ScopeLine

Free generator

Kill fee clause generator

A client pulling the plug halfway through shouldn't mean you eat the work. Set your deposit, minimum kill fee and notice period, see what a client would owe if they cancelled today, and copy a plain-English cancellation clause. Runs in your browser, no signup.

  • Work completed: $2,000
  • Kill fee floor: $1,000
  • Client owes: $2,000
  • Deposit already paid: $1,200
  • Final invoice: $800

Your cancellation and kill fee clause

Cancellation. Either party may end this project by written notice. Client Co. may cancel at any time; Your Name may cancel with 7 days' written notice.

Deposit. The 30% deposit ($1,200) reserves Your Name's time and is non-refundable, but is credited against the amount owed on cancellation.

Kill fee. If Client Co. cancels after work has started, Client Co. will pay the greater of (a) the value of work completed to the cancellation date, measured by finished milestones or at $75 per hour, or (b) a kill fee of 25% of the total project fee ($1,000). The amount owed will not exceed the total project fee.

Payment and files. Your Name will send a final invoice within 7 days of cancellation, payable within 14 days. Work completed to date is delivered once that invoice is paid; usage rights transfer only for paid work.

If Client Co. cancels before any work starts, the deposit is kept as the kill fee and nothing further is owed.

Not legal advice. Check the wording against your own contract and local law.

How to use it

  1. Enter your name, the client and the total project fee.
  2. Set the deposit you take up front and whether it comes back if the client cancels before you start.
  3. Choose a minimum kill fee. 25% to 50% of the fee is a common range for creative and development work.
  4. Use the try-it box to see what the client would owe if they cancelled partway through.
  5. Copy the clause and paste it into your contract, proposal or statement of work.

Pair it with a revision clause and a milestone payment schedule in your statement of work, so "work completed" is easy to measure if a project ends early.

Know exactly what was agreed when a project ends

ScopeLine stores your original deal, logs each client request against it and turns extras into change orders the client approves through a link, no login. If a project is cancelled, you have the record of what was in scope and what was done. Free for 3 active projects, no card.

Start free on ScopeLine

FAQ

What is a kill fee?
A kill fee is what a client pays if they cancel a project after you've started. It covers the time you reserved and the work you've already done, so a cancellation midway doesn't leave you unpaid.
How much should a freelance kill fee be?
Many freelancers charge 25% to 50% of the total fee, or the value of work completed if that's higher. This generator uses the greater of the two and caps it at the full project fee.
Should my deposit be refundable?
A non-refundable deposit protects the slot you turned other work down for. A refundable one can be easier to sell to new clients. Either way, the deposit should be credited against whatever the client owes on cancellation.
Can I cancel a freelance project myself?
Yes, but give notice and deliver or refund fairly. The clause lets you cancel with a notice period you choose, so ending a bad-fit project is a process rather than a dispute.
Is this clause legally binding?
It is plain-English starter wording, not legal advice. It works best inside a signed contract or accepted proposal. Check it against your own contract and the law where you and your client work.

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