# Software development contracts: 12 clauses to include before you sign

> A good software contract defines scope in writing, ties payments to testable delivery milestones, states you own the code and data, sets a warranty period for fixes, support response times, how changes are priced, and what happens on termination. These clauses prevent most disputes before they start.

Source: https://www.al-arjan.com/en/blog/software-contract-checklist · العربية: https://www.al-arjan.com/ar/blog/software-contract-checklist.md

Author: [AUTHOR_NAME] — 2026-09-26

## The twelve clauses

- Scope: modules, screens and integrations, attached to the contract.
- Delivery milestones: what ships at each stage and when.
- Payments: tied to milestones, not just dates.
- Acceptance criteria: how a milestone is accepted.
- Ownership of source code, designs and data.
- Confidentiality and data protection.
- Warranty period for free bug fixes.
- Post-warranty support: coverage and response times.
- Change requests: how they’re estimated and approved.
- Hosting and accounts: whose name they’re in.
- Documentation and training delivered.
- Termination: handover of completed work and code.

## The two most neglected clauses

First: accounts. Store, hosting, domain and payment-gateway accounts must be in your company’s name, not the developer’s. Second: changes. Agree upfront that any change is estimated for time and cost and approved in writing before work — this alone prevents most disputes.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does this checklist replace a lawyer?

No — it’s a practical checklist; have final wording reviewed by legal counsel.

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