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Brief a freelancer and agree the basics in writing

You're hiring a freelancer for a website, bookkeeping, a design or a one-off project. Get a clear brief and a one-page summary of what you've agreed, so there are no arguments at the invoice.

Updated 17 Oct 2026

The prompt · ChatGPT

Help me brief a freelancer and write down what we've agreed.

The job: [what you need]
Deadline: [date]
Budget range: [or say I'd like their quote]
What done looks like: [deliverables]
Who owns the result: [e.g. I own the design files]

First ask me up to 4 short questions. Wait for my answers.

Then:
1. A brief: background, the job, deliverables, deadline, how we'll work, how I'll judge it.
2. A one-page agreement summary: scope, price, payment, changes, ownership, confidentiality, ending early.
3. Ten questions to ask them before we start.
4. A quick check of whether this is really a freelance arrangement, with the GOV.UK employment status page.

Not legal advice. Only use what I've told you, leave blanks for anything I haven't given, and don't invent facts or figures. UK English.

For GOV.UK employment status check, use web search and name the page you used. If it doesn't search on its own, open View all tools and choose Search.

Stay in this ChatGPT chat. Do not turn on apps or connectors, and do not use memory from another chat.

A short example

Fill the blanks, then paste. what you need: a short note you already have. date: a short note you already have. Leave the rest of the prompt as written.

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