If you’re a freelance social media manager or run a small studio, odds are you’re juggling multiple clients, campaigns, and content calendars at once. You might be posting on six platforms, managing influencer partnerships, running analytics, and handling client requests in real-time — all while trying to maintain some boundaries.
When the work is fast-moving and often evolving, a Master Services Agreement (MSA) is the contract you need.
An MSA is perfect for ongoing client relationships or retainer work. It outlines the core legal terms that govern your relationship — things like IP ownership, payment terms, and confidentiality — and allows you to layer on new projects or scopes of work without renegotiating every time. At Counsel Club, we recommend an MSA if you work with clients long-term or anticipate multiple phases of work.
Here’s what your Social Media Manager MSA should include, and how to generate one in minutes using Counsel Club.
Why Social Media Managers Need a Master Services Agreement
Social media work is never one-and-done. You may start with an initial content strategy, then shift to execution, analytics, or platform expansion. Clients often come back for new campaigns, launches, or even full-on rebrands. Without an overarching agreement in place, you’re stuck renegotiating terms every time the project changes.
A strong MSA helps you:
- Lock in payment terms and IP protections once, so you don’t have to revisit them constantly
- Define how new work gets added (through statements of work or addendums)
- Set clear expectations about ownership, attribution, and communication boundaries
- Give both parties a consistent legal foundation for the entire working relationship
It’s one agreement that scales with you and your client — so you can spend less time on admin and more time creating.
Key Legal Terms to Include in a Social Media MSA
Here are the five contract terms every Social Media Manager should include in their Master Services Agreement:
1. Scope of Work via Statements of Work (SOWs)
Your MSA should reference Statements of Work as the way you’ll define project-specific details like platform mix, posting frequency, deliverables, and timelines.
Make sure the MSA:
- Clearly states that each SOW is governed by the MSA
- Allows you to update or modify the scope through mutual agreement
- Includes language around what happens if there’s a conflict between the MSA and an SOW (usually the SOW controls)
This gives you flexibility without sacrificing legal clarity.
2. Usage Rights and Ownership of Content
You may be creating original graphics, video clips, captions, or strategy docs. Who owns what — and how can it be used?
Your MSA should:
- Define whether the content is a work for hire or whether you’re licensing it to the client
- Clarify what tools, templates, or systems you’re bringing to the table (your background IP) and what rights the client gets
- Protect your ability to reuse general frameworks, checklists, or strategy decks
This keeps your future work unencumbered while still giving your client what they need.
3. Payment Terms and Project Fees
Since an MSA often covers multiple projects or a retainer arrangement, it’s important to set baseline financial terms.
Include:
- How and when invoices will be issued (monthly, project-based, net 15, etc.)
- Whether there are late fees or interest for delayed payment
- Language that gives you the right to pause or terminate work if payments lapse
You can then customize fees and payment milestones in each SOW.
4. Attribution and Portfolio Use
Social proof matters when you're building your business. If you want to feature the work in your portfolio, say so.
Add language to:
- Grant permission to display content samples, results, or performance metrics
- Allow you to name the client in case studies or promotional materials
- Require client consent for sensitive or pre-launch work
Attribution helps grow your credibility — make sure you don’t have to ask twice.
5. Termination and Renewal
Sometimes the relationship ends — ideally on good terms, with clarity.
Your MSA should cover:
- How either party can terminate the agreement
- What happens to unpaid fees or in-progress work
- Whether the agreement automatically renews or requires explicit renewal
Having this in place gives both sides a graceful off-ramp if things change.
How Counsel Club Helps You Create a Custom MSA
Counsel Club takes the guesswork out of legal documents for freelancers and creative businesses. Our Master Services Agreement template is:
- Smart and simple. Just answer a few questions about how you work, what you deliver, and how you get paid.
- Lawyer-drafted. Every clause is written and reviewed by real attorneys who understand your business.
- AI-supported. Amicus, our in-app assistant, is available to help you understand clauses, suggest edits, or explain your rights.
Once your MSA is created, you can reuse it across clients and simply add custom scopes of work as needed.
Questions a Social Media Manager Might Ask Amicus
“Can I reuse a content calendar template I made for another client?”
Yes. Amicus will help you define and retain your background IP rights so you can reuse tools and systems freely.
“The client wants to change our posting schedule. Do I need a new agreement?”
No. Just add a new SOW under the MSA. Amicus can walk you through how to structure it.
“They didn’t pay me this month. Can I pause content delivery?”
Yes. Amicus will help you add a clause that allows you to suspend services if payment is late.
Customize Your Master Services Agreement with Counsel Club
Your services are valuable — and your contract should reflect that. With Counsel Club, you can create a Master Services Agreement that gives you flexibility, protects your content, and sets you up for long-term, successful client relationships.
