# Contracts

## Contract Overview

Find all your contracts and create a new contract under the **Contract** tab. Here, you'll see a list of your contracts. The list shows the **title** of the contract, the **project** as well as the **client** the contract was created for. You'll also find the date the contract was **created** and the **status** of the contract. The status can be draft, sent, signed, and archived.\
By clicking on the three dots under **actions** you can edit, resend, download, duplicate, archive or delete the contract. You can also download the audit log, which will show you all changes that were made to the contract.

You can filter your list of contracts by *client, project,* and *status*.

![Contract list on Kosmo](https://442784952-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F8Wz1psyFYFlr2IanSQzC%2Fuploads%2FUKwJRMOWmT9EqckCb1Cn%2FScreen%20Shot%202022-05-11%20at%202.35.44%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=0b060746-e6d6-4780-b749-31d31dbba1da)

To create a new contract, click the "New Contract" button. You'll see a contract notice, explaining that the contract is for general purposes only and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Log into your Kosmo account to review the complete notice. After clicking "I acknowledge the contract is for general information purposes only" you'll be asked to enter a **contract title**. Choosing a **client** and **project** is optional but helps to auto-populate certain information in the contract. Now you have the option to create a **standard contract** or a **custom contract**. 

![Creating a new contract on Kosmo](https://442784952-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F8Wz1psyFYFlr2IanSQzC%2Fuploads%2FWNQ4McWN7CH56XTyog4K%2FScreen%20Shot%202022-05-11%20at%202.47.12%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=9adfa06e-0dae-4565-a52d-a50000d514a8)

## **How to Create a Standard** Contract

After clicking the "New Contract" button and choosing the "Standard Contract" option, you'll be guided through the 4 steps of finishing the contract. All editable information is highlighted in blue on the contract.

First, you'll be asked to enter **client info**, like **company name, contact name, contact title, address, city, state, zip code,** and if you'd like to show the **country**. Only the company and contact name are required fields. If you already entered this information into your client details, the information will be filled out automatically. As you enter the information on the right, you'll see the contract update automatically on the left.

![Client info for a standard contract on Kosmo](https://442784952-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F8Wz1psyFYFlr2IanSQzC%2Fuploads%2F0pLsnAQXxuirMHXSnVF7%2FScreen%20Shot%202022-05-11%20at%202.48.25%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=c62a44e5-f6f1-4a35-a92c-143781107408)

Next, enter your **deliverables**. What exactly are you hired to do?

In step 3, you'll be asked to enter the **start date** and **end date** of the work. Also, enter the **location** to indicate based on which state's or country's law the work is based.

{% hint style="info" %}
Click the "Save" button at any point to save the contract as a draft.
{% endhint %}

Finally, provide some more information regarding the **project payment** terms. What's the **payment type** for this project; *fixed, hourly, daily, weekly, monthly,* or a *per word* rate? Enter the **rate** amount and choose the **currency**. Let the client know if you require a **deposit** and the **amount.** You can also choose whether or not the **client covers all expenses** relating to this project. Let the client know **how much time you allow for payment** of invoices and deposits, for example, 30 or 60 days. Decide if you'll apply a **late fee** if the client doesn't pay on time and the percentage **amount** per month for the fee. You can also choose if you allow the client to ask for **revisions** and the **hourly rate** for the revision work. Click "Finalize" and review the contract one more time before clicking "Go to Signature". 

Click the "Sign Now" button, enter your name, and click "Confirm Signature". Enter the **recipient email** and write the email **message**. You can "Send a Test Email to Yourself" to see what the client will receive or click on "Send Email".

{% hint style="info" %}
You can save email messages under your settings, so you don't have to re-write the message every time you want to send a contract.
{% endhint %}

![Sending a contract on Kosmo](https://442784952-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F8Wz1psyFYFlr2IanSQzC%2Fuploads%2FFeQUHTjwG2KortOzoV3y%2FScreen%20Shot%202022-05-11%20at%203.26.37%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=b9bd461c-d5ad-4ef7-8b98-1823cf52ba61)

## How to Create a Custom Contract

After clicking the "New Contract" button and choosing the "Custom Contract" option, you'll be asked to confirm **contractor** and **client information.** Choose if you and the client are an **individual** or **company** and enter the **names** and **addresses.** If you choose that you or your client is a company, you'll be asked for the **company name and title.** If you already filled out this information in your settings and client details, the fields will be populated automatically. Click "Continue". 

You'll see the standard contract that can be completely edited. Use parts of the contract, delete sections that don't work for your business, add new segments, or paste your own contract. You can style the contract. For example, choose different fonts, headings, colors and link out to external URLs.

![Custom contract on Kosmo](https://442784952-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F8Wz1psyFYFlr2IanSQzC%2Fuploads%2F2Z1g3DujTin6zFCCnl62%2FScreen%20Shot%202022-05-11%20at%203.44.03%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=94bf3b41-28ef-48ee-9077-914020634fa1)

Once you're happy with the contract, click "Sign Now". Click **"**Send a Test Email To Yourself" or "Send Email" if you want to send the contract right away to your client.

## After Sending a Contract

Once you sent a contract, your client will receive an email to view the contract. The contract will open in a new window and the client can review it and download the contract as a PDF. At the bottom of the PDF, the client is asked to "Sign Now". After the client signs, the contract will show both your and the client's signature and the contract cannot be edited anymore.

You'll receive an email notification to let you know that the client signed the contract. A little notification in the dashboard will also update you that a contract was signed. You can view the signed contract in your account and download it as a PDF.

As the last step, the client and you will receive an email with an attachment of the contract PDF, as well as the **contract log** PDF. The contract log shows the **activity log** of the contract, meaning when it was created, and sent, what was modified after the initial creation and when the contract was viewed, signed, and completed.