Freelance project planner

Turn a verbal agreement into a written plan before work starts: what you will deliver, how each part counts as done, which payment it belongs to, and what happens if the project is cancelled. A check flags the gaps that most often lead to unpaid work, and you can export the result as a PDF both sides can sign.

Why scope and milestones matter more than the contract template

Most freelance payment disputes are not about legal wording. They are about whether something was in scope, whether it was finished, and when it should have been paid. Those three questions are answered by acceptance criteria, milestones and review deadlines — the parts a generic template leaves blank.

Acceptance criteria: “Done when the client approves” invites endless revision. “Done when the pages render correctly at 375px and 1440px” is a fact either side can check.
A deposit and paid milestones: Splitting payment caps how much work is ever at risk at once. If a client stops paying, you lose one milestone, not the whole project.
A review deadline: Without one, a submission can sit unreviewed indefinitely. Agreeing a number of days gives both sides a clear point at which to follow up.

Got a contract from the client instead? Check it with the contract scanner. Ready to bill a milestone? Make the invoice.

Questions about the planner

Does this hold or protect payments?

No. It plans and documents the project; it does not hold, move or guarantee money. Holding client funds requires a licensed payment arrangement. A clear plan with an upfront deposit and paid milestones is still the most effective protection most freelancers have.

What is the fingerprint on the PDF?

A SHA-256 code computed from the exact plan. If anything is changed, the code changes. If you and your client compare codes and they match, you are both holding the same terms. It is not an electronic signature.

Is the PDF a contract?

It is a summary of agreed terms, laid out so both sides can sign it. Whether a signed copy is binding depends on where you are. For significant projects, have a lawyer in your jurisdiction review it.

Where is my plan stored?

In this browser's local storage, on your device. Nothing is uploaded. Use the Delete link under the export panel to erase the plan and its locked versions.

Freelance project planner

Why scope and milestones matter more than the contract template

Acceptance criteria

“Done when the client approves” invites endless revision. “Done when the pages render correctly at 375px and 1440px” is a fact either side can check.

A deposit and paid milestones

Splitting payment caps how much work is ever at risk at once. If a client stops paying, you lose one milestone, not the whole project.

A review deadline

Without one, a submission can sit unreviewed indefinitely. Agreeing a number of days gives both sides a clear point at which to follow up.