Simple Freelance Contract in Lebanon: What to Include

A lot of freelancers in Lebanon work on a handshake and a "we agreed on it, right?" — until something goes wrong. The client asks for endless revisions, disappears before the final payment, or insists "that's not what we said." This is exactly where a simple freelance contract in Lebanon and knowing what to include saves you. It doesn't need to be a dense legal document full of words you don't understand. It just needs the essential clauses that protect both you and the client. In this guide we walk through it clause by clause, in plain language, and explain how Furrsati's milestone and escrow structure quietly acts as a built-in contract layer.

Why a freelancer in Lebanon needs a contract at all

Some people think a contract scares the client off. The opposite is true. A clearly written agreement makes you look professional and reassures the client, because they know exactly what they'll receive and what they'll pay. More importantly, Lebanon's financial reality is volatile: fresh dollars are not the same as old bank dollars (lollars), and the exchange rate moves. A clear contract locks down all of this before it turns into a fight.

A contract isn't only legal armor. The honest truth is that for most small projects — a simple website, a logo, managing a page — taking someone to court in Lebanon over a small amount is impractical. It costs more time and money than the project is worth. So the real value of a contract is that it prevents the dispute in the first place by making expectations crystal clear.

The essential clauses your contract must include

Let's go through them one by one. These clauses cover about 90% of the problems that come up between a freelancer and a client.

1. Parties and dates

Start with the basics: your full name and the client's name (or company name), a contact for each side, and the project start date. If the client is a company, name the actual person who will approve deliverables. This stops anyone from later vanishing and claiming "I wasn't the one responsible."

2. Scope of work — the single most important clause

Around 90% of disputes come from an unclear scope. Write in detail what you will deliver: for example, "a 5-page website — Home, About, Services, Blog, Contact — mobile responsive — no online payment system." Just as important, write down what is not included. If the client later wants an online booking system, that's a new project at a new price.

Also set the number of allowed revisions. For example: "two free revision rounds, then each additional round at $X." Without this clause, you'll find yourself editing forever.

3. Price and currency — in USD, explicitly

In Lebanon you have to be very precise here. State the amount in US dollars explicitly, and specify fresh dollars (new cash or an international transfer), not lollars or a USD bank cheque drawn on old money. The real-value gap is huge. If you'll be paid in Lebanese pounds, specify which exchange rate (e.g. the market rate on the day of payment), because the rate moves.

Also write down the agreed payment method: OMT, Whish, bank transfer, or USDT. Each has different fees and arrival times, so specify who covers the fee. For more on invoicing and structuring payments, we have a full guide on the basics of freelancer invoicing in Lebanon.

4. Payment schedule and milestones

Never work a whole project and only get paid at the very end — especially with a new client you haven't worked with before. Split the project into milestones, each with its own payment. A classic example:

• An upfront deposit (30%–50%) before you start.
• A mid payment when half the work is delivered.
• A final payment on final delivery and approval.

The deposit percentage depends on project size and how much you trust the client, but somewhere between 30% and 50% is generally reasonable. This split protects you: if the client disappears halfway, you've at least been paid for the work you completed.

5. Ownership of the work (when it transfers to the client)

A point many people forget: who owns the final work, and from when? The smart, practical rule is that ownership transfers to the client after full payment. In other words, until the freelancer receives the last payment, the files stay theirs. This single clause protects you from someone taking your work without paying. We cover this in more depth in IP ownership of delivered work in Lebanon.

6. Deliverables and formats

Specify exactly what you'll hand over and in what format. A designer, for example: "source files (PSD/AI) + ready PNG and SVG exports." A developer: "code on a Git repository + basic setup documentation." Without this clause, you'll get a "where are the source files?" argument after delivery.

7. Deadlines and what happens if someone is late

Write the expected delivery date for each milestone. But be realistic too: in Lebanon we live the electricity and internet reality. If the generator cuts out or the connection drops, delivery can slip. Add a small clause about "circumstances beyond control" (long power outages, connectivity problems) that gives you reasonable flexibility. On the flip side, specify what happens if the client is late giving you approvals or materials (images, copy) — because their delay delays you.

8. Termination

What happens if someone wants to stop the project halfway? A simple clause is enough: "If the client cancels the project, the freelancer keeps the payments for work completed up to the cancellation date." That way no one is unfairly harmed.

How Furrsati works as a built-in contract layer

Here's the key point. When you work through Furrsati, many of these clauses become built into the system automatically — you don't have to write them from scratch every time:

• Milestones and escrow: the client funds each milestone upfront, and the money is held safely. You work with peace of mind knowing the amount actually exists and is locked. After you deliver and the milestone is approved, the payment is released. This alone covers the "payment schedule" and "upfront deposit" clauses.
• Documented scope: the job description and the agreement are written and stored on the platform, so there's no "that's not what we said."
• Message history: all communication is logged, which serves as evidence if a dispute ever arises.
• Clear currency: all contracts are in US dollars, so there's no fresh-vs-old confusion at the platform level.

In other words, the structure itself acts as a practical contract for small and medium projects. You can browse the available jobs or look at services like web development to see how each project is broken into clear milestones from the start.

When should you bring in a lawyer?

Everything above covers small and medium projects. But some situations genuinely need a real lawyer, not just a simple contract:

• High-value projects (contracts worth thousands of dollars or a long-term relationship).
• Agreements with sensitive confidentiality clauses (NDAs) or profit-sharing.
• Work with large companies or government bodies that have their own legal requirements.
• Any situation with ongoing obligations or significant liability if something goes wrong.

In these cases, the cost of a lawyer's consultation is cheap compared to the risk. Keep the simple contract for simple projects, and the lawyer for complex ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a contract written over WhatsApp or email binding in Lebanon?

Practically, any clear written agreement that names both parties and the terms is far better than a verbal one. WhatsApp messages and emails can be used as evidence that an agreement existed. For larger projects, though, a formal signed contract or a lawyer is safer.

What's the best way to receive payments as a freelancer in Lebanon?

It depends on the client. For local clients, OMT and Whish are fast and common. For clients abroad (diaspora or the Gulf), a bank transfer or USDT is sometimes more suitable. The key is to write the payment method and currency (fresh dollars) into the contract from the start.

How do I protect myself if the client refuses to pay the final installment?

The strongest protection is to work with milestones and an upfront deposit, so you're never exposed to the full amount at the end. On a platform like Furrsati, the money is held in escrow before you start the work, so there's no way for the client to "disappear" after delivery.

Do I have to give the client the source files?

That's your call, but it should be written into the contract. Many freelancers deliver only the final ready file, with source files as an extra charge or transferred after full payment. The important thing is to be clear from the start so there's no misunderstanding.

How big should the deposit be?

There's no magic number, but 30% to 50% is common and reasonable in Lebanon, especially with a new client. The newer and less-known the client, the higher the deposit logically should be.

Stay protected from the start

A simple, clear contract isn't a luxury — it's protection for you and the client. Write the essential clauses, split payments into milestones, and be explicit about currency and ownership. And if you want to skip all that work and operate with protection built into the system, come join Furrsati as a freelancer and start your projects knowing your money is held before you begin. Your work deserves to be protected.