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 can I legally protect myself from non-paying agency clients?

Legally protect freelance work by using a signed Master Services Agreement (MSA) with clear payment terms, requiring a 30-50% upfront deposit, defining strict 'kill fees' for project cancellations, and retaining intellectual property ownership until the final invoice is paid in full.

What should be included in a freelance contract to ensure payment?

A robust contract must include a specific payment schedule, late fee clauses (e.g., 1.5% interest per month), a defined scope of work to prevent scope creep, and a clear 'Work for Hire' clause that only transfers IP rights upon receipt of full payment.

What are the first steps if an agency client refuses to pay?

First, send a formal demand letter via certified mail. If that fails, escalate to a small claims court filing or hire a collections agency. Ensure you have documented all correspondence and project deliverables as evidence.

How to legally protect freelance work from non-paying agency clients

To legally protect freelance work from non-paying agency clients, you must mandate a signed contract that includes a 30-50% upfront deposit, a strict 'Work for Hire' clause contingent on full payment, and clearly defined late payment penalties. Never begin work without a signed agreement and a non-refundable retainer.

The Foundation: Essential Contract Clauses

A contract is your primary legal shield. Without specific protective language, you are essentially working on a handshake, which provides little recourse in court. Ensure your agreement contains these non-negotiable elements:

Payment Terms: Specify net-15 or net-30 terms. Avoid 'payment upon client receipt' clauses, which allow agencies to delay payment indefinitely.
Kill Fee: Include a clause stating that if the agency cancels the project, they owe a percentage of the total project fee (typically 25-50%) for work already performed.
IP Retention: Explicitly state that intellectual property rights transfer to the client only upon receipt of final payment.
Late Fees: Include an interest clause, such as 1.5% per month on overdue balances, to incentivize timely payment.

Key takeaway: Always include an 'Attorney's Fees' clause, which allows you to recover legal costs from the agency if you are forced to sue for non-payment.

Financial Safeguards: Managing Cash Flow

Agencies often operate on thin margins and may prioritize other vendors over freelancers. You must mitigate your risk by structuring payments to favor the freelancer.

Payment Structure	Risk Level	Best For
100% Upfront	Lowest	Small, one-off projects
50% Deposit / 50% Final	Moderate	Standard agency contracts
Milestone-based	Low	Long-term, high-value projects
Net-60/90	Extreme	Avoid these terms entirely

Action Item: Never start a project until the initial deposit clears your bank account. If an agency refuses to pay a deposit, treat it as a major red flag for future payment issues.

Identifying Agency Red Flags

Not all clients are created equal. Recognizing the signs of a bad-faith agency early can save you thousands in lost revenue.

Vague Scope of Work: If the agency refuses to define the deliverables, they will likely use 'scope creep' to avoid paying the full agreed-upon amount.
Pressure to Sign 'Work for Hire' Immediately: Agencies that demand immediate IP transfer before payment are often setting the stage to withhold funds.
Disorganized Communication: If your point of contact changes frequently or emails go unanswered for days, the agency may be experiencing internal financial instability.

Steps to Take When Payment is Late

If an invoice passes its due date, you must act systematically to preserve your legal standing.

The Friendly Nudge: Send a polite email on day 1 past due, attaching the invoice again.
The Formal Demand: On day 15, send a formal demand letter via certified mail. This serves as evidence if you eventually need to go to court.
Cease Work: If the payment is significantly overdue, stop all deliverables immediately. Do not provide final files or access to live environments.
Small Claims Court: For amounts under your state's limit (usually $5,000–$10,000), you can represent yourself in small claims court without an attorney.

Key takeaway: Keep a 'paper trail' of all project approvals. If the agency claims the work was 'substandard' to avoid paying, your documented approval emails will be your strongest evidence in court.

Leveraging Technology for Contract Security

Manually reviewing every clause in a complex agency contract is time-consuming and prone to human error. TermScore allows you to automatically analyze your freelance contracts against industry standards, flagging risky payment terms, missing IP protections, and unfavorable termination clauses before you sign. By using AI-driven insights, you can ensure your agreements are as robust as those used by top-tier legal firms, giving you the confidence to focus on your creative work rather than chasing invoices.