Why this clause is risky
This clause lets the client end the contract whenever they want, for no reason, and pay you only for work that is finished and accepted. The most valuable work (discovery, setup, drafts) is rarely formally accepted yet, so it goes unpaid.
And you held your calendar for them, turning down other work to do it. A kill fee puts a price on walking away so the risk is shared instead of landing entirely on you.
The pushback email
Copy this, fill in the brackets, send it.
Subject: One tweak on the termination section
Hi [Client name], The scope and rate look good. One concern: as written, you can end this anytime and I would eat the work in progress plus the calendar I held for you. Can we make it 30 days notice, payment for all work done through the end date (including work in progress), and a kill fee of 25% of what is left? That shares the risk fairly. Thanks, [Your name]
One clause down. What about the rest?
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General information, not legal advice. FinePrint is not a law firm. This email is a starting point, not legal advice. For high-stakes agreements, talk to a licensed attorney.