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Foundation · Build the basics
Simple Terms for Your Customers
Agree the basics in plain English before the work starts.
- Workbook
- 9 pages
- About 60 minutes to fill in
- Google Docs · Word · PDF
Making this yourself would take about 9 hours: working out the steps, writing the examples and setting it up in Google, Microsoft and PDF. It's done for you.
The voice in this video is George's, made with AI.
What it's for
You're about to take on paying customers, or you just had your first few. Use it to agree on the basics in plain English before anyone is upset. This is education, not legal or tax advice.
Pairs well with
- Price Your Offer (know your price and deposit first)
- Set Up the Basics (the other things to sort before money changes hands)
- Delivering Your First Jobs Well (put the terms to work)
What you'll leave with
- Plain answers to the six questions every customer wonders about. What's included? When? How do I pay? What if it changes? What if someone cancels? What if something goes wrong?
- A short message for getting your customer to say "yes, agreed" in writing.
- A clear sense of when to have a lawyer look it over.
- A one-page Simple Terms Sheet you can copy, fill in and send.
Look inside
How to use it
Work through the steps in order. Each one has a worked example and space to write your own answer.
- List What Has Gone Wrong, or CouldStart from your real situations, not a template.
- Say What's Included, and What Isn'tSo nobody has to guess.
- TimingWrite when the work happens, how long it takes and how fast you reply.
- PaymentWrite how much, when and how.
- ChangesDecide how you'll handle "just one more thing."
- Cancellations and No-Shows, on Both SidesSay what happens when plans change, for them and for you.
- If Something Goes WrongSay how you'll handle it, calmly, before it happens.
- Anything Specific to Your WorkAdd the few things that only matter in your line of work.
- Share It and Get a Clear "Yes"Send it and get agreement before the work starts.
- When to Have a Lawyer CheckSee when one page is enough and when your work needs more.
- Tools That Help HereSee the free tools that help.
- Do It With AIUse the prompts to find gaps in your terms.
- Example: Carmen's Finished TermsSee what a finished sheet can look like.
- My Simple Terms SheetFill in yours and copy it into a text, email or document.
Tips
- Keep it to one page. Customers read one page.
- Write it kindly. Clear terms protect your customer as much as you.
- Rules differ by place and kind of work. Read section 10 before you rely on it.
Three formats, one purchase
- Google DocsMake a copy in your Google Drive and type straight into it.
- Microsoft WordDownload and fill it in on your computer.
- PDFPrint it and fill it in with a pen.
Foundation pack
Also in the Foundation pack
6 documents in all
Build Your First Offer
Turn what you learned into one small offer people can say yes to.
About 10 hours to make yourself
Price Your Offer
Set a first price that covers your costs and your time.
About 9 hours to make yourself
Pricing Calculator
Change one number and see your price and what you keep.
About 6 hours to make yourself
Set Up the Basics
Put the few protections in place before money changes hands.
About 10 hours to make yourself
Simple Money Tracker
Money in, money out, and what to set aside for taxes.
About 6 hours to make yourself
Ready to start?
Pay once, keep it, and download it as often as you like.