Not legal advice — have a lawyer review it. Word, Google Docs and PDF.
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AGREEMENTTemplate preview · Example
01
Services
The agreed project deliverables; source files on final payment.
02
Fees and payment
Deposit before work starts, invoices due within 14 days, expenses at cost with approval.
03
Independent contractor
The freelancer works as an independent business, controls how the work is done, provides their own equipment and is responsible for their own taxes.
04
Termination
Either party can end the agreement with written notice; work done to date is paid.
When to use a payment agreement
A payment agreement (or payment plan) records how a client will pay an outstanding balance over time. It’s useful when a good client is struggling with cash flow and you’d rather be paid in instalments than chase or start formal recovery.
Confirm the total owed and which invoices it covers.
Set dated instalments the client can realistically meet.
Agree what happens if an instalment is missed.
Decide whether work continues, and on what payment terms, while the plan runs.
Before it gets this far, a clear past due invoice and polite reminders often do the job.
The template
Parties
Creditor: [Legal name, address, email]
Client: [Legal name, address, email]
Effective date: [Date]
1. Amount owed
Total outstanding: [Amount]
Invoices covered: [Invoice numbers and dates]
2. Payment schedule
Instalment
Due date
Amount
1
[Date]
[Amount]
2
[Date]
[Amount]
3
[Date]
[Amount]
3. Payment method
[Bank transfer to … / card payment link]
4. Missed payments
If an instalment is more than [7] days late, the full remaining balance becomes due immediately [and interest may be charged as allowed by law].
5. Ongoing work
[New work is paid in advance / on 7-day terms while this plan is in place.]
6. No waiver
Agreeing this plan doesn’t waive the Creditor’s rights under the original agreement if the plan isn’t kept.
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.
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 freelance-specific clauses, such as independent contractor, 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: three-month payment plan
A filled-in plan for a fictional overdue balance.
Amount owed
Total outstanding: $4,500
Invoices covered: INV-0131 and INV-0138
Schedule
Instalment
Due date
Amount
1
1 July
$1,500
2
1 August
$1,500
3
1 September
$1,500
Missed payments
If an instalment is more than seven days late, the remaining balance becomes due immediately.
Ongoing work
New work is invoiced on seven-day terms while the plan is in place.
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 invoicing creates invoices with line items, tax and discounts, can build an invoice from approved billable time, and lets clients view and pay through Stripe in their portal.
Yes. Even a one-page agreement that sets out scope, price, payment terms, revisions and who owns the work prevents most disputes.
Is a payment plan agreement enforceable?+
A signed agreement with clear amounts and dates is generally enforceable, but the rules depend on your jurisdiction and, for consumers, credit regulations. Ask a lawyer if you’re unsure.
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.