Free tool · no signup
Contract Red-Flag Checker
Not sure about a clause? Paste it below and find out in seconds whether it’s a common red flag — how serious it is, why it matters, and what to ask for instead.
Copy a single clause or paragraph — the one you’re not sure about — and we’ll tell you if it’s a common red flag.
0 / 2,000
What counts as a contract red flag?
A red flag is any clause that quietly shifts risk, cost, or control onto you — usually written so it doesn’t look alarming at a glance. The most common ones show up again and again:
- Unlimited or uncapped liability — you could owe far more than the deal is worth.
- Automatic renewal with a long or hard-to-hit cancellation window.
- One-sided termination — they can walk away any time; you can’t, or you pay if you do.
- Broad IP or ownership transfer that sweeps in more than the work you’re being paid for.
- Payment terms that put all the risk on you — everything due on completion, no deposit, no late-payment recourse.
The checker above flags these for a single clause. When you’re ready, the full PlainClause review reads your entire contract and finds every one of them — plus what’s missing and what to negotiate.