California Freelance Late Fee Calculator (SB 988)
Enter your unpaid invoice amount. We'll calculate your statutory damages, double-damage entitlement, and potential attorney fee recovery under SB 988.
California SB 988 Requirements Overview
Under the California Freelance Worker Protection Act (SB 988), all business-to-freelancer agreements valued at $250 or more must be in writing. The contract must be executed prior to commencing work, and final payments must be cleared within 30 days of invoice receipt, unless a mutual written timeline is specified.
Key Legal Notice:
- Failure to provide a written contract is a direct statutory violation.
- Hiring parties who pay late face double damages and attorney fee liabilities.
- SB 988 rights cannot be waived by any contractual clauses.
Web Developer SB 988 Contract Template
Review and copy this basic statutory template text. It contains the strict boilerplate language required by the State of California, customized specifically for freelance web developers.
FREELANCE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT ================================================== This Engineering Services Agreement is drafted in strict compliance with the California Freelance Worker Protection Act (SB 988). 1. PARTIES: - Developer: [Your Name / Engineering Entity] - Client: [Client Entity / Name] 2. SCOPE OF WORK & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: - Scope: Frontend/Backend Software Development, API Integration, and Code Deployment. - IP Transfer: Full ownership of the production code and repository access transfers to the Client ONLY upon zero-balance clearance of the final invoice. 3. TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE: - Agreed Price: $[Enter Total Amount] - Payment Structure: [e.g., Retainer + Net-15 Net-30 Terms] 4. STATUTORY LATE PENALTY NOTICE: - Final payment is strictly due within 30 days of code hand-off or invoice presentation. - Any late payment authorizes the Developer to seek up to double the contract price plus formal attorney fees in California Small Claims Court under CA Civil Code SB 988.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How is the late fee calculated under California SB 988?
A: You're entitled to the full unpaid amount as statutory damages — effectively doubling your recovery — plus reasonable attorney fees and court costs.
Q: Does interest accrue on unpaid freelance invoices in California?
A: Yes. In addition to SB 988 damages, California law allows prejudgment interest at 7% per year on unpaid amounts from the date they became due.