Types of Freelancer Contracts and Their Responsibilities

News Oct 13, 2025

Last week, a freelancer I’ve been working with asked me about different types of freelance contracts.
And as I talked with more freelancers, I realized that many of them don’t actually know what kind of contract they’re under.

So today, let’s go over the main types of freelance contracts and what each one means in terms of responsibility.

Generally, there are three main types of freelancer contracts — Part-time, Full-time, and Turnkey contracts!

Part-time Contract

Just like it sounds, this type of contract is for working a set number of hours only.
For example, you might work four hours a day or around twenty hours a week.

The working hours and hourly rate (or unit rate) are clearly defined in the contract.
During those hours, you work according to the client’s direction — within the agreed scope of work, of course.

So, what are you responsible for under a part-time contract?
Simply put, it’s about doing your job faithfully within the contracted hours. The focus is less on the final output and more on how diligently you work during the agreed time.
(Of course, if you slack off… there probably won’t be a next contract )

Full-time Contract

This is the most common type among freelancers.
Even though you’re a freelancer, you work eight hours a day, five days a week — almost like a regular team member.

You join team meetings, communicate in real-time through collaboration tools, and work closely with the company.
Payment is usually made monthly rather than hourly.

And your responsibility?
The quality and reliability of your work.
In a full-time contract, the key point is:
“Can you stand behind the quality and outcome of what you’ve done?”
That’s what really matters.

Turnkey Contract

A turnkey contract is a project-based contract focused entirely on the final result.
Here, the outcome is everything —
When, where, or how many hours you worked doesn’t matter.

What matters is the quality of the deliverable and meeting the deadline. For example, if the contract says, “Please build a website,”
you’re responsible for completing everything — design, development, testing, and even server setup — and delivering a finished product.

You’re also fully accountable for the quality and on-time delivery of that result. If any issues arise, you’re expected to fix them as part of your responsibility.

In short, a turnkey contract means
You take full responsibility for the completeness and quality of the final deliverable.

When you work as a freelancer, always check the type of contract, the scope of work, and your responsibilities — and make sure you only work within that scope!