What is a deemed acceptance clause?

A deemed acceptance clause stipulates that if a client does not provide written notice of rejection or requested changes within a defined timeframe, the deliverable is legally considered accepted by default.

How many revision rounds should I include in a contract?

Standard industry practice is to include two rounds of revisions. Any additional requests should be billed at an hourly rate or a pre-defined change order fee to discourage scope creep.

A TermScore is an AI-generated risk rating from 0 to 100 that evaluates the fairness and risk level of any legal document. A score of 86-100 means the contract is highly favorable, while 0-30 indicates dangerous terms you should walk away from.

What types of documents can TermScore analyze?

TermScore analyzes any legal document including freelance contracts, employment agreements, residential leases, NDAs, brand sponsorship deals, SaaS vendor agreements, and rental applications. Upload PDFs, Word documents, or images.

How much does TermScore cost?

TermScore offers a free plan with 3 scores per month. The Team plan is $15/month for 30 scores, and the Professional plan is $50/month for 500 scores with team collaboration features.

Is my document data secure?

Yes. Documents are processed in memory and analysis results are stored encrypted. TermScore never shares your document data with third parties and you can delete your data at any time from your dashboard.

How to legally define 'final acceptance' to prevent endless revision requests from agency clients?

Q: How do I prevent endless revision requests from agency clients?

Prevent endless revisions by defining 'final acceptance' as a time-bound, objective process. Include a 'deemed acceptance' clause that triggers automatic approval if the client fails to provide written feedback within a specific window, typically 3 to 5 business days.

How to Legally Define 'Final Acceptance' to Prevent Endless Revisions

To prevent endless revision requests, you must define 'final acceptance' as a time-bound, objective milestone. Your contract must include a 'deemed acceptance' clause, which triggers automatic approval if the client fails to provide written feedback within a strict, pre-defined window, typically 3 to 5 business days.

The Anatomy of a Bulletproof Acceptance Clause

Vague language like 'client satisfaction' or 'approval upon completion' is a liability. It invites subjective feedback that can trap your team in an infinite loop of revisions. To protect your margins, your contract must shift the burden of action to the client.

Essential Components of Acceptance

Objective Criteria: Define deliverables against a specific Statement of Work (SOW).
Time-Bound Review: Set a hard deadline (e.g., 72 hours) for feedback.
Deemed Acceptance: Explicitly state that silence equals approval.
Revision Limits: Cap the number of included revision rounds.

Key takeaway: Always include a 'deemed acceptance' clause. If the client does not respond within your specified window, the project is legally considered accepted, and final payment becomes due.

Action Item: Audit your current master service agreement (MSA) to ensure it contains a 'deemed acceptance' provision. If it does not, draft an addendum immediately.

Comparing Acceptance Models

Model	Risk Level	Control	Best For
Subjective Approval	High	Client	High-end creative
Time-Bound Deemed	Low	Agency	Standard projects
Milestone-Based	Medium	Shared	Long-term builds

Structuring the Revision Process

Scope creep often begins with undefined revision rounds. If you do not limit the number of changes, you are essentially offering an unlimited service for a fixed fee. This is a mathematical guarantee of profit erosion.

Implementing a Revision Policy

Define the Scope: Clearly list what is included in the initial fee.
Set a Hard Cap: Limit the contract to two rounds of revisions.
Define 'Revision': Clarify that revisions apply to existing work, not new feature requests.
Charge for Overages: Attach a specific hourly rate for any work exceeding the two-round limit.

Action Item: Update your SOW templates to include a 'Change Order' section that explicitly states the hourly rate for work outside the original scope.

Jurisdictional Considerations

While contract law varies, the principle of 'freedom of contract' generally allows you to define acceptance terms as you see fit. In the United States, courts typically uphold 'deemed acceptance' clauses provided they are conspicuous and clearly agreed upon. Ensure your acceptance clause is not hidden in fine print; it should be a standalone section in your contract.

Legal Best Practices

Conspicuousness: Use bold text or a separate header for acceptance terms.
Written Notice: Require all feedback to be submitted via a specific channel (e.g., email or project management tool).
Severability: Include a severability clause so that if one part of your acceptance terms is challenged, the rest of the contract remains enforceable.

Key takeaway: Ensure your acceptance terms are clearly visible. A judge is more likely to enforce a clause that was explicitly acknowledged by the client during the signing process.

Action Item: Review your contract's 'Entire Agreement' clause to ensure it supersedes any prior verbal promises made during the sales process.

Automating Contract Compliance

Managing these clauses manually across dozens of client contracts is prone to human error. TermScore allows you to automatically analyze your contracts to identify missing 'deemed acceptance' clauses, inadequate revision caps, and vague language that could lead to scope creep. By using TermScore, you can ensure every contract you send is optimized to protect your agency's time and revenue.