Not legal advice — have a lawyer review it. Word, Google Docs and PDF.
Last updated
AGREEMENTTemplate preview · Example
01
Services
Services as described in the statement of work; timesheets for each billing period.
02
Fees and payment
Deposit before work starts, invoices due within 14 days, expenses at cost with approval.
03
Timesheet approval
The contractor submits timesheets weekly. The client approves or queries them within five working days; unqueried timesheets are treated as approved.
04
Termination
Either party can end the agreement with written notice; work done to date is paid.
What an independent contractor agreement covers
An independent contractor agreement sets out the terms on which a self-employed person provides services to a business: the work, how they’re paid, who owns the output and the fact that they’re not an employee.
Important: the label in the contract doesn’t decide employment status. Tax authorities and courts look at the real relationship, such as control over how work is done, who provides equipment and whether the person can send a substitute. Rules differ by country (for example IRS guidance in the US, or IR35 in the UK), so get advice if you’re unsure.
The template
Parties
Company: [Legal name, address, email]
Contractor: [Legal name, address, email]
Effective date: [Date]
1. Services
The Contractor will provide the services described in Schedule 1 [or a statement of work] (“the Services”).
2. Fees and invoicing
Rate: [Hourly / daily / fixed]
Invoicing: [Weekly / monthly, with approved timesheets]
Payment terms: [e.g. 14 days]
Expenses: [Only with prior written approval]
3. Independent status
The Contractor is an independent business and not an employee, worker or partner of the Company.
The Contractor decides how, when and where the Services are performed, subject to agreed deadlines.
The Contractor provides their own equipment and is responsible for their own taxes, insurance and benefits.
[Optional] The Contractor may send a suitably qualified substitute with the Company’s reasonable approval.
4. Intellectual property
On payment, the Contractor assigns to the Company all rights in work created specifically for the Company under this agreement, and waives moral rights where the law allows. The Contractor keeps pre-existing tools and know-how.
5. Confidentiality
The Contractor keeps the Company’s and its clients’ information confidential during and after this agreement.
6. Non-solicitation
[Optional] For [6] months after this agreement ends, the Contractor will not directly solicit the Company’s clients they worked with. Restrictions like this must be reasonable to be enforceable.
7. Term and termination
Starts on the effective date and continues until [date / completion].
Either party may end it with [7] days’ written notice.
The Company pays for Services performed up to termination.
General
Entire agreement: this agreement (and any statements of work under it) is the whole agreement between the parties on its subject.
Changes: changes to this agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties.
Notices: notices are sent to the email addresses above, or as updated in writing.
Governing law: this agreement is governed by the laws of [jurisdiction], and the courts of [jurisdiction] have jurisdiction.
Schedule 1 — Services
[Description of services]
[Location and hours, if relevant]
[Deliverables and deadlines]
[Timesheet approver]
Signatures
[Party A]
[Party B]
Name
Title
Signature
Date
How to fill it in
Fill in both parties’ legal names and addresses, and the effective date.
Describe the services and deliverables, or reference a signed statement of work.
List exclusions and the client’s responsibilities, with dates where they affect yours.
Set the fee, deposit, payment terms, expenses and late payment terms.
Review the contractor-specific clauses, such as timesheet approval, and adapt them to the project.
Have a lawyer review the template for your jurisdiction, then sign it before work starts.
Use it in Word, Google Docs or PDF
Microsoft Word
Download the Word (.docx) file and open it. If Word opens it in Protected View, select Enable Editing.
Use Find (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) and search for “[” to jump between the placeholders you need to replace.
Save a clean copy as a Word template (File → Save As → Word Template) so every new document starts from it.
Google Docs
Upload the .docx file to Google Drive.
Right-click it and choose Open with → Google Docs, then File → Save as Google Docs to keep an editable copy.
Use File → Make a copy for each new client so your master stays clean.
PDF
Use Print or save as PDF in the template section above to print just the template, or fill it in Word or Google Docs first and export it (File → Save As → PDF in Word, File → Download → PDF document in Google Docs).
Example: key terms for Ridgeway Technical Services and Elmstead Systems
How the main clauses read once filled in for a network upgrade support. Both companies are fictional.
Parties and dates
Provider: Ridgeway Technical Services
Client: Elmstead Systems
Effective date: 1 March
Services
Services as described in the statement of work
Timesheets for each billing period
Not included
Equipment purchases unless agreed
Work outside the agreed hours without approval
Fees and payment
Fee: $7,236.00 excluding tax, as itemised in the proposal
Deposit: $2,171.00 (30%) before work starts
Payment terms: Invoices due within 14 days
Notice: 14 days’ written notice by either party
Timesheet approval
The contractor submits timesheets weekly. The client approves or queries them within five working days; unqueried timesheets are treated as approved.
Common mistakes
Starting work before it’s signed. Most disputes start on projects where the terms were “agreed on a call”.
A scope described in one line. Reference a detailed scope or statement of work.
No change process. Without one, every extra request becomes a negotiation.
Copying clauses you don’t understand. If you can’t explain a clause to the client, ask a lawyer about it.
Angelwood’s proposal software builds proposals and agreements from your own templates, shows when the client has opened them and collects e-signatures, with a countersignature to execute the agreement.
Does a contractor agreement make someone a contractor?+
No. Status depends on how the relationship works in practice. If the person is controlled like an employee, a contract calling them a contractor won’t change that. Take advice where you’re unsure.
Who owns work a contractor creates?+
It depends on the law and the contract. Without a clear assignment, a contractor may own what they create. Include an IP clause that assigns project work to you on payment.
Is a contract template legally binding?+
A template becomes binding once the parties agree and sign it, if it meets the legal requirements where you are. Whether it protects you depends on what it says, so have a lawyer review it for your jurisdiction.
Can contracts be signed electronically?+
In most countries, yes: electronic signatures are generally valid for business contracts like this one, with some exceptions for specific document types. Check the rules that apply to you.
Can I edit this template in Word or Google Docs?+
Yes. Download the Word (.docx) file and open it in Microsoft Word, or upload it to Google Drive and choose Open with → Google Docs. There’s also a Markdown version for any text editor. No account or email address is needed.
How do I save it as a PDF?+
Fill it in, then export it: File → Save As → PDF in Word, or File → Download → PDF document in Google Docs. On this page you can also print just the template or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print dialog.