Social Media Management Contract Template for Indian Freelancers

Social media management is one of the easiest engagements to get into without a contract — and one of the easiest to blow up.

Unclear expectations about post frequency, who pays for ad spend, who owns the content, what "results" actually mean, and how to handle 11pm WhatsApp edits are the common fights. A good contract eliminates all of them.

12 clauses your social media management contract needs

1. Scope of services

Be specific about which platforms, what you deliver, and how often:

"Service Provider shall manage Client's Instagram and LinkedIn accounts, including: (a) 12 feed posts per month; (b) 30 Reels/stories per month; (c) community management (responding to comments/DMs) on weekdays 10am-6pm IST; (d) monthly analytics report; (e) content calendar shared 7 days in advance."

2. Platforms covered

List them explicitly. "All social media" is a trap. Adding Twitter/X, YouTube, Threads, or Pinterest later is separate scope.

3. Content approval workflow

• You share monthly calendar by 25th of prior month
• Client approves within 3 working days
• No feedback within 3 days = deemed approved
• Client provides brand assets, product photos, logos within 7 days of signing

4. Client responsibilities

• Single point of contact for approvals
• Timely access to accounts (logins/passwords)
• Timely feedback
• Required product/brand information
• Approval for any controversial or legally sensitive posts

5. Ad spend (critical)

Clearly state that the client pays ad spend directly to Meta/Google/LinkedIn — you do not front ad money. You may charge a percentage management fee (10-15% of ad spend is standard) for managing campaigns.

6. Metrics and KPIs

Be honest: you do not guarantee specific follower counts, engagement rates, or sales. Those depend on product quality, market timing, ad budget, brand reputation, and factors outside your control.

Guarantee effort and process, not specific results:

"Service Provider shall deliver the agreed volume of content according to best-practice standards and provide monthly analytics reports. Service Provider does not guarantee specific follower growth, engagement rate, or sales outcomes, which depend on factors outside of Service Provider's control."

7. Revisions and response time

• 2 rounds of revisions per content piece
• Revisions requested after posting are billed at hourly rate
• Response to messages within 24 working hours
• No 24/7 availability; client messages after 7pm IST will be addressed next working day

8. IP and content ownership

• Client owns final posted content upon payment
• You retain pre-existing templates, editing presets, content strategies not specific to client
• You retain portfolio rights to use posted content in case studies
• You are not responsible for third-party IP infringement in client-provided assets (images they send you, brand copy they wrote)

9. Exclusivity and non-compete

If client demands exclusivity in their industry, charge a premium (minimum 25% extra). Non-compete terms beyond the engagement period are generally unenforceable against independent contractors in India.

10. Term and termination

• Minimum 3-month initial term
• 30-day notice for termination by either party
• If client terminates mid-month, fees for work already completed are due; scheduled content already produced is handed over
• On termination, transfer account credentials within 48 hours of final payment

11. Confidentiality

Standard mutual NDA language for 2 years re: strategy, audience data, unannounced campaigns.

12. Fees and payment

• Monthly retainer fee invoiced in advance
• 15% management fee on ad spend (if applicable) invoiced in arrears
• Payment due within 7 days of invoice
• Late fee 1.5% per month

→ Generate a free social media management contract PDF