Not all makeup artists use contracts for their makeup jobs. If you have a home studio and book clients for small events, odds are you don’t need a contract. But for larger makeup jobs, where you’re going to travel to meet your client or commit an entire day of work to a single client or event, a good makeup artistry contract will help protect you and your business.
Read on to find out more about how to write a makeup artist contract.
![makeup artist preparing her contract](https://www.qcmakeupacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Makeup-In-Post-19.jpg)
What to Include in your Contract
A few years ago we wrote a full article about exactly what you should include in your contract. Below is a summary of those points, but you can find the full outline here.
- Information on your client including contact information and any allergies/conditions they may have that will affect the products you can use
- A clear outline of your services including the location, times you will be working, the scope of the job, etc.
- Your payment terms, including the final price and any payment arrangements. For example, if a deposit is due in advance, etc.
- Cancellation clauses including a clause that protects you in case of unforeseen circumstances
- Indemnity clauses that protect you and your business against being sued for negligence
Best Practices for Writing Your Makeup Contracts
![makeup artist client signing a contract](https://www.qcmakeupacademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Makeup-In-Post-20.jpg)
Contracts can easily be overdone or completely useless. If you want a simple makeup artistry contract that actually does its job, follow these important points:
- It’s a good idea to use a basic template, and to have a lawyer scan it over to identify any potential legal problems ahead of time. After all, a contract is there to protect you and your makeup business.
- Use simple, straight-forward language. Don’t try to be fancy with your contract. Use “you” when referring to your clients and “I” when referring to yourself.
- Be specific and avoid words that are open to interpretation. For example, instead of saying “afternoon”, say “from Noon to 5pm”. This avoids having clients argue with you about semantics.
- Some clients will ask you to revise some elements of your contract. This in itself isn’t outrageous. Most clients might ask for a slightly different payment structure/deadlines or ask you to clarify terms, etc. However don’t let a client browbeat you into removing your cancellation policy or make other changes you’re not comfortable with.
How to Use Your Makeup Contract
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Using makeup contracts properly will help protect you and your makeup business. Here’s a quick rundown.
- You should use a contract with every client if possible. You can use shorter contracts for quick same-day appointments.
- Read through the contract with your client and explain it to them in plain language. Make sure they understand what they’re signing.
- Send your client an electronic copy of your contract in a format that is not easily editable, like a protected PDF document.
- If a client doesn’t sign the contract in front of you or if they printed your contract themselves, be sure to re-read the contract to ensure it hasn’t been altered in any way.
Makeup artistry contracts can be a pain to set up initially, but trust me, if anything happens, you’ll be glad to have it!
Have you ever written a makeup contract? Let us know if you encountered any unexpected problems in the comments below!