Copywriting T&Cs: 5 new clauses I’ve added in 2025

When I started out as a copywriter, my terms and conditions were… short. Five little lines on my invoices. That was it. I figured it was enough to say “here’s the quote, there are two revisions included, here’s how to pay, let’s go.”

And it was enough. At first. 

Fast forward through the first three years as a copywriter and my T&Cs grew. 15 years later, my T&Cs run about four pages long.

Most of those news clauses have been earned the hard way… by a moment that bit me in the bum. 

Your terms of service (service agreement or T&Cs) aren’t static. They’re living documents that have to evolve with your business. As you get more experienced, your terms should grow to protect you (and your clients) better.

This post shares some scenarios you’ll definitely want covered.

And while I share a terms of service template with Confident Copywriting members, I thought you might like to know five new clauses I’ve added in 2025 (and why you might want to add them too).

1. The single point of contact clause

This one isn’t technically 2025-new, but it deserves a spotlight. A copywriter in my Confident Copywriting group recently shared a horror story of their copy deck getting hundreds of comments during the revisions phase, many of which contradicted themselves.

That’s what happens when revisions turn into a committee sport.

So my terms now spell it out: the client has to nominate one primary contact to collate and confirm revisions and feedback.  

2. The pause clause

Ideally, everyone on the copywriting project is focused on the work to be done, until it’s done. But IRL? Projects slow down. Clients go MIA. Feedback sits in inboxes while weeks slide by. Meanwhile, you’ve moved onto other projects and lost the thread of where you were.

My “pause clause” says if more than 30 days go by without feedback or progress, the project is considered dormant. There’s an additional fee to restart, to cover the time it takes me to reacquaint myself with the work and reschedule delivery. And if the scope has changed during the pause, a new quote might be required (an FYI to the client).

My fee is $250 but it could be $500 or even a percentage of the project total. It should be high enough to get attention.

3. The tools I use clause

Once upon a time, the only tools I used were Word docs and email. Now? I’ve got Google Docs, ClickUp, Loom, Kit, Funnelytics, CRMs, Airtable… and I know copywriters also have Dubsado, SEMRush and, well, you get the point. 

This clause sets the expectation: yes, I’ll use online tools to support delivery. But I won’t store sensitive client data on third-party platforms without consent. Simple. Transparent. Trust-building.

4. The AI Clause

This one feels very 2025, doesn’t it? Clients are already asking: Do you use AI?

My clause says: yes, I may use AI to support my work from admin efficiency, idea generation and parts of my writing process. But every word of final copy is reviewed, refined, and edited by me. The responsibility for originality, tone, and accuracy is mine.

I think of AI as the research assistant who brings me coffee and half-baked ideas. I’m still the one putting them together and making sure it all sings.

5. The digital twist on my force majeure clause

Traditional T&CS talk about “acts of God” — floods, fires, plagues. These days, we also need to cover acts of the internet.

So my force majeure clause now includes delays caused by third-party tool failures. If Google Docs crashes, Zoom won’t connect, or ClickUp decides to take a nap, I’m not liable for the delays. Because honestly? If a solar flare takes out half the web, we’re all behind schedule.

Five new terms for 2025 (and possibly more to come?)

Consider this is your friendly PSA to review your copywriting terms and conditions.

They’re not meant to be perfect out of the gate. They’re meant to be lived in. Tested. Dinged up. Added to after you’ve muttered, “Never again” under your breath.

And they’re not there to scare off clients either. They’re there to protect you from headaches, protect your time, and honestly? Protect your clients too. Clarity is kindness.

There are always going to be bumps but your T&Cs are like the project playbook. When they cover the great, the awkward and “oh my god., this is actual hell” scenarios, it means you’ve got also thought them through, and have a plan.

What’s the one clause you’ve added to your T&Cs after getting burned?