Freelance Terms of Sale (CGV): Why and How to Write Them
People often think of the quote and the invoice, rarely of the general terms of sale (CGV). That is a mistake. The CGV are the legal foundation of your commercial relationship: they set the rules, frame payments and protect you in a disagreement. For a freelancer, good CGV are worth an insurance policy. Here is what they must contain and how to use them.
What are the CGV for?
The CGV define the conditions under which you sell your services: price, deadlines, payment terms, responsibilities, dispute resolution. They apply to all your clients and form the reference framework of every assignment.
Their benefit is twofold:
- on the client side, they bring transparency and trust;
- on the freelance side, they protect you: in a dispute, they determine your rights and obligations, provided the client has accepted them.
Are they mandatory?
The rule depends on your clientele:
- Between professionals (B2B), the CGV must be communicated to any client who requests them. They are not systematically required, but their communication is a legal obligation on request.
- Towards individuals (B2C), pre-contractual information is reinforced: the consumer must know the essential conditions before committing, which makes the CGV almost indispensable.
In all cases, even when not strictly required, written and accepted CGV are far better than a verbal agreement.
What your CGV must contain
Complete CGV cover at least the following points:
| Heading | Content |
|---|---|
| Price and currency | Rates, incl./excl. tax, VAT-franchise note where applicable |
| Payment terms | Deposit, instalments, accepted payment methods |
| Payment deadlines | Payment due date (failing which, 30 days) |
| Late penalties | Applicable rate and €40 flat indemnity |
| Execution | Deadlines, scope, delivery terms |
| Revisions | Number of rounds included, cost of changes |
| Intellectual property | Transfer or licence of deliverables, copyright |
| Liability | Limitation of liability, best-efforts obligations |
| Disputes | Applicable law, mediation, competent jurisdiction |
| Withdrawal | Right of withdrawal for individual clients |
These details partly overlap those of your invoices, but the CGV go further by framing the whole relationship, not just payment.
CGV, quote and contract: how they fit together
Do not confuse the documents:
- the quote describes a specific service and its price for a given assignment (see the freelance quote);
- the CGV set the general rules applicable to all your assignments;
- together, a quote signed "good for agreement" referring to the accepted CGV forms a solid contract.
Good practice: include a note such as "the client declares having read and accepted the CGV" on your quote, and attach or make your CGV accessible. That way, the client cannot claim to be unaware of them.
The CGV, a bulwark against unpaid invoices
Much of the protection against unpaid invoices is played out in the CGV: they are what establish your right to claim late penalties and the flat recovery indemnity. Without a clear clause, it is hard to enforce these rights. That is why CGV, quote and invoicing form an inseparable trio, as we explain in chasing a client who doesn't pay.
Key takeaway: the CGV frame your whole commercial relationship and establish your rights in a dispute or unpaid invoice. Write them once, have them accepted systematically, and adapt them to your activity.
Investing a few hours in solid CGV — or having them checked by a lawyer for high-stakes activities — is one of a freelancer's best protective reflexes. Pair them with quotes and compliant invoices to secure your activity lastingly.