Client")

Editor: [________________________________], mailing address [________________________________] ("Editor")

Client and Editor agree as follows.

1. Manuscript and level of edit

Client engages Editor to edit [title or working title: __________], approximately [____] words, in [genre or subject: __________]. Select and describe the work purchased:

☐ Developmental edit: structure, organization, argument, pacing, or audience fit; written editorial letter [____] pages.

☐ Line edit: sentence-level clarity, flow, and style, with tracked changes.

☐ Copyedit: grammar, consistency, citations, and style-sheet preparation under [style guide and edition: __________].

☐ Proofread: typographical and layout errors in [final proof format: __________]; no substantive rewriting.

Excluded tasks, such as fact-checking, permissions clearance, legal review, indexing, and image selection: [________________________________]. The parties will agree in writing on fees and timing before Editor performs excluded or added work.

2. Files, schedule, and acceptance

Client will deliver a complete, editable manuscript by [__/__/____] in [format: __________], with a list of names, house style, and known permissions issues. Editor will deliver [tracked-changes file / clean file / style sheet / editorial letter: __________] by [__/__/____]. Client will return questions or a consolidated response within [____] days. The fee includes [____] follow-up pass(es) on the same manuscript, up to [____] words each. Rewriting after substantial author changes is a new scope.

Client is responsible for final decisions about content, factual claims, citations, and publication. Editor may flag an issue without guaranteeing that every error will be found. Client accepts the deliverables by written approval or by supplying a specific correction list within [____] days; silence alone does not waive a claim for undelivered work.

3. Payment and cancellation

Itemize each selected service and its value or rate: [________________________________]. Fee: $[____] ☐ fixed ☐ per word ☐ per hour, estimated at [____] hours with a cap of $[____] absent written approval. Deposit due on signing: $[____]. Remaining invoices and due dates: [________________________________]. Editor will submit an itemized list of services rendered by [__/__/____] for Client's payment processing. The final payment date or precise method for determining it is [________________________________]. Approved expenses require advance written consent. If Client cancels, Editor receives payment for completed work and approved noncancelable costs. Editor will return the latest paid-for files within [____] days after payment.

4. Manuscript rights and editorial contribution

Client retains its rights in the manuscript and authorizes Editor to make copies solely to perform the edit. Editor has no right to publish the manuscript. To the extent Editor's original revisions or editorial material are protected by copyright, Editor hereby assigns those rights to Client, effective upon full payment of the agreed fee. Editor keeps preexisting tools, templates, and general editing methods. Any separately licensed material embedded in a deliverable is listed here with its permitted use: [________________________________]. This signed writing transfers only Editor's own rights and does not purport to transfer rights of the manuscript's author or other third parties.

5. Confidentiality and credit

Editor will keep the manuscript and unpublished information confidential, sharing them only with approved assistants: [________________________________]. This duty excludes information already public or lawfully received without restriction. Editor may identify the project in a portfolio ☐ after publication and with Client's approval ☐ never without separate written consent. Editorial credit, if any: [________________________________].

6. Relationship and general terms

Editor controls the means of editing and cannot bind Client. This records the parties' intent; applicable law controls classification. Either party may terminate for material breach after written notice and [____] days to cure a curable breach. [STATE] law governs, subject to mandatory law. Changes require a writing signed by both parties. Notices go to the addresses above or updated addresses supplied in writing.

California freelance-worker terms

For a transaction covered by the California Freelance Worker Protection Act, Client will furnish Editor a signed copy of this Agreement, physically or electronically, and retain its copy for at least four years (Bus. & Prof. Code § 18103). The agreed payment date or calculation method entered above controls. If the Agreement does not specify when Client will pay, payment is due no later than 30 days after completion of the covered services, subject to other applicable law (§ 18102). The itemized services, their values and rates, both mailing addresses, and the service-list submission date entered above are part of this Agreement (§ 18103).

Client signature: __________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Editor signature: __________________________ Date: [__/__/____]